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Lot Essay
Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including Warrants and Statutes for the recipient's previously awarded K.C.V.O. (dated 22.4.1925) and his C.B. (dated 1.1.1919), together with a variety of newspaper cuttings, reports, etc., covering the Duke of Connaught's Official Tour of Malaya in 1921, when the recipient commanded H.M.S. Malaya.
G.C.V.O. London Gazette 11.8.1930. For services as Flag Officer Royal Yachts.
C.B. London Gazette 1.1.1919. Recommendation states 'Sank Kaiser Wilhelm de Grosse. Extract from letter to Rear-Admiral, Carnarvon: Captain Buller's action has their Lordship's complete approval in every respect for the humane and correct manner in which he did his duty'.
Admiral Sir Henry Buller, G.C.V.O., C.B., the son of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller, G.C.B., of Erle Hall, Devon and Belmore House, West Cowes, was born in 1873 and entered the Navy in 1887 and served as a Lieutenant and First Lieutenant of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert from 1902-1904. As Commander at the Royal Navy College, Dartmouth, between 1908 and 1911, he was made M.V.O. on the passing out of the Prince of Wales in the latter year. His next appointment was Flag Captain Home Fleets at Portsmouth, 1911-12, whence he was appointed to the command of the Training Ship for Special Entry Cadets, H.M.S. Highflyer.
On the day hostilities broke out in 1914 Buller in Highflyer captured to S.S. Tubantia, carrying German Reservists and a gold shipment. Three weeks later he found the German Commerce Raider Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse, coaling in Spanish territorial waters off the mouth of the Oro River, West Africa. On offering the faster vessel the chance to surrender, Buller received the signal "Germans never surrender, and you must respect the neutrality of Spain". But since it was known that the Commerce Raider had abused Spanish neutrality by using the river mouth as a permanent base for some weeks, Buller gave warning that he would attack in half an hour, allowing time for the Colliers to withdraw with such personnel as the German Captain felt he could dispense with.
When the time was up Buller once more offered the Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse the opportunity to surrender, which again was declined. Both ships then opened fire. A shell from one of the Raider's up-to-the-moment 4.1 inch guns blasted Highflyer's Bridge just after Buller moved into the conning tower. His ship meanwhile, which was hit a total of 15 times, steamed in, closing the range for her 6-inch guns - and when her '100-lb. shells began to hit they kept on target ... One shot carried away a 4-inch gun on the after deck of the enemy. Another burst under the quarter-deck and started a fire; a third - perhaps the decisive shot of the action - struck her amidships on the water-line and tore a great rent in her side'. With water pouring in the Raider began to slowly heel to port, and as her guns fell silent Highflyer also ceased fire, with Buller making a signal to the effect that he would not interfere with the abandonment of the ship, and humanely despatching two boats with Surgeons, Sick-Berth Attendants, and medical stores to assist the German wounded. The Admiralty, which rarely envinced any enthusiasm for the achievements of the Fleet, was positively gushing on learning of Buller's sucess - "Bravo! You have rendered a service not only to Britain, but to the peaceful commerce of the world ..."
Buller subsequently went on to serve in various operations off the Azores, the Canaries and the Cape Verde Islands, and in 1919 was appointed Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord. In 1921 he commanded H.M.S. Malaya during the Duke of Connaught's visit to India, for which he was advanced to C.V.O.
Promoted Rear-Admiral that same year, he was next appointed in 1922 Officer Commanding H.M. Yachts; and for services rendered during H.M's cruise of the Mediterranean in 1925 became K.C.V.O. On relinquishing his appointment as O.C. H.M's Yachts in 1931, Buller received the final advancement to G.C.V.O. He retired from the Service in 1931 with the rank of full Admiral and was subsequently Groom in Waiting to George V, and an Extra Equerry to Edward VIII, George VI and H.M. The Queen.
G.C.V.O. London Gazette 11.8.1930. For services as Flag Officer Royal Yachts.
C.B. London Gazette 1.1.1919. Recommendation states 'Sank Kaiser Wilhelm de Grosse. Extract from letter to Rear-Admiral, Carnarvon: Captain Buller's action has their Lordship's complete approval in every respect for the humane and correct manner in which he did his duty'.
Admiral Sir Henry Buller, G.C.V.O., C.B., the son of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller, G.C.B., of Erle Hall, Devon and Belmore House, West Cowes, was born in 1873 and entered the Navy in 1887 and served as a Lieutenant and First Lieutenant of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert from 1902-1904. As Commander at the Royal Navy College, Dartmouth, between 1908 and 1911, he was made M.V.O. on the passing out of the Prince of Wales in the latter year. His next appointment was Flag Captain Home Fleets at Portsmouth, 1911-12, whence he was appointed to the command of the Training Ship for Special Entry Cadets, H.M.S. Highflyer.
On the day hostilities broke out in 1914 Buller in Highflyer captured to S.S. Tubantia, carrying German Reservists and a gold shipment. Three weeks later he found the German Commerce Raider Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse, coaling in Spanish territorial waters off the mouth of the Oro River, West Africa. On offering the faster vessel the chance to surrender, Buller received the signal "Germans never surrender, and you must respect the neutrality of Spain". But since it was known that the Commerce Raider had abused Spanish neutrality by using the river mouth as a permanent base for some weeks, Buller gave warning that he would attack in half an hour, allowing time for the Colliers to withdraw with such personnel as the German Captain felt he could dispense with.
When the time was up Buller once more offered the Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse the opportunity to surrender, which again was declined. Both ships then opened fire. A shell from one of the Raider's up-to-the-moment 4.1 inch guns blasted Highflyer's Bridge just after Buller moved into the conning tower. His ship meanwhile, which was hit a total of 15 times, steamed in, closing the range for her 6-inch guns - and when her '100-lb. shells began to hit they kept on target ... One shot carried away a 4-inch gun on the after deck of the enemy. Another burst under the quarter-deck and started a fire; a third - perhaps the decisive shot of the action - struck her amidships on the water-line and tore a great rent in her side'. With water pouring in the Raider began to slowly heel to port, and as her guns fell silent Highflyer also ceased fire, with Buller making a signal to the effect that he would not interfere with the abandonment of the ship, and humanely despatching two boats with Surgeons, Sick-Berth Attendants, and medical stores to assist the German wounded. The Admiralty, which rarely envinced any enthusiasm for the achievements of the Fleet, was positively gushing on learning of Buller's sucess - "Bravo! You have rendered a service not only to Britain, but to the peaceful commerce of the world ..."
Buller subsequently went on to serve in various operations off the Azores, the Canaries and the Cape Verde Islands, and in 1919 was appointed Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord. In 1921 he commanded H.M.S. Malaya during the Duke of Connaught's visit to India, for which he was advanced to C.V.O.
Promoted Rear-Admiral that same year, he was next appointed in 1922 Officer Commanding H.M. Yachts; and for services rendered during H.M's cruise of the Mediterranean in 1925 became K.C.V.O. On relinquishing his appointment as O.C. H.M's Yachts in 1931, Buller received the final advancement to G.C.V.O. He retired from the Service in 1931 with the rank of full Admiral and was subsequently Groom in Waiting to George V, and an Extra Equerry to Edward VIII, George VI and H.M. The Queen.