William Jock Whitworth

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Admiral SIR William Jock Whitworth, K.C.B., D.S.O. (29 June, 1884 – 25 October, 1973) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He would command a good many ships, culminating with a stint in charge of the battleship Rodney in 1936, before going on to become an Admiral in World War II.

Life & Career

Born in Chatham, the son of Major Whitworth, William Jock Whitworth tied for fifteenth among 62 successful candidates in examinations for entry to the Britannia intake term of September 1899, with 2412 marks.[1]

Sub-Lieutenant Whitworth was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 67 on 12 January, 1906.[2]

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 October, 1906.[3]

Whitworth was appointed in command of the destroyer Cockatrice on 20 March, 1913.[4] In October, 1913, damage to the destroyer was found not to be the result of "fair wear & tear."[5]

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 October, 1914.[6]

On 4 April, 1918, Whitworth was appointed in command of the destroyer Vidette.[7]

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1918.[8]

After being appointed in command of flotilla leader Anzac in February 1919 and then loaned to the Australian Navy in April, on 30 May 1919 Whitworth was afflicted with jaundice and was placed in Haslar hospital.[9]

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1925.[10]

In April (or November?), 1928, Whitworth sustained a compound fracture of his right little finger.[11]

In 1929, a Court of Enquiry into the loss of paravane equipment from destroyers of the Second Destroyer Flotilla while carrying out trials over a minefield determined that the "whole operation was carried out badly and without sufficient forethought."[12]

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral in July, 1936.[13]

World War II

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 January, 1940.[14]

Whitworth was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 January, 1943.[15]

Whitworth was placed on the Retired List at his own request to facilitate the promotion of younger officers on 15 September, 1946.[16]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William Barlow
Captain of H.M. T.B. 66
12 Jan, 1906[17] – 22 Oct, 1906[18]
Succeeded by
Frederick P. Champion de Crespigny
Preceded by
Arthur Henniker-Heaton
Captain of H.M.S. Bat
22 Feb, 1911[19][20] – 3 Feb, 1912[21]
Succeeded by
Roy Bacchus
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Cockatrice
20 Mar, 1913[22][23] – 7 Jun, 1916[24]
Succeeded by
George E. Matthews
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Orestes
7 Jun, 1916[25][26] – 4 Apr, 1918[27]
Succeeded by
Frederick E. Raw
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Vidette
4 Apr, 1918[28][29] – 11 Feb, 1919[30]
Succeeded by
Richard M. King
Preceded by
Claud F. Allsup
as Captain of H.M.S. Anzac
Captain of H.M.A.S. Anzac
11 Feb, 1919[31][32] – 22 Sep, 1919[33]
Succeeded by
Salisbury H. Simpson
Preceded by
Cecil H. H. Sams
Captain of H.M.S. Veteran
3 Jan, 1922[34] – Apr, 1922[35]
Succeeded by
Charles F. Bush
Preceded by
Montague R. Bernard
Captain of H.M.S. Verity
Apr, 1922[36] – 30 May, 1922[37]
Succeeded by
Alban T. B. Curteis
Preceded by
Philip G. Wodehouse
Captain of H.M.S. Wryneck
5 Jan, 1923[38][39] – 11 Jul, 1924[40]
Succeeded by
The Hon. George Fraser
Preceded by
Hamilton C. Allen
Captain of H.M.S. Valkyrie
30 Jul, 1924[41] – 23 Nov, 1925[42]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey S. Holden
Preceded by
Alfred E. Evans
In Command, Physical Training School, Portsmouth
7 Jan, 1927[43] – 17 Dec, 1928
Succeeded by
Errol Manners
Preceded by
Montague G. B. Legge
Captain of H.M.S. Stuart
19 Dec, 1928[44][45] – Feb, 1931[46]
Succeeded by
Alfred H. Taylor
Preceded by
Montague G. B. Legge
Captain (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla
19 Dec, 1928[47] – Feb, 1931[48]
Succeeded by
Alfred H. Taylor
Preceded by
Claude C. Dobson
Captain of H.M.S. Malcolm
17 Oct, 1931[49] – 7 Dec, 1931[50]
Succeeded by
Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton
Preceded by
St. Aubyn B. Wake
Captain of the Fleet, Mediterranean Fleet
Aug, 1933[51] – 1935[52]
Succeeded by
Richard J. R. Scott
Preceded by
Geoffrey R. S. Watkins
Captain of H.M.S. Centurion
29 May, 1934[53] – 1 Jun, 1934[54]
Succeeded by
Montague G. B. Legge
Preceded by
Wilfred N. Custance
Captain of H.M.S. Rodney
21 Feb, 1936[55] – 25 Jul, 1936[56]
Succeeded by
Ronald H. C. Hallifax
Preceded by
Guy C. C. Royle
Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
7 Jun, 1937[57][58]
Succeeded by
Stuart S. Bonham-Carter
Preceded by
Geoffrey Layton
Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
1 Jun, 1939[59][60] – 11 Mar, 1940
Succeeded by
Sir James F. Somerville
Preceded by
Sir James F. Somerville
Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
10 Aug, 1940 – 7 May, 1941[61]
Succeeded by
Lancelot E. Holland
as Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
Sir Charles J. C. Little
Second Sea Lord
1 Jun, 1941[62] – 31 Dec, 1943[63]
Succeeded by
Sir Algernon U. Willis
Preceded by
Sir Wilbraham T. R. Ford
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth
1 Jun, 1944[64] – 17 Jul, 1946[65]
Succeeded by
Sir Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton
as Flag Officer Commanding Scotland and Northern Ireland

Footnotes

  1. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Aug 12, 1899; pg. 8; Issue 35906.
  2. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 10 January, 1906. Issue 37913, col F, p. 9.
  3. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  4. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 292.
  5. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  6. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  7. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 935.
  8. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  9. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  10. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  11. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  12. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  13. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  14. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  15. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  16. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  17. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  18. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  19. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  20. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 282.
  21. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  22. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  23. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392t.
  24. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  25. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  26. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396a.
  27. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  28. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  29. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 935.
  30. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  31. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  32. The Navy List. (June, 1919). p. 730.
  33. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  34. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  35. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  36. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  37. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  38. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  39. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 291.
  40. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  41. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  42. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  43. The Navy List. (January, 1928). p. 282.
  44. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 271.
  45. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  46. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  47. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  48. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  49. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  50. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  51. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  52. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  53. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  54. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  55. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  56. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 117.
  57. "The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 7 June, 1937. Issue 47704, col E, p. 10.
  58. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  59. "The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 1 June, 1939. Issue 48320, col E, p. 9.
  60. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  61. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  62. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  63. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  64. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.
  65. Whitworth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/232. f. 224.