John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey

Infobox Military Person
name=The Lord Tovey
lived=7 March 1885 - 12 January 1971
placeofbirth=London
placeofdeath=Queen Alexandra Military Hospital


caption=Admiral of the Fleet Sir J C Tovey at his desk, most likely while serving as Commander in Chief Nore, at Chatham, Kent
nickname= Jack
allegiance=United Kingdom
branch=Royal Navy
serviceyears=1901 - death
rank=Admiral of the Fleet
commands=HMS "Onslow" HMS "Faulknor", HMS "Britannia", HMS "Majestic", HMS "Amphion", HMS Rodney (1914 - 1919)
HMS Seawolf (1 Aug 1922 - (Aug 1923)
HMS Bruce & Captain (D), 8th Destroyer Flotilla (31 Dec 1924 - Jan 1925)
HMS Campbell & Captain (D), 6th Destroyer Flotilla (19 Apr 1926 - May 1926)
HMS "Rodney" (12 Apr 1932 - Jan 1934)
Commodore RN Barracks, Chatham (30 Jan 1935 - Feb 1937
Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet (5 Mar 1938 - 12 Mar 1940
7th Cruiser Squadron (Mediterranean) (Jun 1940)
1st Battle Squadron (Sep 1940 - Dec 1940)
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet (2 Dec 1940 - 8 May 1943
Commander-in-Chief, the Nore 7 (Jul 1943 - 1946)
unit=
battles=World War I
- Jutland
World War II
- "Bismarck"
awards= [ [http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=../officers/personsx.html World War II unit histories & officers ] ]
laterwork=
portrayedby=

Admiral of the Fleet John Cronyn Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey, GCB, KBE, DSO, DCL (March 7, 1885 - January 12, 1971) was a Royal Navy admiral.

He was educated at Durnford Preparatory School, Langton Matravers, joining the school shortly before another future British admiral, Geoffrey Oliver.cite journal | author = Stephen Roskill | title = Admiral Sir Geoffery Oliver GBE, KBE, DSO** | journal = The Naval Review | date = January 1981 | volume = 69 | issue = 1 | pages=4-9 | url =http://www.naval-review.org/pasp/..%5Cissues%5C1981-1.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate=2008-09-12]

Tovey entered the Royal Navy at age 14. At the start of the First World War, Tovey served on the cruiser "Amphion" and later commanded the destroyer HMS "Onslow" during the Battle of Jutland for which he was awarded the DSO.

During the interbellum, Imperial Defence Course (1927), Imperial Defence College (HMS "President"). 09.06.1928 - (04.)1930 HMS "Victory" (RN base, Portsmouth) (for miscellaneous services) [Assistant Director of Tactical School, 1928-1929] . Tovey commanded various shore positions until, in 1932, he was given command of the battleship HMS "Rodney". After his command of "Rodney", Tovey was promoted to commodore and then to rear admiral and served as flag officer in the Mediterranean. 09.05.1935 - 27.08.1935 Naval ADC to the King. 04.12.1937 - (02.)1938 senior officers' war course, RN War College, Greenwich [HMS President] .

When Italy declared war in 1940, Tovey was vice admiral Light Forces and Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet. In November 1940 he was appointed Commander-In-Chief, Home Fleet in the acting rank of admiral and served in that capacity until 1942. As commander of the Home Fleet he had several clashes with Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord and Winston Churchill. His most notable achievement was sinking the "Bismarck".

After the "Bismarck" action, Tovey resisted moves to court-martial the "Prince of Wales"' captain, John Leach, and Frederic Wake-Walker, the admiral commanding "Suffolk" and "Norfolk", who had broken off the battle with "Bismarck" after "Hood" had been sunk. Tovey was appalled and a row ensued between Tovey and his superior, Pound. Tovey stated that the two officers had acted correctly in the circumstances. He threatened to resign his position and appear at any court-martial as 'defendant's friend' and defence witness. No more was heard of the proposal.

In June 1943, Tovey became Commander-in-Chief, the Nore, with responsibility for controlling the east coast convoys and organizing minesweeping operations. A couple of months later he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.

Tovey retired from active employment in 1946, although as an Admiral of the Fleet he remained on the active list for life. In the same year, Tovey (who signed himself "Jack" rather than John) was ennobled as Baron Tovey, of Langton Matravers, a title which became extinct on his death.

References

External links

* [http://www.admirals.org.uk/admirals/fleet/toveyjc.php Transcription of Official Service Records on www.admirals.org.uk]
* [http://www.tovey.org/admiral.html John Tovey: Appreciation and obituary]