Page:Admirals of the British Navy.djvu/106

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XI REAR-ADMIRAL EDWYN S. ALEXANDER-SINCLAIR, C.B., M.V.O. K R-ADMIRAL EDWYN S. ALEXANDER-SINCLAIR OF FRESWICK, C.B., M.V.O., joined the " Britannia " in 1879 as a Cadet, becoming a Midshipman two and a-half years later. He acted as Flag-Lieutenant to a number of Admirals and was promoted to Commander on the January nth, 1901. From February, 1902, to January, 1904, he was in command of the Destroyer " Albatross," being afterwards placed in command of the " Surprise " until 1905, when he became a Captain. He commanded the Royal Naval College at Osborne for three years, and in 1908 received the M.V.O. Commodore Alexander-Sinclair was in command of H.M.S. " Galatea " when that ship assisted in the destruction of Zeppelin Ly off the Schleswig coast on May 4th, 1916, and received a C.B. (military) on the 3rd of the following month. Commanding a Light Cruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland, he was first to gain touch with the enemy. He was mentioned in Despatches and would have been recommended for an honour had he not received one shortly before the battle. Sir David Beatty in his report to the Commander-in-Chief referred specially to Commodore Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair and a few others, saying that these officers anticipated his wishes and used their forces to the best possible effect.