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{{Short description|Director of the Royal Indian Marine from 1922 to 1928}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|the article is messy and contains a lot of unreferenced, irrelevant information|article or section|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]]
| name = Sir Edward Headlam
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CSI|CMG|DSO|FRGS}}
| image = Capt. Sir. Edward James Headlam.jpg
| caption = Capt. Sir. Edward James Headlam.jpg
| birth_date = 1 May 1873
| birth_place = [[Darlington]]
| death_date = 14 Jul 1943
| allegiance = [[British India]]
| branch = Royal Indian Marine
| serviceyears = 24 July 1889 - 6 Sept 1929
| rank = [[Captain (naval)|Captain]]
| known_for = Penultimate Director of Royal Indian Marine
| alma_mater = [[Durham School]], [[HMS Conway (school ship)|HMS Conway]]
| spouse = Nancy Hobson née Benyon
}}

[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''Sir Edward James Headlam''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CSI|CMG|DSO|FRGS}} (1 May 1873 – 14 July 1943) 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]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.granth.6879 |title=The Bombay Chronicle, 27 September 1928 |date=1928-09-27 |publisher=The Bombay Chronicle (Bombay) |location=Mumbai |pages=5}}</ref> He was nicknamed by his men, 'Purana Nimak', [[urdu]] for '[[old salt]]'.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Birdwood |first=Lord |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.8366 |title=Khaki and gown: an autobiography |date=1942 |publisher=Ward, Lock, London |pages=390}}</ref>

== Life ==
Edward James Headlam was born on 1 May 1873 in Darlington,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14640756 |title=Name: Edward James Headlam . Rank: Midshipman . Date of Seniority: 24 July 1889. ... |date=1883–1898}}</ref> to Morley Headlam of Gilmonby Hall, Yorkshire, and Whorlton Grange, Durham.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=WOLLASTON |first=GERALD W |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.84757/page/n161/mode/1up |title=Knightage (1929-1930) |date=1935 |publisher=Geo. Gibbons & Co. |edition=18 |location=London |pages=158 |language=en}}</ref>

He married Nancy Benyon, widow of Stanley Hobson of Nigeria in 1918.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Life story: Edward James Headlam {{!}} Lives of the First World War |url=https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5332107 |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk}}</ref>

== Career ==
On 24 July 1889 Headlam was appointed a [[midshipman]] in the [[Royal Naval Reserve]] whilst being educated in the [[training ship]] [[HMS Conway (school ship)|''Conway'']].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Admiralty |first=Great Britain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aO8XAAAAMAAJ |title=The Navy List |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |year=1891 |location=London |pages=326 |language=en}}</ref> He became a Sub-Lieutenant on 3 Oct 1894 in the [[Royal Indian Marine]], serving in the Marine Survey.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G35PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA104 |title=The India List and India Office List for ... |date=1898 |publisher=Harrison and Sons |location=London |pages=103 |language=en}}</ref> On 1 April 1900 he was promoted lieutenant.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGJPAAAAMAAJ |title=The India List and India Office List for ... |date=1902 |publisher=Harrison and Sons |location=London |pages=103 |language=en}}</ref>

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 [[Himyaritic language|Himyaric inscriptions]] on 21 Feb 1896.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Landberg |first=Comte Carlo von |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Frc_fMFHC4C |title=Critica arabica: Notes préliminaires sur les tribus du pays libre de Daṯîna et du Sultanat des ʿAwâliq supérieurs etc.; Huṣn el-Ṛurâb |date=1897 |publisher=Brill |pages=71 |language=fr}}</ref>

