- Author
- A.N. Other
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, WWI operations
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Sydney I, HMAS Melbourne I
- Publication
- March 2012 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
After 30 years of distinguished naval service without seeing any action, he must have been desperate to take part and add some spark to an otherwise quiet career. Likewise his men would have been itching for a fight and to prove the worth of the new RAN on the world stage. His decision to stay with the convoy rather than to seek fame did go unnoticed for several months but has been mentioned by prominent naval historian Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond as being one of the best examples of devotion to duty[7]. Swindon (1994) states: ‘…for one man’s devotion, the name of Sydney would most likely have been replaced with Melbourne’.[8]
Silver’s actions on the morning of 9 November 1914 clearly show how some decisions an officer has to make can alter the course of history. In this case he chose not to seek glory and fame but to remain at his post and perform his duty. In doing so, he displayed all of the RAN’s values: honour by performing his duty to the best of his ability; honesty by not twisting his responsibilities to suit any desire for fame or glory; courage to resist the temptation to seek the honour of the fight and instead giving that honour to Sydney; integrity by dutifully protecting the convoy; and loyalty to the Crown by remaining true to his orders while allowing another Imperial ship to have all the glory.
SILVER ENDS HIS SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA
In December 1914, Melbourne and Sydney were based at Bermuda, carrying out patrol duties throughout the West Indies. In September 1916, both ships transferred to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron in the North Sea. At this time Silver relinquished command of Melbourne. He is recorded as ‘seriously ill’ with malaria and he ‘…left a seagoing ship for a Dockyard appt. in time of war because he considered that his eyesight had become defective to such an extent that it was his duty to ask to be relieved’.[9]
Silver became Captain of HM Dockyard Chatham upon returning to the UK in 1916. After receiving the thanks of the Commonwealth Government on 20 October 1916, he sent a reply to Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes:
H.M. DOCKYARD
CHATHAM,
January 5th, 1917.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge your letter dated 20th October 1916.
I greatly appreciate the compliment paid to me by yourself, Sir, and the Commonwealth Government.
I deeply regret that it was necessary, for personal reasons, to ask to be relieved from the Command of H.M.A.S. “Melbourne” during a time of War.
With high hopes for the future of the Service in which I had the honour to command the first Cruiser.
I have etc,
(Sgd.) M. SILVER.
Captain.
Royal Navy[10]
He was appointed CBE on 27 June, 1919 and retired on 4 October, 1919, aged just 50, exactly six years after his triumphal entry into Sydney as captain of Australia’s first cruiser. On 17 October he was promoted to Rear Admiral, then Vice Admiral on the retired list on 18 Jan 1925.
SILVER AFTER THE NAVY
His last address was White House, Bradenham, Buckinghamshire, a handsome property in Wycombe. VADM Silver died on 6 December, 1946, aged 77.
There is no doubt that Silver was a dedicated and loyal servant of the Crown. His years of service are a testament to this, and in the end it took physical debilitation to convince him to leave the service which he had served so diligently. He was, in my opinion, honourable and his actions regarding Emden action reflect this. His decisions on 9 November 1914 serve as excellent examples to all officers today by reflecting all of the RAN values and indeed his actions on that morning continue to be used as an example of one of our cardinal Principles of War. Silver may not be as famous as his counterpart Glossop of Sydney, but perhaps he should be just as respected and praised for sacrificing glory and fame rather than having them thrust upon him.
For reasons of space, the bibliography and many endnotes have been omitted. The full text of this essay is available upon request to the Naval Historical Society.