Evelyn John James Southby
Commander (retired) Evelyn John James Southby, R.N. (6 August, 1882 – 27 March, 1937) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Southby was born in Darjeeling, India, the elder son of Richard Southby.[1]
Southby had great trouble passing in gunnery, failing in October and November of 1903. He was grated a third trial and warned that he would be dismissed the service should he fail. He scraped by with a third class certificate in January 1904, obtaining 687 of 1,000 marks. In 1904, he lost some confidential books and was accorded the Admiralty's "severe displeasure."
Despite these tribulations, Southby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1905.
In March 1912 it was reported that on two occasions in command of the river gunboat Sandpiper on the West River in China, Southby had demonstrated a "gt. lack of initiative and energy" when dealing with pirates. Vice-Admiral Winsloe noted that Southby possessed "neither energy nor ability", and that he had "had two very good opportunities of dealing a blow to piracy on the West River but did nothing." He was accordingly appointed to the armoured cruiser Roxburgh of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron on 20 June 1912.
Once again despite these bumps, Southby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1913. At the end of 1913, he was appointed to Cormorant at Gibraltar. He stayed on in her until war broke out, eventually being reappointed in her as assistant to the flag captain from mid-December 1915. He left her when he was appointed in command of the sweeping sloop Petunia on 28 April, 1916. Throughout this period, he was receiving more favourable evaluations.
Southby left Petunia in December 1918 and was appointed in command of the monitor Roberts on 2 January, 1919.[2]
Southby was placed on the Retired List upon his relief on 7 December, 1925 at the rank of Commander.[3] He died "very suddenly" at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, East Grinstead on 27 March, 1937. He left a widow, Vera St. John Southby. His funeral took place at St. John's Church, Copthorne on 31 March, and he was interred at Ocklynge Cemetary, Eastbourne.[1]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Hugh R. Tickell |
Captain of H.M.S. Sandpiper Mar, 1910[4] – Mar, 1912 |
Succeeded by Illtyd A. S. Hutton |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Petunia 28 Apr, 1916[5][6] – Dec, 1918[7] |
Succeeded by Alphonse M. Tulloch |
| Preceded by Bolton M. Eyres-Monsell |
Captain of H.M.S. Roberts 2 Jan, 1919[8] – Aug, 1919 |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Harold T. Baillie-Grohman |
Captain of H.M.S. Truro 17 Mar, 1920[9] – 19 May, 1920[10] |
Succeeded by Francis R. Openshaw |
| Preceded by Herbert C. Mayo |
Captain of H.M.S. Laburnum 8 Oct, 1920[11] – 4 Dec, 1920[12] |
Succeeded by George P. Sherston |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Tuesday, 30 March, 1937. Issue 47645, col B, p. 1.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 896.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33131. p. 983. 9 February, 1926.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 372.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 396l.
- ↑ Southby Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/48/115. f. 118.
- ↑ Southby Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/48/115. f. 118.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 896.
- ↑ Southby Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/48/115. f. 118.
- ↑ Southby Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/48/115. f. 118.
- ↑ Southby Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/48/115. f. 118.
- ↑ Southby Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/48/115. f. 118.