=== Appointments ===
Source:<ref name=":1" />

* H.M. Training Ship ''Conway'' 1887-89<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Durham School |url=http://archive.org/details/b28980311 |title=Durham School register |last2=Earle |first2=Charles S. |last3=Body |first3=Lawrence A. |date=1912 |publisher=Bradbury Agnew |others=Wellcome Library |location=London |pages=319 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[White Star Line]] Sailing Ship '''Copley''<nowiki/>' 1889-93.<ref name=":2" />
* Appointed sub-lieutenant, in Royal Indian Marine, 1894.<ref name=":2" />
* Served in Squadron for Naval Defence of India (April-Oct.), 1897<ref name=":2" />
* Marine Survey of India, 1897-1914
* Promoted to lieutenant, 1900
* Assistant Marine Transport Officer British Expeditionary Force, North China, 1900–01
* Persian Gulf Gun-running Operations, 1911–12
* Promoted to commander, 1913
* Naval Transport Officer East African Forces, 1914–17
* Special promotion to captain, 1914–15
* Principal Naval Transport Officer, South and East Africa, 1917–19
* Principal Naval Transport Officer, East Indies, 1920<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/ANDHRAPATRIKA14061920 |title=ANDHRAPATRIKA Volume no 7 issue no 61 |date=1920-06-14 |publisher=AndhraPatrika |pages=12 |language=en}}</ref>
* Promoted to acting captain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 7870 {{!}} Issue 31994, 27 July 1920 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31994/page/7870 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Promoted to captain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 8413 {{!}} Issue 32017, 13 August 1920 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32017/page/8413 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Director Royal Indian Marine, 1922–28
* Retired from service on 6 Sept 1929.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Great Britain. Ministry of Defence |url=http://archive.org/details/navylistaug1939grea |title=The navy list |publisher=London : Her Majesty's Stationery Office |others=National Library of Scotland |year=1939 |location=London |pages=942 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 5778 {{!}} Issue 33532, 6 September 1929 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33532/page/5778 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>

== Delhi Durbar, 1911 ==
At the Delhi Durbar of 1911, he was in charge of the Naval Contingent Camp.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/coronationdurbar030742mbp |title=Coronation Durbar Delhi 1911 |publisher=Superintendent Government Press |year=1911 |location=Calcutta |pages=233 |language=en}}</ref> 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.”<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.venugopal.747 |title=Historical record of the Imperial visit to India 1911 |date=1914 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |pages=201 |language=en}}</ref> <blockquote>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.</blockquote>The duties of the contingent were to form [[Guard of honour|Guards of Honour]] for [[George V|King George V]] at the following functions :- State Entry, Foundation Stone of All-India Memorial Ceremony, Durbar, Review and State Departure.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Major R B Graham |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279047 |title=Military Report Arrangements For The Coronation Darbar |date=1913 |publisher=Superintendent Government Printing|location=Calcutta |pages=130 |language=en}}</ref>

== WWI ==
As the Marine Transport Officer, Indian Expeditionary Force, East Africa, he was part of the landing and evacuation operations during the [[Battle of Tanga]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hook |first=F. A. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.523452 |title=Merchant Adventurers 1914-1918(1920) |date=1920 |publisher=A. and C. Black, Ltd. London |location=London |pages=77 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Stacke |first=Henry Fitz Maurice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ULwiAAAAMAAJ |title=Military Operations: East Africa |date=1941 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |pages=94, 121, 541 |language=en}}</ref><blockquote>"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.<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>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.<ref name=":3" />

== Work with Bombay Port Trust ==
From 1917 to 1922 he was acting member of the Board of Trustees of [[Mumbai Port Trust|Bombay Port Trust]], representing Neville Frederick Jarvis Wilson,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bombay Port Trust |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.granth.41867 |title=Bombay Port Trust: administration report for the years 1919-20 |date=1916 |publisher=Bombay Port Trust (Bombay) |location=Mumbai}}</ref> and later [[Henry Lancelot Mawbey]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bombay Port Trust |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.granth.107974 |title=Administration Report, 1920-21 (bounded together) |date=1920 |publisher=Times Press (Bombay) |location=Mumbai}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.102479 |title=The Bombay Government Gazettes July 6th To August 22 1922 |date=1922 |pages=1489, 1743 |language=en}}</ref> Cdr H M Salmond was to represent him on the board during his absence.<ref name=":4" />

On 4 Aug 1922 he was appointed Director of the Royal Indian Marine.<ref name=":4" />

