The Great Edwardian Naval Feud: Beresford's Vendetta against 'Jackie' Fisher

by Richard Freeman

This is the story of the clash between two gigantic personalities in the early years of the twentieth century.

On one side was Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. Physically strong, courageous and hot-headed, he was the most popular admiral in the navy. Addicted to the sound of his own voice, he drew crowds of thousands whenever he spoke in public. On the other side was the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir John Fisher. Of humble origin, he had risen through hard work and genius to become the greatest naval reformer that Britain has ever known.

Both men wished to be First Sea Lord. When the prize went to Fisher, Beresford determined to unseat him at any cost. He launched attacks in Parliament, he plotted with Unionist politicians, he leaked state secrets and he courted public opinion. As a popular public figure, no one dared act against him until he finally overstepped the mark and viciously hounded a rear-admiral out of his fleet.

A Cabinet inquiry followed, sitting for fifteen days. Its five members listened to Beresford’s incoherent account of his eight charges. In the end, they dismissed the charges, but failed to show any warm support for either man. Fisher’s resignation followed and Beresford’s career came to an end.

Genres: History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

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Reviews

[Dale Bay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically the criminally narcissistic Lord Charles used his aristocratic pedigree, navy rank and popularity to bully anyone who stood in his way from the PM on down. Popularity, I might add, he built up by being famous for being famous while lacking substance in either his naval or political careers.

Too bad because Admiral Bereresford was capable of making real contributions to the success of the navy. Unfortunately, Bereresford's only priority was himself.

Moreover he evidently didn't have the b*lls to stand up to his wife who wanted to be at the social acme of the naval hierarchy. One can imagine how the domestic dynamics drove his natural zeal for self-aggrandisment.

Fortunately Admiral of the Fleet Jackie Fisher, a serious, devout, disciplined, self-effacing and above all visionary naval leader rose above Bereresford's insane vendetta to prepare the RN to successfully contain the Kaiser's navy in WWI.

No story is all black and white and here the facts, as narrated, speak for themselves.

Meticulously researched and written in an engaging style, Richard Freemen treats us to a "good read". 5 stars

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Freeman is not a "service man" himself, this well-written, pithy volume is illuminating for anyone wanting to understand the Fisher-Beresford feud which so dominated the late Victorian Era. These two grand personalities, one a brilliant innovator/administrator and the other, the epitome of the "fighting admiral" (sometimes even to a fault, just as Nelson was in Naples, etc.) is enlightening and engaging.