Gresham Nicholson

Sir

Gresham Nicholson

Nicholson in March 1945

Born| (1892-12-16)16 December 1892
Died| 28 July 1975(1975-07-28) (aged 82)
Allegiance| United Kingdom
Service/branch| Royal Navy
Years of service| 1914–1950
Rank| Admiral
Commands held| HMNB Devonport (1945–50)
Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham (1940–43)
6th Destroyer Flotilla (1938–40)
HMS Somali (1938–40)
HMS Curacoa (1936)
HMS Pegasus (1935)
Battles/wars| First World War
Second World War
Awards| Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Order of the Phoenix (Greece)

Admiral Sir Randolph Stewart Gresham Nicholson, KBE, CB, DSO, DSC (16 December 1892 – 28 July 1975) was a Royal Navy officer who became Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey.

## Naval career[edit]

Nicolson served in the First World War with the Harwich Force and took part in the Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids in 1918.[1] 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.[1] He was appointed Captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Pegasus in 1935,[2] Captain of the cruiser HMS Curacoa in 1936[2] and Captain of HMS Somali[2] and Commander of the Tribal Destroyer Flotilla in 1938.[1] 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.[3] He continued his war service as Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham from November 1940 to August 1943 and then appointed as Flag Officer, Ceylon from August 1943 to April 1944. He was then appointed Flag Officer, Ceylon and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet until July 1945.[1] After the war he became Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport until he retired in 1950.[1]

In retirement he was Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey.[4] There is a memorial to him in Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
2. ^ a b c Unit Histories
3. ^ Uboat.net
4. ^ This is Jersey

Government offices

Preceded by

Sir Arthur Grassett

|  Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
1953-1958  | Succeeded by

Sir George Erskine