Cecil Harcourt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Cecil Harcourt
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| Acting Governor of Hong Kong | |
| In office 1 September 1945 – 1 May 1946 |
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| Monarch | George VI |
| Preceded by | Franklin Gimson |
| Succeeded by | Mark Aitchison Young |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 April 1892 Bromley, Kent, England |
| Died | 19 December 1959 (aged 67) Chelsea, London, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Naval College |
| Awards | KCB (1945) GBE (1953) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1904–1952 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt (1892–1959) was a British naval officer. He played a very important role in Hong Kong after World War II. From September 1945 to May 1946, he was the acting governor of Hong Kong. He led the military government there. The Chinese people called him "Ha Kok".
Contents
Cecil Harcourt was born in Bromley, England, on April 11, 1892. He started his naval training at the Royal Naval College when he was just 12 years old. This was on September 15, 1904. He then continued his studies at Dartmouth. He had a long and successful career in the Royal Navy, serving for many years.
World War Service
Harcourt served in both the First World War and the Second World War. In 1939, he became the Director of Operations for the Admiralty, which was like the navy's headquarters. In 1941, he was the Flag Captain of the Home Fleet. This meant he commanded HMS Duke of York, a major warship.
From 1942 to 1944, he was involved in important campaigns. These included battles in North Africa and the capture of places like Tunisia and Sicily. He also took part in the landing at Salerno in Italy. In 1944, he became the Naval Secretary. This was a key role in the navy's administration. By 1945, he was in charge of the 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron. His main ship was HMS Colossus.
Hong Kong's Return
After the Second World War ended, Harcourt led a special group of ships. This group, called Task Group 111.2, was sent to take back Hong Kong. Japan had occupied Hong Kong during the war. His fleet included aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines.
On September 16, 1945, Sir Cecil Harcourt officially accepted Japan's surrender in Hong Kong. This happened at Government House. He then became the acting governor of Hong Kong. He was in charge of the military government until May 1946. During this time, he helped Hong Kong return to normal life. For his important work, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in December 1945. He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1946.
Later Career and Retirement
After his time in Hong Kong, Harcourt continued his naval career. In 1947, he became the Flag Officer (Air) for the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1948, he took on the role of Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel. This meant he was in charge of all naval staff. He retired from the navy in 1952.
Sir Cecil Harcourt passed away on December 19, 1959, in London. A special service was held to remember him in January 1960.
Ships Commanded
Throughout his career, Admiral Harcourt commanded many different ships. Here are some of them:
- HMS Wessex (1931)
- HMS Stuart (1935)
- HMS Duke of York (1941)
- HMS Sheffield (1942)
- HMS Aurora (1942)
- HMS Cleopatra (1943)
- HMS Newfoundland (1943)
- HMS Venerable (1945)
- HMS Swiftsure (1945)
Family Life
In 1920, Cecil Harcourt married Evelyn Suart. She was a talented English pianist. Evelyn had daughters from her first marriage. One of her daughters, Diana Gould, became a famous ballerina. After Evelyn passed away in 1950, Harcourt married Stella in 1953.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Cecil Harcourt received many awards for his service. These include:
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1940
- Legion of Merit, November 1942 (from the United States)
- Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), 1943
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), 1945
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner, 1946 (from China)
- Order of St. Olav, 1951 (from Norway)
- Order of the Dannebrog, 1952 (from Denmark)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), 1953
Named After Him
Two places in Hong Kong are named after Sir Cecil Harcourt:
- Harcourt Road, Hong Kong
- Harcourt Garden, Hong Kong
Images for kids
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Sir Cecil Harcourt in his naval uniform.
