Hugh Turnour England

Rear-Admiral Hugh Turnour England, C.B., D.S.O.*, Royal Navy (26 April, 1884 – 1978) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Ealing as the son of Captain William George England, R.N., England gained four months time on passing out of Britannia on 15 May, 1900.

England was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 July, 1905.

In mid 1909, having recently left the paid-off pre-dreadnought Exmouth, England passed for command of torpedo craft in gunnery, navigation and torpedoes. He was placed in temporary command of the destroyer Fawn.

England was appointed in command of the destroyer Colne on 31 December, 1909. In 1911, the Admiralty blamed England for a collision between Colne and the destroyer Foam.

England was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July, 1913.

England was appointed in command of the destroyer Chelmer on 11 October, 1913.

Great War

England was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1915.

On 29 September, 1916, while in command of Harpy which was then based at Mudros, England was severely wounded in both legs by rifle fire. A report of the action reads as follows:

a) S.N.O. Port Laki to Senior Officer, 1st Detached Sqdn.
No. 103/2 3rd October 1916
 
Submitted. Herewith are reports on a cattle raid carried out by the Anatonian irregulars on 28th September in Gulf of Iassus, Gulf of Mandelyah.
Commander H.T. England in Harpy was in command of the supporting force which consisted of Harpy, Mosquito, Trawlers 1844 (St Clair), 1744 (Slasher), 258 [Richmond Castle In footnote] and motor caaique St Nicholas.
Harpy came under heavy rifle fire off Chulukioi and I very much regret that Commander England was severely wounded in both legs below the knee, the bones of one leg being broken.
The Captain of Harpy was wounded about 1 p.m. and turned over the command to Mosquito, but refused to allow the ship to return to Port Laki until the irregulars he was supporting were safely off, about 3.00 p.m.
I ordered Harpy to Mudros the same evening. Staff Surgeon of Latona being sent to look after Commander England on the passage...

He was reported as being in satisfactory condition on 3 October. On 11 October he was admitted to Haslar for a bullet wound in his left leg (though elsewhere the right leg is mentioned), six weeks being expected for treatment. He was not, however, fit for service until 19 August, 1918.

Post-War

On 1 February, 1920, he was appointed in command of the sweeping sloop Valerian.

England was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1923.

On 24 March, 1927, the "U. S. Minister at Nanking" thanked England for his services and cooperation in helping civilians.

England, as captain of Sussex, was also thanked for rendering assistance to the people of Ierissos in the wake of the earthquake of 26 September, 1932. A delegation of civilians came aboard {UK-Resolution}} on 1 October to deliver a speech, saying in part, "We all of us lost members of our families and it is the ENGLISH SAILORS who have recovered the bodies and buried them. The only angel in this calamity has been the British Fleet."

England was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 2 March, 1935.

World War II

On 26 April, 1944, England left a briefcase containing Top Secret materials in a taxi and the Admiralty conveyed its displeasure in the oversight. On 21 December, 1943 he was gazetted for receiving a D.S.O. for "gallant and distinguished services and untiring devotion to duty in operations which led to the capture of Sicily by Allied forces." On 14 November, 1944, he was gazetted for receiving a bar to his D.S.O. for "gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the Coast of Normandy." England reverted to the Retired List on 14 April, 1947, having been recently treated for cellulitis in his left leg, a condition related to his old gunshot wounds.

He would receive a C.B. at the Birthday Honours of 1947, gazetted 6 June, 1947.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John S. G. Fraser	Captain of H.M. T.B. 52 3 Jan, 1905 – 10 Nov, 1905	Succeeded by Ralph L. Clayton
Preceded by George F. A. Mulock	Captain of H.M.S. Fawn 15 Jun, 1909 – 31 Dec, 1909	Succeeded by Montague G. B. Legge
Preceded by Ernest E. Parker	Captain of H.M.S. Colne 31 Dec, 1909 – 1 Jan, 1913	Succeeded by M. Brock Birkett
Preceded by Miles B. Birkett	Captain of H.M.S. Albatross 1913 – 11 Oct, 1913	Succeeded by Gerald C. Dickens
Preceded by Gerald C. Dickens	Captain of H.M.S. Chelmer 11 Oct, 1913 – 11 Mar, 1916	Succeeded by Ralph M. Hall
Preceded by Gerald C. Dickens	Captain of H.M.S. Harpy 11 Mar, 1916 – 30 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Wellwood G. C. Maxwell
Preceded by Harry G. H. Tandy	Captain of H.M.S. Valerian 1 Feb, 1920 – Feb, 1923	Succeeded by Evan Bruce-Gardyne
Preceded by Evan Bruce-Gardyne	Captain of H.M.S. Valerian 16 May, 1923 – 3 Dec, 1923	Succeeded by William A. Usher
Preceded by Richard F. White	Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth 3 Dec, 1923 – 8 Jul, 1924	Succeeded by Miles B. Birkett
Preceded by James W. Murray	Captain of H.M.S. Colombo 1 Jun, 1925 – Mar, 1926	Succeeded by Charles G. C. Sumner
Preceded by William B. Mackenzie	Captain of H.M.S. Emerald Mar, 1926 – Apr, 1927	Succeeded by Harold G. C. Franklin
Preceded by Henry R. Sawbridge	Captain of H.M.S. Sussex 27 Oct, 1931	Succeeded by Stuart S. Bonham-Carter