John Gilbert Sutton
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 At the end of November, he was appointed to K 3 until superseded on 19 April, 1917.[3]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]
Sutton was 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 He was superseded on 8 October, 1932.[9]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
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.[12]
[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. H 52 25 Mar, 1919[13] |
Succeeded by Charles G. N. Graham |
| Preceded by Denis W. Granet |
Captain of H.M.S. H 47 7 Jan, 1922[14] – 1923 |
Succeeded by Theodore F. A. Voysey |
| Preceded by James A. P. Blackburn |
Captain of H.M.S. L 56 25 Aug, 1923[15] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ Sutton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/54/54. f. 54.
- ↑ The Navy List. (June, 1920). p. 782a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 764.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 251.