== Evolution of Royal Indian Marine ==

=== Indian Mercantile Marine Committee ===
On 12th Jan 1922 the Indian Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution moved by [[P. S. Sivaswami Iyer|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,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sundaram |first=Dr Lanka |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.238434 |title=Indias Armies and Their Costs (1946) |date=1946 |publisher=Avanti Prakashan, Bombay |pages=117}}</ref> which were:

# to recognise the need for the training of Indians for nautical careers and encouraging the creation of an Indian Mercantile Marine.
# to accept the policy and measures recommended by the Indian Mercantile Marine Committee.
# to take early steps for the training of Indians in a suitable training ship in Indian waters, for the provision of facilities for future training as apprentices in our mercantile marine ships, and for their employment after completion of their training.
# to arrange from the establishment of primary nautical schools in selected marine stations, and the introduction of Marine Engineering as a subject of instruction in the Engineering College at Sibpur. and
# to announce his intention to adopt in the near future a system of licensing in respect of the coastal trade of India.

The committee was presided by Capt. Headlam, and consisted of [[Arthur Froom|Sir Arthur H Froom]], [[Lallubhai Samaldas|Lalubhai Samaldas]], Jadu Nath Roy, Sir John Biles, and Diwan Bahadur Tiruvenkata Rangachariar. J H Green served as secretary.<ref>{{Cite book |last=India. Indian Mercantile Marine Committee |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.granth.92127 |title=Report of the Indian Mercantile Marine Committee, 1923-24 |date=1924 |publisher=Government Central Press (Delhi) |language=}}</ref>

Committee had important observations and recommendations.

* The repeal of the Indian Coasting Trade Act of 1860.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Ramananda |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.8116 |title=The Modern Review - Vol.44; No.1-6 |date=1928 |publisher=The Modern Review Office, Kolkata |location=Calcutta |pages=271–273 |language=en}}</ref>

<blockquote>"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"</blockquote>

* Regarding training and apprenticeship, the committee observed.<ref name=":6" /><blockquote>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.</blockquote>
* The Committee added that for the fulfillment of these conditions a ship should conform to the following conditions;<ref name=":6" />
*# Ship should be registered in India.
*# It should be owned and managed by an individual Indian or by a Joint Stock Company (public or private) which is registered in India with rupee capital, with a majority of Indians on the Directorate and with a majority of its shares held by Indians.
*# Management of such company is predominantly in the hand of Indians.
* The Committee recognised that the Royal Indian Marine should be reorganised into an Indian Navy for the defence of India's coast, harbours, and shipping.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Ghose |first=N. n |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.505294 |title=England Work In India |date=1931 |publisher=University of Calcutta |location=Calcutta |pages=154}}</ref>
* That a training ship on the lines of the Worcester or the Conway should be established at Bombay to train young Indians to be- come Sea-officers.<ref name=":7" />

=== Rawlinson Committee ===
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 [[Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson|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".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=India (British). East India (Progress and Condition) |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.granth.108670 |title=Statement exhibiting the Moral and Material Progress and Condition of India, during the year 1925-26 |last2=Hirtzel |first2=A. |date=1927 |publisher=His Majesty's Stationery Office (London) |pages=136}}</ref>

=== The Indian Navy Bill and the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act 1934 ===
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).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mitra |first=Nripendra Nath |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.11623 |title=Indian Annual Register 1927, Vol. 1 |date=1927 |pages=183}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.calcutta.05940 |title=Current Indian Statutes, Issue no.-326 |pages=270}}</ref>

On 2 October 1934 at Bombay, the Royal Indian Marine ceased to exist and the Royal Indian Navy was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=D. J. E. Collins |url=http://archive.org/details/the-royal-indian-navy-1939-45 |title=The Royal Indian Navy 1939-45 |date=1964 |pages=8}}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==

