Born the fifth son of Robert Oliver and Margaret Oliver (née Strickland)[1] at Lochside near Kelso,[2] Oliver joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in the training ship Britannia on 15 July 1878.[3] He joined the armoured frigateAgincourt, flagship of the Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron, in September 1880 and, having been promoted to midshipman on 21 January 1881, he transferred to the corvetteAmethyst on the South America Station in March 1882.[4] Promoted to sub-lieutenant on 21 January 1885, he joined the battleshipTriumph, flagship of the Pacific Station, in October 1886.[4] Promoted to lieutenant on 30 June 1888,[5] he joined the survey ship Stork and then qualified as a navigator.[4] He then became navigating officer in the cruiserWallaroo on the Australia Station in February 1894, navigating officer in the cruiser Blake in the Channel Squadron in January 1898 and navigating officer in the cruiser Niobe on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in December 1898 in which he served during the Second Boer War.[4] Promoted to commander on 31 December 1899,[6] he became navigating officer on the battleship Majestic, flagship of the Vice-Admiral Commanding the Channel Squadron, in September 1900.[4] He was appointed fleet navigator, demonstrating his skills on one occasion by leading the entire Channel Fleet into a southern Irish anchorage in thick fog with the ships anchoring by signal. They were revealed to be perfectly positioned when the fog lifted. He proposed a number of ideas for improving the organisation and training of the Navy's navigation branch, and was directed by Admiral Jacky Fisher, then the Second Sea Lord, to put them into effect.[2]
The cruiser HMS Niobe in which Oliver served during the Second Boer War
Promoted to captain on 30 June 1903,[7] Oliver became the first commanding officer of his proposed new navigation school Mercury that year.[4]
In retirement Oliver became deputy chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.[13] When he reached the age of 100 in January 1965, it was estimated that during his thirty-year period of retirement he had received £76,000 in retired pay.[21] He died at his home in London on 15 October 1965.[13] He was reputed, throughout his naval service, to be the worst-dressed officer in the Navy but was also renowned for his work ethic; he rarely took any leave and often worked fourteen hours a day, including at weekends. It has been claimed he was not highly regarded as an inspiring leader of those who served under him.[2]
Family
In June 1914 Oliver married Beryl Carnegy White (later Dame Beryl Oliver); they had no children.[1]
Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN0-85052-835-6.
Further reading
James, Admiral Sir William, G.C.B. (1956). A Great Seaman: The Life of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry F. Oliver, G.C.B, K.C.M.G., M.V.O., L.L.D. London: H. F. & G. Witherby, Ltd.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)