The Telegraph April 26, 1904
Rear-Admiral Henry John May C.B., Captain of the Royal naval College, Greenwich, died there on Sunday night after suffering for a few days from gastro-enteritis, with which he was seized on his return from a two days’ cycling tour on Tuesday last.
Rear-Admiral Henry John May C.B., Captain of the Royal naval College, Greenwich, died there on Sunday night after suffering for a few days from gastro-enteritis, with which he was seized on his return from a two days’ cycling tour on Tuesday last.
The second son of the late Rev. Henry Thomas May, vicar of South Petherwyn, Cornwall. Admiral May was born in February 1853, and entered the Navy at the age of 13, becoming a sub-lieutenant in February, 1872, and having taken three first class certificates in his examination for promotion, lieutenant in December of the same year, about two months before his 20th birthday. He gained the 100 pounds scholarship in 1878. As lieutenant of the Superb he took part in the bombardment of Alexandria on July, 1882, and was promoted, at the age of 28, to the rank of Commander for his services on that occasion. He saw further service in the Egyptian War, and was for a time assistant secretary to the Ordinance Committee, and then returning to sea, commanded the Racor at Suakin in December 1888. As a senior officer at the station he commanded the Naval Brigade at the defeat of the Dervishes at Gemaigah, near Suakin, by Lord Grenfell on December 20 of that year, was mentioned in the despatches for his conduct in the engagement, and was specially promoted to the rank of Captain, with date January 16. 1880. In Captains’s rank he served as a member of the Ordinance Committee from Novemeber 1889 to August 1900 as Inspector of Warlike Stores for the Navy from the latter date to October 1892, and , finally as Captain of the Royal Naval College of Greenwich, a post to which he was appointed in September, 1902, he reached flag rank. He received the Companionship of Bath in 1892.
Admiral May married, in 1883, Constance, second daughter of the late Admiral Sir William Robert Mends.
The funeral will take place at 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon at the Royal Naval College.
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