Sydney Fremantle
| Sydney Robert Fremantle | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 November 1867 |
| Died | 29 April 1958 (aged 90) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1881 – 1928 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars | Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Member of the Royal Victorian Order Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Commander of the Légion d'honneur (France) Commander of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece) Commander of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) Commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy) |
Admiral Sir Sydney Robert Fremantle, GCB MVO (16 November 1867 – 29 April 1958) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who served during the Victorian era and had risen to the rank of rear-admiral by the outbreak of the First World War. He played a role in developing fleet communications and signalling methods prior to the war, but was hampered in effectively implementing them due to the disruption caused by the conflict. He had an active seagoing career during the war, commanding several of the cruiser squadrons, and later taking command of the British fleet in the Aegean. Promoted to vice-admiral after the end of the war and given command of the First Battle Squadron, Fremantle oversaw the interned German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow, and was away on exercises when the sailors began to scuttle their ships in June 1919. He attempted to salvage what he could, later accusing the German commander, Vice-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, of a shameful breach of honour. Fremantle rose to full admiral and commanded the naval base at Portsmouth, retiring in 1928. He wrote his memoirs, publishing them after the Second World War, and donated many of his papers to institutions before his death in 1958.
Sydney was born into a naval family on 1 January 1867, the eldest son of Admiral Sir Edmund Robert Fremantle and his wife Barberina Rogers Isaacs.
He followed his father into the navy, joining up in 1881. He rose steadily through the ranks, being promoted to lieutenant in 1887, commander in 1889 and captain in 1903. By 1908 he was commanding the armoured cruiser HMS Lancaster with the Mediterranean Fleet.
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