Harold Iremonger
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Iremonger, DSO
(20 September, 1882 – 9 November 1937) was an officer in the Royal Marine Artillery who later served as acting Governor of Saint Helena
.
in Tiverton and was gazetted to the Royal Marine Artillery in 1900. He obtained his captaincy in 1911.
, on 31 May, 1916, being the senior Marine officer in HMS Valiant
of the 5th Battle Squadron.
Early in 1917 Iremonger joined the RMA Heavy Siege Train operating in the Belgian coastal sector. In June 1917 he was promoted to major and in the following March became a ‘group’ commander and his guns fired in support of the Zeebrugge Raid
.
Iremonger was mentioned in despatches, received the DSO
in 1919, together with the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel. He also received the Légion d'honneur
and the Belgian Croix de guerre
.
, and was Acting Governor of Saint Helena
for a short period in 1925.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(20 September, 1882 – 9 November 1937) was an officer in the Royal Marine Artillery who later served as acting Governor of Saint Helena
Governor of Saint Helena
The Governor of Saint Helena is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
.
Early life
Harold Edward William Iremonger was educated at Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
in Tiverton and was gazetted to the Royal Marine Artillery in 1900. He obtained his captaincy in 1911.
World War I
After the outbreak of the War Iremonger was with the Grand Fleet and at the Battle of JutlandBattle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
, on 31 May, 1916, being the senior Marine officer in HMS Valiant
HMS Valiant (1914)
HMS Valiant was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship of the British Royal Navy. She was laid down at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan on 31 January 1913 and launched on 4 November 1914...
of the 5th Battle Squadron.
Early in 1917 Iremonger joined the RMA Heavy Siege Train operating in the Belgian coastal sector. In June 1917 he was promoted to major and in the following March became a ‘group’ commander and his guns fired in support of the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
.
Iremonger was mentioned in despatches, received the DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1919, together with the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel. He also received the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and the Belgian Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
.
Post war
From 1923 to 1927 Iremonger commanded the troops at Saint HelenaSaint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
, and was Acting Governor of Saint Helena
Governor of Saint Helena
The Governor of Saint Helena is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
for a short period in 1925.
Sources
- Obituary of Lieut-Colonel Iremonger, The Times, 12 November, 1937 (pg. 18; Issue 47840; col B)