Cecil Harcourt

Sir Cecil Harcourt
Born 11 April 1892
Bromley, Kent
Died 19 December 1959 (1959-12-20) (aged 67)
Chelsea, London
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1904–1952
Rank Admiral
Commands held HMS Wessex
HMS Stuart
HMS President
HMS Duke of York
HMS Sheffield
HMS Aurora
HMS Cleopatra
HMS Venerable
HMS Tamar
HMS Newfoundland
HMS Swiftsure
Nore Command
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt GBE KCB (Chinese Translated Name: 夏慤; 11 April 1892 – 19 December 1959), was a British naval officer. From September 1945 to June 1946, Harcourt was the de facto governor of Hong Kong as commander-in-chief and head of the military administration. He was called by the Chinese name "Ha Kok", a reference to the fourth-century Chinese nobleman Chung Kok.[1]

Biography

He was born in Bromley, London, son of Halliday Harcourt and Grace Lilian née Jepson. He had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, which he entered as a midshipman on 15 September 1904, at the age of 12. He served in both world wars.[2]

In 1939, he was appointed Director of the Admiralty's Operations Division. In 1941 he was Flag Captain of the Home Fleet, while commanding HMS Duke of York. From 1942 to 1944 he took part in the North Africa campaign, the capture of Tunisia, Pantelleria. Lampedusa and Sicily, and the landing at Salerno. In 1944 he became Naval Secretary.[3] In 1945, he was Flag Officer Commanding 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron,[2] with his flag in HMS Colossus.

He became famous after he personally took the surrender of Japanese forces (under Vice-Admiral Fujita and Lieutenant-General Tanaka) in Hong Kong.[1] He became the head of a provisional military government in Hong Kong from September 1945 to April 1946, serving as administrator until civilian rule could be established. He was knighted during this time, in December 1945.[2]

In 1947, Harcourt became Flag Officer (Air) and Second in Command Mediterranean Fleet. In 1948, he became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel as well as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, and in 1950 Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.[2] He retired in 1952.[2]

Ships he commanded

Ships under Harcourt's command included:

Private life

On 17 April 1913, he assumed the surname "Harcourt-Morris", but this lasted only a short time.[2]

In 1920 he became the second husband of the English pianist Evelyn Suart, a widow. They had no children of their own. One of her daughters by her first marriage was the noted ballerina Diana Gould, who later became the second wife of the violinist Yehudi Menuhin.[4] Her sister Griselda became the second wife of the pianist Louis Kentner.[5] After Evelyn Suart's death in 1950, Harcourt married Stella, widow of Air Commodore David Waghorn, in 1953.[2]

Honours

Places named after him

Harcourt Road, a main road in Hong Kong Island, and Harcourt Garden are named after him.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gregory, F. E. C. ""Harcourt, Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson (1892–1959)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004 ed.)". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-45
  3. ↑ Senior Royal Navy Appointments Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ The Independent, Obituaries
  5. ↑ Naxos
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cecil Harcourt.
Military offices
Preceded by
Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton		 Naval Secretary
1944–1945 		Succeeded by
Claud Barry
Political offices
Preceded by
Franklin Charles Gimson
Provisional Government
as Governor of Hong Kong		 Administrator of Hong Kong
1945–1946 		Succeeded by
Sir Mark Young
as Governor of Hong Kong
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Arthur Power		 Second Sea Lord
1948–1950 		Succeeded by
Sir Alexander Madden
Preceded by
Sir Henry Moore		 Commander-in-Chief, The Nore
1950–1952 		Succeeded by
Sir Cyril Douglas-Pennant
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