SIR HENRY JOHN ORAM, K.C.B., F.R.S.
Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Oram joined the Royal Navy in
1879. After service on HMS Crocodile 1882-4, he entered the
Department of the Engineer-in-Chief at The Admiralty, where he
stayed for 33 years.
He was appointed Engineer RearAdmiral in 1901. From October
1907 until June 1917 he was
engineer-in-chief of the Fleet, and
as such was responsible for the
design, construction and
maintenance of the machinery of
hundreds of warships from
battleships to armed trawlers. The
number of ships rose in the Great
War to over 1,000, and the number
of personnel in the engine rooms to
5,000 officers and 86,000 men.
Under his management, the Navy
was much better prepared for war
than the Army.
Photo from Journal of The Institute
of Metals, 1914.
“The post-Dreadnought Fleet, which formed the backbone of the Navy in the
conflict with Germany, was created on his watch, and the very high standard
of efficiency obtained under the stress of war in the engine rooms of ships of
all types and classes reflected the highest credit upon his professional skill,
sound judgment and administrative ability” (The Times).
Henry Oram was born in Plymouth in 1858, eldest son of John and Caroline
Oram. His father was an Inspector of Works. He was educated at the Royal
Naval Engineering College at Keyham. In 1882 he married Emily Kate also
from Plymouth. They had four children, Edith, Evelyn, a doctor, Percy an
engineer and Phyllis. The family moved to Battersea, and by 1911 were in
Bromley, Kent. He was appointed CB in 1906 and KCB in 1910.
Sir Henry bought Hale Farm, Tisman’s Common in 1912, when the house and
farm was on the market. He requested and obtained retirement in 1917.
Emily died in 1928; he, and Percy his son, lived there until the early 1930s. Sir
Henry’s died in his 81st year in 1939 at Kilmory House, Guildford Road,
Cranleigh. His funeral was at Rudgwick on 8 May.
He was elected F.R.S. in 1912. He was a member of the Royal Commission on
Fuels for the Navy in 1912; President of the Junior Institution of Engineers;
Vice-President of the Institute of Naval Architects; President of the Institute
of Metals; Member of Council and Watt medallist and Member of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He was awarded the American D.S.M.*
He had lectured at the Royal Naval College. By 1898, he had co-authored,
with his predecessor the late Richard Sennett, a book entitled “The Marine
Steam Engine”. The 11th Edition can be read at
https://archive.org/details/steamenginmarine00sennrich
*Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service
Medal to Sir Henry J. Oram, Vice Admiral, British Royal Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and
distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States,
as member of an Allied Force during World
The book cover of a reproduction published in the USA
in 1912. The 1898 edition is available in UK.
In Rudgwick Churchyard:
In loving memory of EMILY KATE for 46 years the
devoted wife of Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir HENRY
ORAM KCB FRS, died 10 April 1928 aged 65 years.
Also of the above Sir HENRY ORAM late Engineerin- Chief of the Fleet. Died 5th May 1939 aged 80.
Also in loving memory of PERCY STUART
ST.GEORGE ORAM, younger son of the above born
April 19th 1886, died April 1st 1945.
Engineer-Lieutenant Percy Stuart St George Oram
He served 1914-19 on HMS President.
Born in Battersea, 1887, he was unmarried, and lived at Hale where he ran
the farm, with his parents. Later, he lived in Dorchester where he died in
1945.