Graeme Thomson

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SIR Graeme Thomson, G.C.M.G.K.C.B. (9 August, 1875 – 28 September, 1933) was a British civil servant who rose from Clerk in the Transport Department at the Admiralty to become a colonial governor.

Life & Career

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry F. Oliver noted savagely in his memoirs:

When I was Naval Secretary Churchill would send for the Director of Transports, H. W. Savory, in the evening and was never able to get him; his civilian Assistant Graham-Thomson [sic] always came. At last Churchill sacked Savory and made Graham-Thompson Director of Transports, he knew the City end of the work and all about taking up ships etc. but nothing about war. The Secretary, Sir W. Graham Greene, and I argued with Churchill for an hour to try and get Vice-Admiral Sir Edmond Slade appointed without success. Slade was very able, had been head of the War College and had a reputation in the Service for his knowledge of past Naval and Military operations and studying war was his hobby. Had he been Director of Transports the transports for the Dardanelles would have been properly loaded and arrived in the proper order.[1]

Footnotes

  1. Oliver. Recollections. II. ff. 120-121.

Bibliography

  • "Sir Graeme Thomson" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 30 September, 1933. Issue 46563, col B, p. 12.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Herbert W. Savory
Director of Transports
30 Nov, 1914 – 1917[Fact Check]
Succeeded by
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