Name Gresham Nicholson Allegiance United Kingdom Rank Admiral | Died 1975 | |
Commands held HMS PegasusHMS CuracoaHMS Somali Battles/wars World War IWorld War II | ||
Battles and wars World War I, World War II | ||
Admiral Sir Randolph Stewart Gresham Nicholson, (16 December 1892 – 28 July 1975), more commonly known as Gresham Nicholson, was a Royal Navy officer who became Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey.
Naval career
Nicolson served in the First World War with the Harwich Force and took part in the Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids in 1918. After the war he joined the staff at the Royal Navy College, Dartmouth and then became Aide-de-camp to the Governor of Malaya and the Straits Settlements. He was appointed Captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Pegasus in 1935, Captain of the cruiser HMS Curacoa in 1936 and Captain of HMS Somali and Commander of the Tribal Destroyer Flotilla in 1938. Under Nicholson's command the Somali took possession of the Hannah Böge, the first prize of the Second World War at sea, just two hours into the war. He continued his war service as Commander of the Royal Navy Barracks at Chatham and then as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet and Flag Officer, Ceylon. After the war he became Admiral Superintendent at HM Dockyard Devonport until he retired in 1950.
In retirement he was Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey. There is a memorial to him in Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick.