Hedworth Meux
Royal Navy admiral of the fleet
Died when: 73 years 77 days (878 months)Star Sign: Cancer
Admiral of the Fleet The Honourable Sir Hedworth Meux GCB, KCVO (pronounced Mews; né Lambton; 5 July 1856 – 20 September 1929) was a Royal Navy officer.
As a junior officer he was present at the bombardment of Alexandria during the Anglo-Egyptian War.In 1899, during the Second Boer War, Lambton stopped at Mauritius, and on his own initiative picked up a battalion of soldiers stationed there.
Knowing that the British forces at Ladysmith urgently needed more powerful guns, Lambton led a naval brigade to the rescue with four twelve-pounders and two other guns.
The enthusiastic response in Britain to the "heroes of Ladysmith" was enormous and made Captain Hedworth Lambton a well-known public figure.
He went on to be Commander of the Third Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet and then Commander-in-Chief of the China Station.
During the First World War Meux, as he was then known, served as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in which role his main responsibility was defending cross-Channel communications, including transport for the British Expeditionary Force crossing to France.
He also initiated and organised a life-saving patrol service of small boats.
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