John Ernest Troyte Harper
Vice-Admiral John Ernest Troyte Harper, C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (29 May, 1874 – 27 May, 1949) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Contents
Life & Career
John Ernest Troyte Harper was born on 29 May, 1874 in New Zealand, the fifth son of Leonard Harper. He received his early education at Christ's College, New Zealand.[1] He joined the Royal Navy as a colonial cadet, entering H.M.S. Britannia on 20 March, 1888. He was discharged in December, 1889 having gained eleven months' time on passing out of Britannia, and joined the old battleship Monarch in the Channel Squadron on 15 January, 1890. On 15 February he was rated Midshipman without examination. Monarch paid off on 13 May and on the following day Harper was appointed to the battleship Rodney. In his service record Captain Warren noted that he was a "Good boat Midshipman." On 22 July he was lent to Invincible for manœuvres. He left Rodney on 17 April 1891 for the cruiser Orlando.[2]
Harper was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1906.[3]
He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 August, 1924, vice Boyle.[4]
He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 July, 1926.[5] On 30 August, 1926, Rear-Admiral Dudley Pound, about to take up the position of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, wrote to Paymaster Commander J. R. Hemsted:
I remember you said that you might be going with Admiral Harper and should you be in any way committed to him and consider it necessary to consult with him I would ask that you should do it by telegram otherwise it will not be possible to get things fixed up. My information which is later than when I spoke to you on the subject is that in the near future he is likely to get a dockyard but not a seagoing command.[6]
In 1968 James told the Second Earl Beatty that:
The mistake Wemyss made was in getting his old navigating officer, of no distinction, to prepare a record on Jutland, before the German reports of the battle were available.[7]
Who was Who
HARPER, Vice-Adm. John Ernest Troyte CB 1926; MVO 1913
Born 29 May 1874; 5th s of late Leonard Harper of Bruton, Somerset, late of Christchurch, New Zealand; m 1904, Dorothy, o d of late Captain Alexander Meldrum, RN; one s ; died 27 May 1949
EDUCATION Christ’s College, New Zealand
CAREER Entered Navy, 1888; Lt 1896; Comm. 1906; Capt. 1913; Rear-Adm. 1924; Vice-Adm. retired, 1929; served S. African War, 1899–1900 (medal, Natal clasp); Ogaden Somali Expedition, 1900–01 (medal, Jubaland clasp); Commander (N.) of HM Yacht Victoria and Albert, 1911–14; compiled Official Record of battle of Jutland; Master-of-the-Fleet for the Naval Review on 20th July 1914; commanded ships afloat during European War; Director of Navigation Admiralty, 1919–21; Member Anglo-American Arbitration Board 1921–22; Naval ADC to the King, 1923–24; retired list, 1927; Nautical Assessor to House of Lords, 1934–46; Home Guard, 1940–42; has orders of Dannebrog of Denmark and Redeemer of Greece
PUBLICATIONS The Truth about Jutland, 1927; (with Langhorne Gibson) The Riddle of Jutland, 1934; The Royal Navy at War, 1941
CLUB United Service
ADDRESS Ilam, Hawkhurst, Kent Hawkhurst, 110
Footnotes
- ↑ "Vice-Admiral J. E. T. Harper" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 28 May, 1949. Issue 51393, col D, pg. 7.
- ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/43. p. 507.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27982. p. 31. 1 January, 1907.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 32963. p. 5954. 8 August, 1924.
- ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33179. p. 4403. 3 July, 1926.
- ↑ Quoted in Brodhurst. pp. 61-62.
- ↑ James to Second Earl Beatty. 1968. National Maritime Museum. BTY 21/3.
Bibliography
- "Vice-Admiral J. E. T. Harper" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 28 May, 1949. Issue 51393, col D, pg. 7.
Papers
Service Record
See Also
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