- Ernest Gaunt
Sir Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt KBE (1865-1940), a native of
Australia , was anadmiral in theRoyal Navy .He was born in
Beechworth ,Victoria, Australia , the son of William Henry Gaunt and Elizabeth Mary Palmer. Gaunt's brotherGuy Reginald Gaunt was also an admiral. Their sister,Mary Elizabeth Bakewell Gaunt , was a well-known author in Australia and wrote several travel books.Gaunt joined the
Royal Navy in 1878 at the age of 13. In 1881 he was aseaman on HMS "Wolverine", by 1891 he was alieutenant on "Belleisle", and by 1896 he was1st Lieutenant on thearmoured cruiser "Narcissus". In 1898 and 1899 Gaunt was 1st Commissioner for Weihawei and Administrator forLiukungtao ,China . In 1900, he was Commissioner and Superintending transport officer Weihawei, China, at the time of theBoxer Rebellion . In 1903, he commanded a landing party from the "Mohawk" atDurbo inSwaziland .In 1913, he became Commodore of the
Royal Naval Barracks inChatham, England , and in 1913/1914, he wasaide-de-camp to King George V. In 1916, duringWorld War I , he commanded 1st Battle Squadron in theBattle of Jutland as Rear Admiral; his flagship was "Colossus". From 1917 to 1919, he wascommander-in-chief of theEast Indies , in 1921/1922 of theWestern Approaches . In 1925 he retired, and was knighted. He died inChelsea, London ,England .His bother,
Guy Gaunt , was also an Admiral of the Royal Navy, and later became a ConservativeMember of Parliament .External links
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080732b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography]
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