Years of service 1894–1941 Name Reginald Drax | Rank Admiral Role Admiral | |
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Commands held Director, Royal Naval College, Greenwich (1919–1922)President of Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control (Berlin) (Jan 1923 – Aug 1924)HMS Marlborough (April 1926 – February 1927)1st Battle Squadron (May 1929 – Apr 1930)America and West Indies Station (Apr 1932 – Oct 1934)Plymouth Command (Jun 1935 – Sep 1938) Battles/wars First World WarHeligolandDogger BankJutlandSecond World War Parents Ernle Elizabeth Louisa Maria Grosvenor Ernle-Erle-Drax, John Plunkett, 17th Baron of Dunsany Siblings Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany Grandparents Edward Plunkett, 16th Baron of Dunsany Nephews Randal Plunkett, 19th Baron of Dunsany Battles and wars | ||
Admiral the Hon. Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL (28 August 1880 – 16 October 1967) was a British admiral. He is often referred to as Reginald Plunkett or (after 1916) Reginald Drax.
Contents
- Quadruple barrelled name
- Early naval career
- Between the wars
- Mission to Moscow
- Second World War
- Civilian life
- Publications
- Family
- References
He was the younger son of the John William Plunkett, 17th Baron of Dunsany (1853–1899) and his wife, the former Ernle Elizabeth Louisa Maria Grosvenor, nee Burton, later Ernle-Erle-Drax (1855–1916). His elder brother was Lord Dunsany, a prolific writer and author of over 60 books.
Quadruple-barrelled name
Sir Reginald, born a Plunkett, was christened Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly (Plunkett) on 9 September 1880 at Holy Trinity Church, Marylebone, Westminster, and assumed the Ernle-Erle-Drax on 4 October 1916. His long series of titles, Christian names, surnames and postnominals has made him famous beyond his career as an Admiral in the Royal Navy. Elsewhere, the name has been cited as having inspired some of the more fanciful appellations employed by writers about the British aristocracy such as P. G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh; and in the penultimate episode of Series 2 of the BBC1 costume drama Upstairs Downstairs, the storyline adopts the conceit that Admiral Drax was known amongst his civil servants as "Admiral Acronym". Upstairs Downstairs features a leading character, Sir Hallam Holland, who is a member of the British Government's Foreign Office. The leaking of this nickname by Sir Hallam's lover to the German authorities forms part of the storyline of the final episode.
Early naval career
Plunkett was educated at Cheam School and joined the navy at the age of 14, training aboard the stationary school ship, HMS Britannia. He was promoted Lieutenant 15 January 1901.
He served during the First World War aboard the battlecruiser HMS Lion and was present at the naval battles of Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank and Jutland. He was promoted captain on 30 June 1916.
He was awarded the DSO in 1918 whilst commanding HMS Blanche.
Between the wars
Drax held a series of senior naval appointments between the wars. From 1919 to 1922, he was Director of the Naval Staff College, Greenwich. He then served as President of the Naval Allied Control Commission in Germany from 1923 to 1924.
As a Rear Admiral, he commanded the 2nd Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet from 1929 to 1930. From 1930 to 1932 he was ashore in the Admiralty as Director of Manning.
Promoted to Vice Admiral on 24 September 1932, he held from 1932 to 1934 the much sought after post of Commander of the America and West Indies Squadron.
From 1935 to 1938, he was Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.
Mission to Moscow
Sir Reginald was the British half of the Anglo-French delegation sent to Moscow in August 1939 to discuss a possible alliance with the USSR. As an indication of the low priority the Allied Governments put on the mission, it was sent by sea. The Soviets did not take the delegation seriously because Sir Reginald did not have any power to make decisions without the approval of the British government, rendering him next to powerless.
Second World War
In December 1939, Drax was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore serving until 1941. This was an important post as he was responsible for the protection of the east coast convoys from Scotland to London. These faced the multiple threats of acoustic mines and magnetic mines as well as attacks from the air and by surface vessels, especially after the fall of the Netherlands and Belgium.
As the war continued, advancing years caused him to retire from the active navy list and to join the Home Guard. Nonetheless, he went to sea from 1943 to 1945 as a convoy commodore, during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Alongside Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond and Vice-Admiral Kenneth Dewar, Drax was considered to be an intellectual who held controversial views, including the need for naval reform.
Civilian life
He was an early pioneer of solar heating.
His friend, the James Bond novelist Ian Fleming, named the character Sir Hugo Drax after him as a tribute.
Publications
Family
In 1916, Plunkett married Kathleen Chalmers. They had one son and four daughters. Their son is Henry Walter Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, who is the father of Richard Drax, Conservative MP for South Dorset since the 2010 General Election.