Rosslyn Erskine-Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss
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Admiral Rosslyn Erskine Erskine-Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss (born 12 April 1864 in Fife, died 24 May 1933), usually known before his elevation to a peerage as Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, served in active naval command positions during World War I, with postings to the Mediterranean and Egypt, and was appointed First Sea Lord in December 1917
Wemyss was the son of James Hay Erskine-Wemyss and Millicent Anne Mary Erskine, a descendant of Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa. He married Victoria Morier (died 22 April 1945, daughter of Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Morier, on 21 December 1903. The couple had one daughter, Alice Elizabeth Millicent (born 1906, died 31 December 1994; married 11 February 1953 to Francis Henry Cunnack, died 5 January 1974). Wemyss lived in Wemyss, Fife, Scotland [1]
Wemyss' war activity began with command of a cruiser squadron, followed in February 1915 he was despatched to Lemnos with a brief to prepare the harbour of Mudros for operations against the Dardanelles. Following command of a battle squadron working along the Gallipoli Front and its later evacuation, Wemyss was given command in January 1916, as head of the Egyptian Squadron where he aided operations on the Palestine Front. Wemyss was a supporter of the Arab Revolt under T. E. Lawrence, and is mentioned greatly in Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Returning to the Admiralty in 1917, Vice Admiral Wemyss was appointment as Deputy to Naval Minister Eric Geddes. In light of Geddes' decision to dismiss First Sea Lord Sir John Jellicoe due to his opposition to the adoption of naval convoys, Wemyss was appointed Jellicoe's replacement.
Although Wemyss enjoyed cordial relations with Geddes, he was regarded warily by colleagues given the nature of Jellicoe's ousting from office. Wemyss was in favour of the Zeebrugge raid that ultimately failed in April 1918 and also sponsored the Northern Barrage.
After representing Britain at the Armistice, Wemyss attended the Paris Peace Conference, 1919 as Britain's naval representative.
Wemyss resigned in November 1919 following persistent calls for Sir David Beatty to be given his job.
[edit] Reference
- Andrew Gordon, The rules of the game - Jutland and British Naval Command ISBN 0-7195-5542-6
[edit] External links
- Entry an Janus
- Who's Who in the First World War
- Entry at The Peerage
- Coat of Arms
- Entry at the National Portrait Gallery
- Notes on the Armistice meeting
| Military Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Cecil Burney |
Second Sea Lord 1917 |
Succeeded by Sir Herbert Heath |
| Preceded by The Earl Jellicoe |
First Sea Lord 1917–1919 |
Succeeded by The Earl Beatty |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by New Creation |
Baron Wester Wemyss 1919–1933 |
Succeeded by Extinct |
 |
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Categories: United Kingdom military personnel stubs | 1864 births | 1933 deaths | People from Fife | Barons in the Peerage of the United Kingdom | British people of World War I | Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order | Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath | Lords of the Admiralty | Royal Navy admirals | Royal Navy First Sea Lords
