James Tancred

James Charles Tancred
Born	17 September 1864
Died	9 September 1943 (1943-09-10) (aged 78)
Buried	St Margaret and St Andrew Churchyard, Exmouth, Devon
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1878–1931
Rank	Vice-Admiral
Commands	HMS Argyll
Battles / wars	First World War

Vice-Admiral James Charles Tancred (17 September 1864 – 9 September 1943), born James Charles Cleghorn, was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service in the First World War, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral.

Early life and family

James Charles Cleghorn was born on 17 September 1864, the second son of Captain George Cleghorn, JP DL, of the 17th Lancers, and his wife, Mary Anne Hay Lumsden, daughter of Colonel Thomas Lumsden CB, of Belhelvie Lodge, Aberdeenshire. His father was born with the surname Cleghorn, but changed it to Tancred by Royal Licence in 1885.[1]

He married, in 1901, Cecile Margaret Scott, daughter of Walter Scott of Wauchope, and had a daughter: Katherine Mary Antonitta Tancred (1902–1984). His wife died in 1955, aged 75.[2]

Naval career

HMS Argyll in 1909.

Cleghorn entered the Royal Navy on 15 January 1878.[3] He was promoted to commander in 1901,[4] and in January 1903 was posted to the Vivid for Devonport Dockyard Reserve.[5] He was promoted to captain in 1908, rear-admiral in 1919 and vice-admiral in 1925. He was included on the retired list by 1931.[6]

Captain Tancred was in command of HMS Argyll when she ran aground by Bell Rock Lighthouse, off the coast of Angus, Scotland, in 1915; the ship was wrecked, but the crew was rescued without loss.[7]

Later life

He died on 9 December 1943 and was buried in St Margaret and St Andrew Churchyard, Exmouth, Devon. He left an estate worth over £1,100.[8]

References

Citations

1. Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1905, p. 1326 ; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, General Register Office, birth records, Q3 1864, vol. 2a, p. 91 (James Charles Cleghorn) ; National Archives, ADM 196/42/261 (executive officers' service records), providing date of birth and name as Tancred.
2. de Ruvigny, The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, Clarence Volume, 1905, p. 579 ; 1911 Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 5632; Schedule Number: 126 ; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, General Register Office, death records, January 1984, New Forest, Hampshire, vol. 20, p. 326 ; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, General Register Office, death records, Q1 1955, vol. 7a, p. 679
3. National Archives, ADM 196/42/261 (executive officers' service records).
4. The London Gazette, 3 January 1902, issue 27393, p. 3.
5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36981. London. 19 January 1903. p. 11.
6. Navy List, July 1931, p. 550.
7. W. Daysh, "The death of HMS Argyll", bellrock.com (accessed on 4 August 2014).
8. Monument Inscription, findagrave.com ; National Probate Calendar, 1944 (granted, 11 April 1944).

Bibliography

• A.C. Fox-Davies (1905). Armorial Families
• Marquess de Ruvigny (1905). The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, Clarence Volume.