John Cronyn Tovey

Admiral of the Fleet John C. Tovey, 1944.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral of the Fleet SIR John Cronyn Tovey, First Baron Tovey, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., D.C.L., (17 March, 1885 – 12 January, 1971) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 July, 1906.

Lieutenant (G) Tovey was appointed to the scout cruiser Amphion on 2 April, 1913.

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July, 1914.

Tovey commanded Onslow at the Battle of Jutland, as a unit of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla, screening the First Battle Cruiser Squadron until being detached with Moresby to cover seaplane carrier Engadine as her seaplane scouted the enemy cruiser forces. After their services were no longer required, they quit Engadine and joined destroyers accompanying the Fifth Battle Squadron. The destroyer was disabled by shellfire after firing a torpedo, but survived the battle, making Aberdeen on June 2 under tow with only partial engine function.

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916.

Tovey was appointed in command of Ursa in October, 1917.

He was appointed in command of Wolfhound in April, 1918.

Tovey was appointed in command of Seawolf in August, 1922.

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1923.

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 27 August, 1935.

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 3 May, 1939.

World War II

Tovey was awarded the K.B.E. "for distinguished services in the masterly and determined action in which the German Battleship Bismarck was destroyed.".

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 30 October, 1942.

Tovey was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 27 October, 1943.

See Also

• Thirteenth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
• Wikipedia

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/126/117

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John C. Hodgson	Captain of H.M.S. Jackal 6 Jan, 1915 – 7 May, 1916	Succeeded by Alban T. B. Curteis
Preceded by Alban T. B. Curteis	Captain of H.M.S. Onslow 7 May, 1916 – Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Harold O. Joyce
Preceded by Jack E. A. Mocatta	Captain of H.M.S. Ursa 28 Sep, 1917 – 2 Apr, 1918	Succeeded by Percy R. P. Percival
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Wolfhound 2 Apr, 1918 – 2 Jun, 1919	Succeeded by Evelyn C. O. Thomson
Preceded by Charles F. R. Cowan	Captain of H.M.S. Seawolf 1 Aug, 1922 – 7 Jan, 1924	Succeeded by Gerald C. Harrison
Preceded by Henry G. L. Oliphant	Captain of H.M.S. Saumarez 10 Jul, 1924 – 21 Aug, 1924	Succeeded by Douglas Faviell
Preceded by Kenneth MacLeod	Captain of H.M.S. Bruce 31 Dec, 1924 – 19 Apr, 1926	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by Richard A. A. Plowden	Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla 31 Dec, 1924 – 19 Apr, 1926	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by James V. Creagh	Captain (D), Ninth Destroyer Flotilla 11 May, 1925 – 1 Jul, 1925	Succeeded by Guy L. Coleridge
Preceded by Richard A. A. Plowden	Captain of H.M.S. Campbell 19 Apr, 1926 – 10 Jan, 1927	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by Richard A. A. Plowden	Captain (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla 19 Apr, 1926 – 10 Jan, 1927	Succeeded by Reginald V. Holt
Preceded by Fischer Burges Watson	Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord 5 May, 1930 – 29 Mar, 1932	Succeeded by G. Frederick B. Edward-Collins
Preceded by Roger M. Bellairs	Captain of H.M.S. Rodney 12 Apr, 1932 – 31 Aug, 1934	Succeeded by Wilfred N. Custance
Preceded by Robert C. Davenport	Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham 30 Jan, 1935 – 1 Jul, 1937	Succeeded by Stuart S. Bonham-Carter
Preceded by James F. Somerville as Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean	Rear Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean Mar, 1938 – 18 Jul, 1940	Succeeded by Irvine G. Glennie
Preceded by Geoffrey Layton	Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station 18 Jul, 1940 – 23 Oct, 1940	Succeeded by Henry D. Pridham-Wippell
Preceded by ?	Vice-Admiral Commanding Light Forces, Mediterranean 18 Jul, 1940 – 23 Oct, 1940	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Sir George H. D'O. Lyon	Commander-in-Chief at the Nore 1943 – 1946	Succeeded by Sir Harold M. Burrough