Charles Coke


Sir Charles Henry Coke KCVO was a Royal Navy officer who served during the First World War.

Early life

Coke was born on 2 October 1854 in the village of Ropsley in Lincolnshire where his father was the local rector.

Naval career

Coke joined the Royal Navy on 7 April 1868 when he entered the Britannia Royal Naval College, in 1872 was appointed a midshipman on the corvette. Coke served during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War and was present during the attack on Elmina on 13 June 1873, he was awarded the Ashantee Medal. He was appointed lieutenant on HMY Victoria and Albert on 5 September 1877. In 1880 he served on the gun-vessel on the China Station, returning to England two years later to do a gunnery course. In 1889 he took command of the sailing brig. Promoted to Commander in 1892 he moved to HMS Active before moving on to command, a boys training ship at Falmouth. He became commanding officer of the cruiser in July 1899, and commanding officer of the cruiser in July 1900. In February 1901 he was appointed commanding officer of the cruiser, serving at the Cape of Good Hope Station. He went on to be commanding officer of the cruiser in April 1904 and of the battleship in January 1905.
After that Coke became Captain, Sheerness Gunnery School in January 1907, Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland in April 1911 and commander of the Newfoundland Patrol Service in March 1917.

Family life

Coke married Anna Marie Madeleine Fergusson in 1883 and they had one son and a daughter.
Coke died at Hughenden, Exmouth, Devon on 23 February 1945 aged 90.