James Fownes Somerville
Admiral of the Fleet SIR James Fownes Somerville, G.C.B., G.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy (17 July, 1882 – 19 March, 1949) was an officer of the Royal Navy who played an extensive role in helping the service adopt and exploit wireless signalling.
Early Life & Career
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1904.[1]
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 March, 1912.[2]
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1915.[3]
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1921.[4]
Somerville was appointed in command of Benbow on 20 August, 1922, but Kenelm Everard Lane Creighton was superseded him as a temporary captain in November, 1923.
He was appointed in command of the heavy cruiser Norfolk on 28 December, 1931. He would be superseded in her when she was recommissioned.[5]
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 12 October, 1933.[6]
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 11 September, 1937.[7]
Somerville was retired as medically unfit on 31 July, 1939.[8]
World War II
Somerville was promoted to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 6 April, 1942.[9] [TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]
Bibliography
- "Admiral of the Fleet Sir J. Somerville" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 21 March, 1949. Issue 51335, col E, pg. 7.
- Macintyre, Captain Donald (1961). Fighting Admiral: The Life of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville, G.C.B., G.B.E., D.S.O.. London: Evans Brothers Limited.
See Also
- Service Record at The National Archives. ADM 196/47.
- Wikipedia
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by H. Ralph Crooke |
Captain of H.M.S. Benbow 20 Aug, 1922[Citation needed] |
Succeeded by Kenelm E. L. Creighton |
| Preceded by Joseph C. W. Henley |
Captain of H.M.S. Barham May, 1927[10] |
Succeeded by Hubert S. Monroe |
| Preceded by Thomas N. James |
Captain of H.M.S. Warspite Dec, 1927[11] |
Succeeded by John W. Carrington |
| Preceded by George R. B. Blount |
Captain of H.M.S. Barham Sep, 1928[12] |
Succeeded by John C. Hamilton |
| Preceded by William J. Whitworth |
Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron 30 Jun, 1940 – 10 Aug, 1940 |
Succeeded by William J. Whitworth |
Footnotes
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
