Joseph Bernard Newill

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search

Commander (retired) Joseph Bernard Newill, D.S.O. (17 June, 1887 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy with a facility in Norwegian.

Life & Career

Newill gained three months' time on passing out, but there is no indication whether he went through the Training Establishment or Britannia. He was appointed to the armoured cruiser Hogue on 15 January, 1904, subsequently transferring to Suffolk in the Channel and then Kent of the Cruiser Squadron before the end of the year. He left Kent when she paid off on 23 August, 1905.[1]

Newill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1909.[2]

Newill was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 038 on 9 May, 1911.[3]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Tigress on 5 November, 1917.[4]

Newill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1917.[5]

On 19 January, 1918, Newill's Tigress along with sister ship Lizard opposed the German-Turkish ships Breslau and Goeben in the Battle of Imbros, in which the British lost the monitors M.28 and Raglan to long range enemy fire before the enemy ships fell afoul a minefield. Newill was lauded for his skill and gallantry in fighting the superior enemy forces and was awarded a D.S.O. for his performance, gazetted on 14 September.[6]

Post-War

Newill was charged with failing to carry out orders early in 1920. A Court of Enquiry on 6 February found him "greatly to blame", and he was accorded Their Lordship's displeasure.[7]

Newill was placed on the Retired List at his own request upon being relieved in Tara on 25 May 1920. Later that year, he was granted a Board of Trade Master's Certificate. In 1921 he moved to South Africa. By 1923, he was working as Harbour Master, Malacca.[8]

Newill was promoted to the rank of Commander on the Retired List on 17 June, 1927.[9]

In 1937, it was discovered that Newill was Harbour Master in Hong Kong and fulfilled functions related to the Local Defence Scheme – a position that would exempt him from mobilisation. However, he was reminded that this did not exempt him from Admiralty instructions that required him to report his address.

World War II

In 1941, Newill was superseded in an appointment as Liaison Officer with the Norwegian Naval Authorities because he appeared to lack the energy and personal qualifications required of someone holding this position. The Admiralty stressed that this was not considered to reflect negatively upon his reputation. No further appointments appear to be spelled out, but he was not released until April, 1946.[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Hobart W. T. R. Seymour
Captain of H.M. T.B. 038
9 May, 1914[11][12] – 20 Nov, 1914[13]
Succeeded by
Richard C. Clavell
Preceded by
Basil W. L. Owen
Captain of H.M.S. Stour
17 Jan, 1915[14][15] – 31 Mar, 1916[16]
Succeeded by
William A. C. Salmond
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Pelican
31 Mar, 1916[17] – 7 May, 1916[18]
Succeeded by
Kenneth A. Beattie
Preceded by
Raymond J. Harris
Captain of H.M.S. Beaver
7 May, 1916[19] – 15 Feb, 1917[20]
Succeeded by
Valentine M. Wyndham-Quin
Preceded by
Terence A. F. Longford
Captain of H.M.S. Legion
5 Apr, 1917[21][22] – 26 Sep, 1917[23]
Succeeded by
Francis A. Clutterbuck
Preceded by
Francis A. Clutterbuck
Captain of H.M.S. Loyal
26 Sep, 1917[24][25] – 5 Nov, 1917[26]
Succeeded by
Frank A. C. Baker
Preceded by
Frank A. C. Baker
Captain of H.M.S. Tigress
5 Nov, 1917[27][28] – 20 May, 1919
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Frederic T. Peters
Captain of H.M.S. Cockatrice
20 May, 1919[29] – 2 Oct, 1919[30]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Ernald G. H. Master
Captain of H.M.S. Trojan
2 Oct, 1919[31] – 10 Nov, 1919[32]
Succeeded by
Harold S. Gillett
Preceded by
Henry A. Binmore
Captain of H.M.S. Tara
10 Nov, 1919[33] – 17 May, 1920[34]
Succeeded by
Charles M. Blackman

Footnotes

  1. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  2. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  3. The Navy List. (June, 1914). p. 385.
  4. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 920.
  5. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  6. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  7. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  8. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  9. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  10. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  11. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  12. The Navy List. (August, 1914). p. 385.
  13. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  14. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  15. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 398d-k.
  16. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  17. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  18. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  19. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  20. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  21. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  22. The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 395a.
  23. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  24. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  25. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395h.
  26. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  27. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  28. The Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 920a'.
  29. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  30. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  31. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  32. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  33. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.
  34. Newill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/129. f. 140.