Jellicoe the Sile

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 34, 4 May 1917, Page 2

Jellicoe the Sile

THE GREAT ADMIRAL’S MJ ''OT. Admiral Sir John Jellicoe uust lead a charmed life. Three timer he has narrowly escaped death. The last occasion was in the Boxer Rebellx m in 1400, when he got a bullet throur’i the top of one of his lungs. The first escape was in 1860, when, as a lieutenant on the Monarch, he volunteered to rescue the crew of a wrecked steamer of Gibraltar and his boat capsized. The second escape was from the ill-fated Victoria. Commander, Jellicoe, as he then was, was in his bunk in a high fever when his ship collided with the Camperdown. He made for his station on the bridge, and when the ship went down was towed to safety by a middy. Admiral Jellicoe was born at sea. His father was formerly Commodore of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's Fleet. Sir John was born at Southampton fifty-six years ago. Like Admiral Beatty, he entered the Navy at thirteen, and quickly showed his love and aptitude for the service by passing first in all the examinations on the Britannia and winning the special prize of £BO for gunnery at the Royal Naval College. This branch of the service has always attracted Admiral Jellicoe. The fact is not generally known that it is to him wc owe the most up-to-date and efficient gunsights and other ap-1 paratus which have contributed largely to the great improvement in the Navy’s gunnery. Some idea, of i a extent of this improvement may bo gathered from the fact that from forty-two hits out of 100 rounds, which was the average when Jellicoe first went into office as Director of Naval Ordnance in 1905, he increased the average percentage to seventy, and that in the space of one year. It was in recognition of this splendid improvement that in 1909 a knighthood was conferred upon the man who to-day is in suppreme command of the British Fleet.

A man of very few words, Jellicoe’s taciturnity has earned for him the title in the Navy of “Silent John.” "He don’t waste words,” was a bluejacket's criticism of the Admiral, "but when he does speak he hits the mark every time.’’

Jellicoe’s popularity in the Navy is due to the fact that he understands men, and does not stint his praise when praise is due. "I feel prouder every day,” he wrote, a short time ago, in a letter to Lady Jellicoe, "that I command such men." Sir John loves nothing better when at home than to spend his time in the society of his four daughters, whose portraits hang in his private cabin on his flagship, the Iron Duke, while on the raantlepiece can he seen his mascot, a black cat.