* On 14 October 1900 he received a Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society for rescuing a Sepoy who had fallen overboard from the transport ship "Wardha" off Taku.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oRjp_nFjmjgC |title=The Royal Navy List Or Who's who in the Navy: A Book of Reference Relating to the Personnel of the Navy, Both Active and Retired |date=1916 |publisher=Witherby |location=London |pages=190, 236 |language=en}}</ref>
* Medal and Mentioned in Despatch, China, 1900-01.<ref name=":1" />
* He was mentioned in dispatch dated 17 Jan 1901 by [[Alfred Gaselee|Gen. Gaselee]] for [[Boxer Rebellion|services]] to the forces in China.<ref name=":0" />
* Military order of the dragon<ref>{{Cite book |last=Military order of the dragon |url=http://archive.org/details/militaryorderofd00mili |title=Military order of the dragon, 1900-1911 |date=1912 |publisher=[Washington, D.C., Press of B. S. Adams] |others=The Library of Congress}}</ref>
* Medal and Clasp, Persian Gulf, 1911-12.<ref name=":1" />
* Bronze Star; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; Mentioned in Despatches four times.<ref name=":1" />
* He received the Distinguished Service Order on 1 Jan 1916.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.532919 |title=India Office List For 1918 |date=1918 |publisher=Harrison & Sons |location=London |pages=170E, 180 |language=en}}</ref>
* Mentioned in Despatches, 30 Jan 1917, East Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Easter Rising and other Despatches, World War 1 |url=https://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishLGDispatchesArmy1916-17.htm#29927 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 1147 {{!}} Supplement 29927, 30 January 1917 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29927/supplement/1147 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]] in 1919.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.181478 |title=Whos-who-india-1927 |publisher=Tyson & Co |year=1927 |location=Calcutta |pages=108 |language=en}}</ref>
* Was made Companion of the [[Order of the Star of India|Star of India]] on 3 Jun 1924<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533041 |title=India Office List For 1931 |publisher=Harrison & Sons |year=1931 |location=London |pages=150 |language=en}}</ref>
* He was nominated for knighthood in June 1928 and knighted on 27 March 1929<ref name=":1" /> at [[St James's Palace|St. James Palace]].

== Writings ==
A New Island in the Bay of Bengal, The Geographical Journal, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Apr., 1907)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Headlam |first=E. J. |date=1907 |title=A New Island in the Bay of Bengal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1776748 |journal=The Geographical Journal |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=430–436 |doi=10.2307/1776748 |jstor=1776748 |bibcode=1907GeogJ..29..430H |issn=0016-7398|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

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)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Headlam |first=E. J. |title=The History of the Royal Indian Marine |date=1929 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41358199 |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Arts |volume=77 |issue=3985 |pages=519–540 |jstor=41358199 |issn=0035-9114}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Journal Of The Royal Society Of Arts |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.7726 |title=Journal Of The Royal Society Of Arts November Vol-lxxvii (1928) |date=1929 |publisher=The Royal Society Of Arts |pages=520}}</ref>

The Royal Indian Navy, History of the Government Sea Service in India from the earliest time.

# Part 1<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/1914-jusii-v43jan |title=Journal of the United Service Institution of India Volume 43, 1914 January |date=Jan 1914 |publisher=United Service Institution of India |location=Shimla |pages=67 |language=en}}</ref>
# Part 2<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/1914-jusii-v43april |title=Journal of the United Service Institution of India Volume 43, 1914 April-October |date=Apr 1914 |publisher=United Service Institution of India |location=Shimla |pages=241, 403 |language=en}}</ref>
# Part 3<ref name=":5" />
# Part 4<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/1915-jusii-v44 |title=Journal of the United Service Institution of India Volume 44, 1915 |date=Jan 1915 |publisher=United Service Institution of India |location=Shimla |pages=71 |language=en}}</ref>

Report of the Indian Mercantile Marine Committee, 1923-24<ref>{{Cite book |last=Indian Mercantile Marine Committee |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.granth.92127 |title=Report of the Indian Mercantile Marine Committee, 1923-24 |publisher=Government Central Press (Delhi) |year=1924 |location=Delhi |language=en}}</ref>

The Rawlinson Committee Report.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mitra H. N. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206692 |title=The Indian Quarterly Register Vol-i(jan-jun-1926) |date=1926 |pages=373}}</ref>

== Arms ==
'''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.

== Bibliography ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Headlam, Edward James}}
[[Category:1873 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Darlington]]
[[Category:Royal Indian Navy officers]]
[[Category:British military personnel in colonial India]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society]]

Edward Headlam - Revision history

AliciaPaschall: Added A Entry