John Needham Knox

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Captain (retired) John Needham Knox (10 October, 1890 – ) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Knox was amongst the first batch of cadets to enter the new Royal Naval College, Osborne.[1] His first appointment was to the battleship Britannia, during which time Rear-Admiral Morgan noted he'd "vastly improved."[2]

Knox was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 May, 1913.[3]

Knox was appointed to Jackal in December 1913 as first officer, and served in her until being appointed to Onslow on 29 March, 1916. He fought in Onslow at the Battle of Jutland.[4]

Soon after the battle, Knox was appointed in command of the destroyer Ettrick. In mid-1917, he was placed in command of the Laforey Class destroyer Linnet. At war's end, he was commanding Torch.

On 29 March, 1918, he rendered prompt assistance to the armed boarding steamer Tithonus which had been torpedoed in the North Sea by UB 72 "which resulted in the saving of so many lives."[5]

Knox served on the staff at Osborne College in 1919-20, up until the time of her closing.

Knox attended the Short Gunnery Course at Excellent in 1921 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 May, of that year. From August 1921 to 1 September, 1923 he was appointed to Inconstant for gunnery duties, in lieu of a Lieutenant (G).[6]

Knox was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 August, 1926.[7]

He served as staff officer (operations) to Commanders-in-Chief in China and at Plymouth.

Knox commanded Crusader of the Second Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet from 1932-34.[8]

Knox was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 10 October, 1936.[9]

World War II

Knox worked with landing craft and in Washington, D.C..[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Colin A. G. Hutchison
Captain of H.M.S. Ettrick
28 Jul, 1916[11] – 26 Jun, 1917
Succeeded by
Athol E. Gudgeon
Preceded by
Joseph H. L. Yorke
Captain of H.M.S. Linnet
26 Jun, 1917[12] – 8 Apr, 1918
Succeeded by
Kenneth B. Millar
Preceded by
John R. Le H. Ward
Captain of H.M.S. Torch
8 Apr, 1918[13] – 18 Dec, 1918
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Martin Smith
Captain of H.M.S. Gretna
10 Jul, 1924[14]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Crusader
2 May, 1932[15] – 27 Nov, 1934[16]
Succeeded by
Edward L. Berthon

Footnotes

  1. "Captain J.N. Knox Retired." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Oct 24, 1936; pg. 17; Issue 47514.
  2. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  3. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  4. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  5. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  6. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  7. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  8. "Captain J.N. Knox Retired." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Oct 24, 1936; pg. 17; Issue 47514.
  9. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  10. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.
  11. The Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 394f.
  12. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395d.
  13. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 921a.
  14. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, Jun 20, 1924; pg. 5; Issue 43683.
  15. The Navy List. (January, 1933). p. 227.
  16. Knox Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/46. f. 45.