Difference between revisions of "John Gilbert Sutton"

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==World War II==
 
==World War II==
In 1939, Sutton was informed that he would be required for naval service and that he should, in effect, keep his calendar clear.  On 2 December, he was admitted to the hospital ship ''Aba'' with "anxiety neurosis".  He was found fit for duty at year's end.  Almost immediately, there was a grounding of the ''Northern Foam'', and a Board in Enquiry found that her captain, and that of ''Northern Chief'' should be more careful in future.
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In 1939, Sutton was informed that he would be required for naval service and that he should, in effect, keep his calendar clear.  He was appointed in command of the anti-submarine trawler [[H.M.S. Northern Chief (1936)|''Northern Chief'']] on 10 September, 1939.  On 2 December, he was admitted to the hospital ship ''Aba'' with "anxiety neurosis".  He was found fit for duty at year's end.  Almost immediately, there was a grounding of the ''Northern Foam'', and a Board in Enquiry found that her captain, and that of ''Northern Chief'' should be more careful in future. Sutton was superseded in ''Northern Chief'' on 4 February, 1940.<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
  
Despite the events described above, Sutton was involved in naval service in World War II and indeed was awarded a D.S.C., gazetted 23 May, 1944 for his "outstanding courage, resolution, leadership, skill and devotion to duty in operations which led to successful landings on the Italian mainland and at Salerno.".<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
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Sutton was appointed in command of the armed yacht [[H.M.S. Medusa (1906)|''Mollusc'']] (formerly ''Medusa'') on 11 March, 1940, vice [[Valentine Maurice Wyndham-Quin|Wyndham-Quin]].  He was superseded on 6 September, 1940 by [[Francis Theodor Hare]] and placed in command of the sloop [[H.M.S. Weston (1932)|''Weston'']], vice [[Seymour Charles Tuke]].  He was superseded on 24 August, 1942.  Later that year, he was appointed to command an L.S.T. and to be Senior Officer, First L.S.T. Flotilla.  In 1943, he was placed in command of L.S.T. 319 and as Commander, Seventh L.S.T. Flotilla.<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
  
On 31 August, 1944 Sutton was surveyed at Royal Naval Hospital Minterne for a dislocation of his left shoulderHe was found fit on 21 December, 1944.<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
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Sutton was awarded a D.S.C., gazetted 23 May, 1944 for his "outstanding courage, resolution, leadership, skill and devotion to duty in operations which led to successful landings on the Italian mainland and at Salerno." Sutton's appointment in command of L.S.T. 319 and the Flotilla ended on 13 July, 1944.<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
  
He reverted to the Retired List on 1 June, 1946.
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On 31 August, 1944 Sutton was surveyed at Royal Naval Hospital Minterne for a dislocation of his left shoulder.  He was found fit on 21 December, 1944, having been named Officer in Charge of landing craft in Liverpool on 9 October.<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
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He reverted to the Retired List on 1 June, 1946. He was called back for a twelve-day Commodore of Convoy course on 16 March, 1952.<ref>Sutton Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/54/54.|D7605642}} f. 54.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 08:38, 13 July 2017

Commander John Gilbert Sutton, D.S.C. (13 January, 1892 – ) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of a Civil Engineer named G. W. Sutton, Esq., Sutton gained no time upon passing out of the Training Establishment.

Sutton served in battlecruisers Indomitable and Invincible from May 1911 to May 1912 and then in Barham until 26 February, 1913.[1]

Sutton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 September, 1914.[2]

Sutton served in C 32 from November 1915 until October, 1916 when he was appointed to F 3. At the end of November, he was appointed to K 3 until superseded on 19 April, 1917.[3]

He served in Ithuriel and in general submarine service for much of the late war period before being appointed in L 3 on 29 June, 1918.

Post-War

On 7 December, 1918, he was placed in command of the captured German U 54. Early in 1919, he went to the Periscope School.[4]

On 12 October, 1921 he was appointed in command of Group M Submarines in Reserve, on the books of H.M.S. Vulcan. Sutton commanded E 47 and served as Senior Staff Officer from early 1922 to late August, 1923, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 September, 1922.[5]

In 1925, Sutton was subjected to a Court Martial for having negligently or by default hazarded L 56, L 54 and L 69, as well as having negligently or by default stranded L 56. The charges were proved, and he was reprimanded on 22 December, 1924.[6]

Sutton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1928.[7]

In 1930, Sutton lost torpedo No. 1078 from H 32. He was informed he was considered to blame and to be more careful in future, on 11 February.[8]

Sutton was appointed to Resource vice O'Connell, possibly in command, on 1 August, 1931. He was superseded on 8 October, 1932.[9]

In perhaps August or September 1932, a serious but nearly illegible event occurred in which Sutton appears to have injured a man so badly that he died. An inquest determined that the man's death was caused by a skull fracture caused by "a direct blow by Cdr. Sutton." Sutton was placed in custody and sent to H.M.S. Coventry. Later, it appears that Sutton indicated that the dead man had fallen and hit his head on a door. This may have occurred at a hotel, and an engagement may have been involved. Sutton claimed to have assisted the man, and that he appeared to be alright before Sutton left.[10]

Sutton was imprisoned and placed on the Retired List due to misconduct in accordance with provisions of Order in Council of 12 October, 1925 on 25 January, 1933.[11]

World War II

In 1939, Sutton was informed that he would be required for naval service and that he should, in effect, keep his calendar clear. He was appointed in command of the anti-submarine trawler Northern Chief on 10 September, 1939. On 2 December, he was admitted to the hospital ship Aba with "anxiety neurosis". He was found fit for duty at year's end. Almost immediately, there was a grounding of the Northern Foam, and a Board in Enquiry found that her captain, and that of Northern Chief should be more careful in future. Sutton was superseded in Northern Chief on 4 February, 1940.[12]

Sutton was appointed in command of the armed yacht Mollusc (formerly Medusa) on 11 March, 1940, vice Wyndham-Quin. He was superseded on 6 September, 1940 by Francis Theodor Hare and placed in command of the sloop Weston, vice Seymour Charles Tuke. He was superseded on 24 August, 1942. Later that year, he was appointed to command an L.S.T. and to be Senior Officer, First L.S.T. Flotilla. In 1943, he was placed in command of L.S.T. 319 and as Commander, Seventh L.S.T. Flotilla.[13]

Sutton was awarded a D.S.C., gazetted 23 May, 1944 for his "outstanding courage, resolution, leadership, skill and devotion to duty in operations which led to successful landings on the Italian mainland and at Salerno." Sutton's appointment in command of L.S.T. 319 and the Flotilla ended on 13 July, 1944.[14]

On 31 August, 1944 Sutton was surveyed at Royal Naval Hospital Minterne for a dislocation of his left shoulder. He was found fit on 21 December, 1944, having been named Officer in Charge of landing craft in Liverpool on 9 October.[15]

He reverted to the Retired List on 1 June, 1946. He was called back for a twelve-day Commodore of Convoy course on 16 March, 1952.[16]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. H 52
25 Mar, 1919[17]
Succeeded by
Charles G. N. Graham
Preceded by
Denis W. Granet
Captain of H.M.S. H 47
7 Jan, 1922[18] – 1923
Succeeded by
Theodore F. A. Voysey
Preceded by
James A. P. Blackburn
Captain of H.M.S. L 56
25 Aug, 1923[19]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  2. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  3. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  4. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  5. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  6. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  7. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  8. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  9. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  10. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  11. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  12. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  13. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  14. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  15. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  16. Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
  17. The Navy List. (June, 1920). p. 782a.
  18. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 764.
  19. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 251.