Hugh Evan-Thomas had to rely upon his own salary rather than family money to support himself through his life.
39 Facts About Hugh Evan-Thomas
1.
2.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was born the son of Charles Evan-Thomas, who was High Sheriff of Brecknockshire for 1885 and died at Cople in Bedfordshire aged 65 on 30 August 1928.
3.
In 1877, at the age of 15, Hugh Evan-Thomas Thomas was a naval cadet on the training ship HMS Britannia.
4.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was one of the few people allowed to socialise with the princes.
5.
On 6 June 1882, Hugh Evan-Thomas departed the ship to return home, having been promoted to sub-lieutenant.
6.
Hugh Evan-Thomas spent seven months at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, on a lieutenants training course, where he became friendly with Lieutenant John Jellicoe.
7.
Hugh Evan-Thomas continued to write to the princes during 1883, visiting Prince Edward at Sandringham and at Trinity college.
8.
Hugh Evan-Thomas remained on Bellerophon for nine months, before returning to England for ten months, again on half pay for health reasons.
9.
Hoskins was impressed with Hugh Evan-Thomas' performance, placing him in charge of arrangements for refloating Victoria after she ran aground in the Gulf of Corinth in February 1891.
10.
On 14 January 1892, a telegram arrived on Victoria advising of the death of Prince Edward, and as officer of the watch, Hugh Evan-Thomas was responsible for ordering flags to half mast.
11.
The ship received creditable reports, and Hugh Evan-Thomas was commended in the admiralty formal report for his part in preparing the ship.
12.
The ship's company was then disbanded, with Hugh Evan-Thomas returning to duties on Osborne, captained by Archibald Berkeley Milne.
13.
Culme-Seymour next telegraphed to Hugh Evan-Thomas, requesting that he would take the post of flag-lieutenant.
14.
Hugh Evan-Thomas hesitated, because the post was at least on paper less than a lieutenant of his seniority might expect.
15.
Hugh Evan-Thomas went to see both admirals who assured him he had been chosen on merit, as it was felt that under the circumstances the best man possible was required for the post.
16.
Hugh Evan-Thomas gained considerable experience in working with a fleet, and in particular a comprehensive knowledge of the signal book.
17.
Hugh Evan-Thomas continued to suffer from illness while in the Mediterranean, and in 1894 received sick leave to return to England.
18.
Hugh Evan-Thomas became secretary to an admiralty committee set up to revise the signal book.
19.
In November 1900, Hugh Evan-Thomas was appointed to his first independent command, the cruiser HMS Pioneer, which was part of the Mediterranean fleet, at age 38.
20.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was his second choice when he could not get Captain Percy Scott.
21.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was now in a position to himself assist other officers up the career ladder, and received formal thanks from Commander Michael Culme-Seymour, son of his previous commander, for help in obtaining promotion.
22.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was not impressed by the system, which ultimately proved essential in extending the range at which effective attacks on an enemy could be made.
23.
In November 1909 Hugh Evan-Thomas was offered the position of captain of the fleet in the Home Fleet.
24.
Hugh Evan-Thomas attempted to prevent this by setting the staff on guard over the statue all night.
25.
In July 1912 Hugh Evan-Thomas was promoted to Rear-Admiral by seniority.
26.
Hugh Evan-Thomas served on a committee, went on a training course, and then awaited a new command on half pay.
27.
Hugh Evan-Thomas commented 'our chief is of course a great loss.
28.
Beatty interrupted the ceremony just as Hugh Evan-Thomas was to receive his knighthood from the King, offering his own sword to be used in the ceremony.
29.
On 1 October 1918, Hugh Evan-Thomas was replaced as commander of the 5th Battle Squadron by Rear-Admiral Arthur Leveson.
30.
Hugh Evan-Thomas received a number of decorations from five countries including the Croix de Guerre with palms, and an honorary doctorate from Prifysgol Cymru at Bangor in 1920.
31.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was never consulted over the account, but had obtained a copy.
32.
Hugh Evan-Thomas arranged to speak to First Lord of the Admiralty Leo Amery in July 1923, but the meeting and ensuing correspondence with the Admiralty failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
33.
The issue now included when a flag signal from Lion had been hoisted and then lowered, the failure of which signal caused Hugh Evan-Thomas to continue steaming towards the enemy when he should have turned away with Beatty's other ships.
34.
Hugh Evan-Thomas arranged another interview in December 1923, but on this occasion Beatty interrupted the meeting before Hugh Evan-Thomas could explain his business, and 'pushed' him out of the room.
35.
Hugh Evan-Thomas returned to Chatham, but by 2.30 pm that day he was taken ill and was diagnosed to have suffered a stroke.
36.
Hugh Evan-Thomas was awarded the grand cross of the Order of the Bath for his services to the Royal Navy.
37.
In May 1925, Hugh Evan-Thomas was finally able to see the King and discuss the matter.
38.
King George was now in the position of formally having to support the Admiralty: He recognised Hugh Evan-Thomas' legitimate grievances, but felt Beatty was an effective First Sea Lord at a time when the Navy was under considerable threat from spending cuts and changes in public opinion, he felt it 'better for the nation that there should be no more controversy'.
39.
Hugh Evan-Thomas became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, in 1921 and retired in 1924.