IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0064 MGR
Held at: National Maritime Museum
Title: Mcgrigor, Admiral of the Fleet Rhoderick Robert (1893-1959)
Date(s): 20th century
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 6 boxes, 8 volumes
Name of creator(s): Mcgrigor | Rhoderick Robert | 1893-1959 | Admiral Of The Fleet
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Rhoderick Robert McGrigor spent his early childhood in South Africa, before studying at Osborne and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges, passing out as top of his form. During the First World War, McGrigor served in destroyers during the Dardenelles campaign and saw action at the Battle of Jutland in HMS MALAYA. He then served as part of the Nyon non-intervention patrol during the Spanish Civil War on HMS KEMPENFELT, taking part in the rescue of crew from the sinking Spanish government cruiser BALEARES. At the outbreak of the Second World War, McGrigor was Chief-of-Staff to the C-in-C, China Station, after which he returned home in late 1940 to become the commanding officer of HMS RENOWN, taking part in the BISMARCK action and the bombardment of the coast of Genoa. He then joined the Board of Admiralty as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Weapons), following an early promotion to Rear-Admiral. Shortly after, McGrigor returned to an active post as a Naval Force Commander during the capture of Pantellaria and the invasion of Sicily. In March 1944, he returned home to take command of the First Cruiser Squadron and aircraft carriers of the Home Fleet. For the last year of the war, McGrigor carried out several attacks on the coast of enemy-occupied Norway and took several convoys to and from north Russia. Promoted to Admiral in 1948, McGrigor held several positions post-war, including C-in-C, Home Fleet from 1948 to 1950 and C-in-C, Plymouth from 1950-1951, before being made First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, eventually retiring in 1955.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of Rhoderick Robert McGrigor, containing material relating to most aspects of Admiral McGrigor's naval career, often accompanied by several photographs. Present in the collection are orders, letters, newspaper cuttings, etc, relating to his early eduction at Osborne and Dartmouth naval colleges, his service during World War One, the non-intervention patrol during the Sapnish Civil War, his service in various theatres during World War Two, and his post-war service with the Admiralty.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Conditions governing access:
In transit - item unavailable from May to August 2011
Conditions governing reproduction:
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Finding aids:
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
The papers were presented to the National maritime museum by Miss McGrigor in 1978.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Edited by Sarah Drewery, Sep 2011.
Date(s) of descriptions: 2011-04-19