John Walter Durnford

Vice-Admiral John Walter Durnford, C.B., R.N., Retired (25 October, 1891 – 7 February, 1967) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 29 February, 1912.

Durnford was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 28 February, 1914.

Durnford was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the destroyer Porpoise on 27 August, 1918.

He was thanked for his services in rescuing men from a steam ship on 19 September, 1918. On 21 October, he was admitted to hospital with influenza.

Post-War

Durnford was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 28 February, 1922.

Durnford was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1927. On 18 February, 1928, he was lent to the Royal Australian Navy for two years. In the event, he actually reverted to Royal Navy service on 1 August, 1930.

Durnford was appointed in command of Echo for trials and service around August, 1934.

Durnford was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1935.

World War II

On 2 June, 1940 Durnford was made Chief Staff officer to the Flag Officer in Charge, Greenock, temporary vice Creswell.

Durnford was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 7 July, 1944.

In 1947, he was found unfit and underwent a prostatectomy at St. Peter's Hospital.

Durnford was placed on the Retired List on 12 February, 1948.

Durnford was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 13 July, 1948. He was granted permission to proceed to France and Italy. From 1 January 1950 to end of 1952, he was appointed Naval Assessor to House of Lords and to Home Office.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Edmund Johnstone	Captain of H.M.S. P39 21 Feb, 1918 – 22 Aug, 1918	Succeeded by John Harding
Preceded by Frederick W. F. Fegen	Captain of H.M.S. Porpoise 27 Aug, 1918 – 3 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Henry E. Dale	Captain of H.M.S. Offa 3 Feb, 1919 – 16 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Norman A. G. Ohlenschlager	Captain of H.M.S. Sirdar 8 Jan, 1921 – Apr, 1921	Succeeded by Richard Harter
Preceded by Edward C. Thornton	Captain of H.M.S. Raider 20 Apr, 1921 – 15 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by Patrick B. Crohan
Preceded by Malcolm Murray	Captain of H.M.S. Sorceress May, 1922 – 3 Jan, 1923	Succeeded by Norman B. Weir
Preceded by John H. Jauncey	Captain of H.M.S. Volunteer 5 Jan, 1923 – Oct, 1923	Succeeded by Edward S. F. Fegen
Preceded by Edward S. F. Fegen	Captain of H.M.S. Somme Oct, 1923 – 12 Nov, 1923	Succeeded by Walter N. T. Beckett
Preceded by Geoffrey B. O'B. Harding	Captain of H.M.S. Warwick 11 Jan, 1933 – 30 Jul, 1934	Succeeded by Miles A. G. Child
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Echo c. Aug, 1934	Succeeded by Hugh M. Barnes
Preceded by Cecil S. Sandford	Captain of H.M.S. Suffolk 24 Jul, 1939 – 31 May, 1940	Succeeded by Arthur D. Torlesse
Preceded by Arthur R. Halfhide	Captain of H.M.S. Resolution 25 Jun, 1942 – 25 Oct, 1943	Succeeded by Alfred M. Bingeman