Sydney Fremantle played a role in developing fleet communications and signalling methods prior to the war, but was hampered in effectively implementing them due to the disruption caused by the conflict.
22 Facts About Sydney Fremantle
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Sydney Fremantle had an active seagoing career during the war, commanding several of the cruiser squadrons, and later taking command of the British fleet in the Aegean.
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Sydney Fremantle attempted to salvage what he could, later accusing the German commander, Vice-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, of a shameful breach of honour.
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Sydney Fremantle rose to full admiral and commanded the naval base at Portsmouth, retiring in 1928.
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Sydney Fremantle wrote his memoirs, publishing them after the Second World War, and donated many of his papers to institutions before his death in 1958.
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Sydney Fremantle followed his father into the navy, joining up in 1881.
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Sydney Fremantle rose steadily through the ranks, being promoted to lieutenant in 1887, commander in 1889 and captain in 1903.
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Sydney Fremantle joined the Admiralty in 1910 as the Head of the War Division, and by 1912, he was at Portsmouth as President of the Signal Committee.
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Sydney Fremantle was promoted to rear-admiral in 1913, and though his suggestion for a dedicated communications department was overtaken by the outbreak of war, a Signals Division was established at the Admiralty in 1914, with Fremantle as its head.
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Sydney Fremantle became second-in-command of the Third Battle Squadron in 1915, followed by commander of the Ninth Cruiser Squadron in 1916, and the Second Cruiser Squadron in early 1917.
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Sydney Fremantle was next appointed Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Eastern Mediterranean Squadron from February to July 1916.
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Sydney Fremantle's proposals did not find favour with the American planners, who were keen to limit British naval domination.
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Sydney Fremantle was mentioned in despatches during the war, and after its end, Fremantle received a number of honours for his service, including several international ones.
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Sydney Fremantle continued in the navy, becoming commander of the 1st Battle Squadron in May 1919.
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Sydney Fremantle drew up orders for the ships to be seized on the expiration of the deadline for the signing of the treaty, and had them approved by his superior, Admiral Sir Charles Madden.
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Sydney Fremantle had destroyers tow sinking ships ashore and beach them, while boarding parties attempted to reverse the scuttling or order the Germans aboard to do so.
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Sydney Fremantle received a promotion to full admiral in 1922, and in 1923 was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, a post he held until 1926.
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Sydney Fremantle retired from the Navy in 1928, having been appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and a Member of the Royal Victorian Order.
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Sydney Fremantle married Lelia Hope Fremantle on 1 December 1896, and on 1 August 1931, he married for the second time, this time to Geraldine Margaret Cooke-Collis.
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Sydney Fremantle had three children by his first wife, one of whom, Edmund Seymour Denis Fremantle, served in the Navy, receiving the Distinguished Service Order for service in the Second World War and twice being mentioned in despatches.
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Admiral Sydney Fremantle died on 29 April 1958 at the age of 90.
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Sydney Fremantle donated most of his papers, which are held in the collections of the National Maritime Museum, and King's College London.