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Capt. Sir. Edward James Headlam | |
---|---|
Born | 1 May 1873 Darlington |
Died | 14 Jul 1943 |
Allegiance | British India |
Service/ | Royal Indian Marine |
Years of service | 24 July 1889 - 6 Sept 1929 |
Rank | Captain |
Known for | Penultimate Director of Royal Indian Marine |
Alma mater | Durham School, HMS Conway |
Spouse(s) | Nancy Hobson née Benyon |
Edward James Headlam was the Director of the Royal Indian Marine for six years from 1922 to 1928. His suggestions were instrumental in transforming the RIM into a combatant navy in the form of the Royal Indian Navy. [1] He was nicknamed by his men, 'Purana Nimak', urdu for 'old salt'. [2]
Edward James Headlam was born on 1 May 1873 in Darlington, [3] to Morley Headlam of Gilmonby Hall, Yorkshire, and Whorlton Grange, Durham. [4]
He married Nancy Benyon, widow of Stanley Hobson of Nigeria in 1918. [4] [5]
On 24 July 1889 Headlam was appointed a midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve whilst being educated in the training ship Conway. [6] He became a Sub-Lieutenant on 3 Oct 1894 in the Royal Indian Marine, serving in the Marine Survey. [7] On 1 April 1900 he was promoted lieutenant. [8]
As a sub-lieutenant, while serving aboard RIMS Mayo, he was part of a party led by Comte Carlo von Landberg which copied and photographed Himyaric inscriptions on 21 Feb 1896. [9]
Source: [4]
At the Delhi Durbar of 1911, he was in charge of the Naval Contingent Camp. [16] Here, he was in command of Lascars and Stokers of the RIM. To them was entrusted the duty of dealing with the Royal Standard at all ceremonies, while two men under a petty officer were continually at the King's Camp to see that the flag “flew clear.” [17]
The lofty flagstaff used at the Durbar was designed by Captain Lumsden, Director of the Royal Indian Marine, and made at the Bombay Dockyard, as was also the great Standard flown from this mast, which measured thirty-six by eighteen feet.
The duties of the contingent were to form Guards of Honour for King George V at the following functions :- State Entry, Foundation Stone of All-India Memorial Ceremony, Durbar, Review and State Departure. [18]
As the Marine Transport Officer, Indian Expeditionary Force, East Africa, he was part of the landing and evacuation operations during the Battle of Tanga. [19] For the evacuation, timed to start on a rising tide, at 1 pm. Cdr Headlam had assembled 30 Ship' boats, manned by volunteers. At 3:20 pm the evacuation was complete. [20]
"All military transport afloat, i.e., hired transport, tugs, lighters, etc., are under the orders of Commander E. J. Headlam, Royal Indian Marine, Marine Transport Officer, I.E.F. East Africa."- Addendum to Operation Order No. 1 dated 1 Nov 1914, by Maj Gen A E Aitken. [20]
On 18th Dec 1914, he made a feint of landing at Moa, and went on to Manza Bay, where he made prizes of some small crafts. He was commanding transport ships Barjora and Rheinfels, carrying a company of the 63rd PLI and a section of the 28th Mountain Battery of the Royal Artillery. [20]
From 1917 to 1922 he was acting member of the Board of Trustees of Bombay Port Trust, representing Neville Frederick Jarvis Wilson, [21] and later Henry Lancelot Mawbey, [22] the Directors of Royal Indian Marine.
On 7 Jul 1922 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Bombay Port Trust, due to the resignation of Rear-Admiral H L Mawbey. [23] Cdr H M Salmond was to represent him on the board during his absence. [23]
On 4 Aug 1922 he was appointed Director of the Royal Indian Marine. [23]
On 12th Jan 1922 the Indian Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Sir P S Sivaswami Iyer. On 3rd Feb 1923 Indian Mercantile Marine Committee was appointed to consider and report what measures could be taken to further the objectives of the resolution, [24] which were:
The committee was presided by Capt. Headlam, and consisted of Sir Arthur H Froom, Lalubhai Samaldas, Jadu Nath Roy, Sir John Biles, and Diwan Bahadur Tiruvenkata Rangachariar. J H Green served as secretary. [25]
Committee had important observations and recommendations.
"We are of opinion that in the interests of the growth of an Indian Meroontile Marine it is necessary to dose the coasting trade of this country to shins belonging to the subjects of foreign nations"
It is our considered opinion that the provision of facilities for the training of Indian officers and engineers alone is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the case and that some further steps are required to achieve the object in view. These further steps, we recommend, should be in the form of the eventual reservation of the Indian coasting trade for ships the ownership and controlling interests in which are predominantly Indian.
Based on the recommendations of the Headlam Committee's report another independent committee was set up for "the reorganization of the Royal Indian Marine". The committee convened in Feb 1925 and was presided by Gen Lord Rawlinson. Headlam was also part of this committee. The goal was to draw up a scheme for the purpose of putting into effect a policy to "The reconstruction of the Royal Indian Marine as a combatant force, to enable India to enter upon the first stage of her own naval development, and ultimately to undertake her own naval defence". [28]
Based upon the previous two committee reports, the Indian Navy bill was tabled in the British parliament on 2 Mar 1927. After much debate, the Bill was passed on the third reading in the House of Commons, and on the second reading in the House of Lords, on 5 and 28 April respectively. The bill received royal assent on 29 June, and became the Government of India (Indian Navy) Act 1927 (17 & 18 Geo. 5. c. 8). [29]
The act empowered the Indian Legislature to enact and adapt the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, which assented to by the Viceroy on 8 Sep 1934. [30]
On 2 October 1934 at Bombay, the Royal Indian Marine ceased to exist and the Royal Indian Navy was inaugurated. [31]
A New Island in the Bay of Bengal, The Geographical Journal, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Apr., 1907) [39]
The History of the Royal Indian Marine, Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, Vol. 77, No. 3985 (APRIL 5th, 1929), pp. 519-540 (22 pages) [40] [41]
The Royal Indian Navy, History of the Government Sea Service in India from the earliest time.
Report of the Indian Mercantile Marine Committee, 1923-24 [45]
The Rawlinson Committee Report. [46]
Arms : Gules, on a chevron or, between three lambs' heads erased argent, three crosses patee fitchee sable.
Crest : An unicorn passant or, the dexter foreleg resting upon a cross patee fitchee sable.
Motto: Intellectu et innocentia.
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