Joseph Bernard Newill

Commander (retired) Joseph Bernard Newill, D.S.O. (17 June, 1887 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy with a facility in Norwegian.

Life & Career

Newill gained three months' time on passing out, but there is no indication whether he went through the Training Establishment or Britannia. He was appointed to the armoured cruiser Hogue on 15 January, 1904, subsequently transferring to Suffolk in the Channel and then Kent of the Cruiser Squadron before the end of the year. He left Kent when she paid off on 23 August, 1905.

Newill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1909.

Newill was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 038 on 9 May, 1911.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Tigress on 5 November, 1917.

Newill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1917.

On 19 January, 1918, Newill's Tigress along with sister ship Lizard opposed the German-Turkish ships Breslau and Goeben in the Battle of Imbros, in which the British lost the monitors M.28 and Raglan to long range enemy fire before the enemy ships fell afoul a minefield. Newill was lauded for his skill and gallantry in fighting the superior enemy forces and was awarded a D.S.O. for his performance, gazetted on 14 September.

Post-War

Newill was charged with failing to carry out orders early in 1920. A Court of Enquiry on 6 February found him "greatly to blame", and he was accorded Their Lordship's displeasure.

Newill was placed on the Retired List at his own request upon being relieved in Tara on 25 May 1920. Later that year, he was granted a Board of Trade Master's Certificate. In 1921 he moved to South Africa. By 1923, he was working as Harbour Master, Malacca.

Newill was promoted to the rank of Commander on the Retired List on 17 June, 1927.

In 1937, it was discovered that Newill was Harbour Master in Hong Kong and fulfilled functions related to the Local Defence Scheme – a position that would exempt him from mobilisation. However, he was reminded that this did not exempt him from Admiralty instructions that required him to report his address.

World War II

In 1941, Newill was superseded in an appointment as Liaison Officer with the Norwegian Naval Authorities because he appeared to lack the energy and personal qualifications required of someone holding this position. The Admiralty stressed that this was not considered to reflect negatively upon his reputation. No further appointments appear to be spelled out, but he was not released until April, 1946.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Hobart W. T. R. Seymour	Captain of H.M. T.B. 038 9 May, 1914 – 20 Nov, 1914	Succeeded by Richard C. Clavell
Preceded by Basil W. L. Owen	Captain of H.M.S. Stour 17 Jan, 1915 – 31 Mar, 1916	Succeeded by William A. C. Salmond
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Pelican 31 Mar, 1916 – 7 May, 1916	Succeeded by Kenneth A. Beattie
Preceded by Raymond J. Harris	Captain of H.M.S. Beaver 7 May, 1916 – 15 Feb, 1917	Succeeded by Valentine M. Wyndham-Quin
Preceded by Terence A. F. Longford	Captain of H.M.S. Legion 5 Apr, 1917 – 26 Sep, 1917	Succeeded by Francis A. Clutterbuck
Preceded by Francis A. Clutterbuck	Captain of H.M.S. Loyal 26 Sep, 1917 – 5 Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Frank A. C. Baker
Preceded by Frank A. C. Baker	Captain of H.M.S. Tigress 5 Nov, 1917 – 20 May, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Frederic T. Peters	Captain of H.M.S. Cockatrice 20 May, 1919 – 2 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Ernald G. H. Master	Captain of H.M.S. Trojan 2 Oct, 1919 – 10 Nov, 1919	Succeeded by Harold S. Gillett
Preceded by Henry A. Binmore	Captain of H.M.S. Tara 10 Nov, 1919 – 17 May, 1920	Succeeded by Charles M. Blackman