John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey
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| John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey | |
|---|---|
| 7 March 1885 - 12 January 1971
Madeira |
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 Admiral of the Fleet Sir J C Tovey at his desk, most likely while serving as Commander in Chief Nore, at Chatham, Kent |
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| Nickname | Jack |
| Place of birth | London |
| Place of death | Queen Alexandra Military Hospital |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1901 - death |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | HMS Onslow HMS Faulknor, HMS Britannia, HMS Majestic, HMS Amphion, HMS Rodney (1914 - 1919) HMS Seawolf (1 Aug 1922 - (Aug 1923) HMS Bruce & Captain (D), 8th Destroyer Flotilla (31 Dec 1924 - Jan 1925) HMS Campbell & Captain (D), 6th Destroyer Flotilla (19 Apr 1926 - May 1926) HMS Rodney (12 Apr 1932 - Jan 1934) Commodore RN Barracks, Chatham (30 Jan 1935 - Feb 1937 Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet (5 Mar 1938 - 12 Mar 1940 7th Cruiser Squadron (Mediterranean) (Jun 1940) 1st Battle Squadron (Sep 1940 - Dec 1940) Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet (2 Dec 1940 - 8 May 1943 Commander-in-Chief, the Nore 7 (Jul 1943 - 1946) |
| Battles/wars | World War I - Jutland World War II - Bismarck |
| Awards | [1] |
Admiral of the Fleet John Cronyn Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey, GCB, KBE, DSO, DCL (March 7, 1885-January 12, 1971) was a British Royal Navy admiral.
Tovey entered the Royal Navy at age 14. At the start of the First World War, Tovey served on the cruiser Amphion and later commanded the destroyer HMS Onslow during the Battle of Jutland for which he was awarded the D.S.O.
During the interbellum, Imperial Defence Course (1927), Imperial Defence College (HMS President). 09.06.1928 - (04.)1930 HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) (for miscellaneous services) [Assistant Director of Tactical School, 1928-1929]. Tovey commanded various shore positions until, in 1932, he was given command of the battleship HMS Rodney. After his command of Rodney, Tovey was promoted to commodore and then to rear admiral and served as flag officer in the Mediterranean. 09.05.1935 - 27.08.1935 Naval ADC to the King. 04.12.1937 - (02.)1938 senior officers' war course, RN War College, Greenwich [HMS President].
When Italy declared war in 1940, Tovey was Vice Admiral Light Forces and Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet. In November 1940 he was appointed Commander-In-Chief, Home Fleet in the acting rank of Admiral and served in that capacity until 1942. As commander of the Home Fleet he had several clashes with Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord and Winston Churchill. His most notable achievement was sinking the Bismarck.
After the Bismarck action, Tovey resisted moves to court-martial the Prince of Wales' captain, John Leach, and Frederic Wake-Walker, the Admiral commanding Suffolk and Norfolk, who had broken off the battle with Bismarck after Hood had been sunk. Tovey was appalled and a row ensued between Tovey and his superior, Pound. Tovey stated that the two officers had acted correctly in the circumstances. He threatened to resign his position and appear at any court-martial as 'defendant's friend' and defence witness. No more was heard of the proposal.
In June 1943, Tovey became Commander-in-Chief, the Nore, with responsibility for controlling the East coast convoys and organizing minesweeping operations. A couple of months later he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.
Tovey retired from active employment in 1946, although as an Admiral of the Fleet he remained on the active list for life. In the same year, Tovey (who signed himself Jack rather than John) was ennobled as Baron Tovey, of Langton Matravers, a title which became extinct on his death.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Transcription of Official Service Records on www.admirals.org.uk
- John Tovey: Appreciation and obituary
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