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[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] {{SIR}} '''James Fownes Somerville''', G.C.B., G.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy (17 July, 1882 – 19 March, 1949) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] {{SIR}} '''James Fownes Somerville''', G.C.B., G.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy (17 July, 1882 – 19 March, 1949) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] who played an extensive role in helping the service adopt and exploit wireless signalling.


==Early Life & Career==
==Early Life & Career==


Somerville was appointed in command of {{UK-Benbow}} on 20 August, 1922,{{CN}} but [[Kenelm Everard Lane Creighton]] was superseded him as a temporary captain in November, 1923.{{MackieRNW}}
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 March, 1904.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>


He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Barham|f=tp}} in May 1927, remaining with her until December.{{MackieRNW}} He was to command her a second time from September, 1928.{{MackieRNW}}
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 March, 1912.<ref>Somerville Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>


==Footnotes==
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1915.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
{{reflist}}
 
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1921.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
 
Somerville was appointed in command of {{UK-Benbow}} on 20 August, 1922, but [[Kenelm Everard Lane Creighton]] was superseded him as a temporary captain in November, 1923.
 
He was appointed in command of the heavy cruiser {{UK-Norfolk}} on 28 December, 1931.  He would be superseded in her when she was recommissioned.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
 
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 12 October, 1933.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
 
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 11 September, 1937.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
 
Somerville was retired as medically unfit on 31 July, 1939.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
 
==World War II==
Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on the Retired List on 6 April, 1942.<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>
<!-- Somerville was promoted to the rank of {{FleetRN}} on -->
{{TBC}}


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
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{{refend}}
{{refend}}


==Service Record==
==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+James+Fownes+Somerville Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Somerville}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Dudley Rawson Stratford de Chair|Dudley R. S. de Chair]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 95 (1894)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 95]]'''<br>early 1904<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; 16 May, 1904<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Albert George Baggs|Albert G. Baggs]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Edward Frederick Bedford|Arthur E. F. Bedford]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Benbow (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Benbow'']]'''<br>20 Aug, 1922<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; 31 Oct, 1924<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Kenelm Everard Lane Creighton|Kenelm E. L. Creighton]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Joseph Charles Walrond Henley|Joseph C. W. Henley]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Barham (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Barham'']]'''<br>6 May, 1927{{NLJul27|p. 216}}<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; Dec, 1927<ref>Inferred from successor.  Monroe Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 403.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hubert Seeds Monroe|Hubert S. Monroe]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hubert Seeds Monroe|Hubert S. Monroe]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Warspite (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Warspite'']]'''<br>Dec, 1927<ref>Date inferred from his successor in Barham and Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; 1 Sep, 1928<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Walsh Carrington|John W. Carrington]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Ronald Beddard Blount|George R. B. Blount]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Barham (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Barham'']]'''<br>1 Sep, 1928<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; Apr, 1929<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Claude Hamilton|John C. Hamilton]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''Formation Established'''|'''[[Force H|Flag Officer Commanding, Force H]]'''<br>1929 &ndash; 10 Jan, 1942|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Neville Syfret|Edward N. Syfret]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Burnaby Prickett|Cecil B. Prickett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Norfolk (1928)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Norfolk'']]'''<br>28 Dec, 1931<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Evelyn Charles Blagrove|H. Evelyn C. Blagrove]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hubert Edward Dannreuther|Hubert E. Dannreuther]]'''|'''[[Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth|Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth]]'''<br>14 Oct, 1932{{NLJan33|p. 284}}<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; 4 May, 1934<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/87.|D7603794}} f. 292.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Layton|Geoffrey Layton]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Andrew Browne Cunningham, First Viscount Cunningham|Andrew B. Cunningham]]'''<br><small>as '''Rear Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean'''</small>|'''[[Mediterranean Station|Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean]]'''<br>21 Mar, 1936{{NLJul37|p. 242}} &ndash; Apr, 1938<ref>Successor assumed command that month.  Tovey Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|}} f. 131.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Cronyn Tovey|John C. Tovey]]'''<br><small>as '''Rear Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean'''</small>}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Gregory Crace|John G. Crace]]'''<br><small>as '''Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station'''</small>|'''[[East Indies Station|Commander-in-Chief, East Indies]]'''<br>Jul, 1938 &ndash; Apr, 1939|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ralph Leatham|Sir Ralph Leatham]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Jock Whitworth|William J. Whitworth]]'''|'''[[Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>28 Jun, 1940<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref> &ndash; 10 Aug, 1940{{CN}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Jock Whitworth|William J. Whitworth]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Tom Spencer Vaughan Phillips|Sir Tom S. V. Phillips]]'''<br><small>as '''Commander-in-Chief, China Station'''</small>|'''[[China Station|Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet]]'''<br>Feb, 1942 &ndash; Aug, 1944|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Bruce Austin Fraser, First Baron Fraser|Sir Bruce A. Fraser]]'''<br><small>as '''Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet'''</small>}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts> 


<div name=fredbot:appts></div name=fredbot:appts> 
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerville, James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerville, James}}
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{{CatPerson|UK|1882|1949}}
{{CatPerson|UK|1882|1949}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1897}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1897}}
{{CatAdmiralOfTheFleet|UK}}
{{CatAdmOfTheFleet|UK}}
{{CatTorpedoOfficer|UK}}
{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 16:25, 7 April 2022

Admiral of the Fleet SIR James Fownes Somerville, G.C.B., G.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy (17 July, 1882 – 19 March, 1949) was an officer of the Royal Navy who played an extensive role in helping the service adopt and exploit wireless signalling.

Early Life & Career

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1904.[1]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 March, 1912.[2]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1915.[3]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1921.[4]

Somerville was appointed in command of Benbow on 20 August, 1922, but Kenelm Everard Lane Creighton was superseded him as a temporary captain in November, 1923.

He was appointed in command of the heavy cruiser Norfolk on 28 December, 1931. He would be superseded in her when she was recommissioned.[5]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 12 October, 1933.[6]

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 11 September, 1937.[7]

Somerville was retired as medically unfit on 31 July, 1939.[8]

World War II

Somerville was promoted to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 6 April, 1942.[9] [TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral of the Fleet Sir J. Somerville" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 21 March, 1949. Issue 51335, col E, pg. 7.
  • Macintyre, Captain Donald (1961). Fighting Admiral: The Life of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville, G.C.B., G.B.E., D.S.O.. London: Evans Brothers Limited.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Dudley R. S. de Chair 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 95
early 1904[10] – 16 May, 1904[11] 		Succeeded by
Albert G. Baggs
Preceded by
Arthur E. F. Bedford 		Captain of H.M.S. Benbow
20 Aug, 1922[12] – 31 Oct, 1924[13] 		Succeeded by
Kenelm E. L. Creighton
Preceded by
Joseph C. W. Henley 		Captain of H.M.S. Barham
6 May, 1927[14][15] – Dec, 1927[16] 		Succeeded by
Hubert S. Monroe
Preceded by
Hubert S. Monroe 		Captain of H.M.S. Warspite
Dec, 1927[17] – 1 Sep, 1928[18] 		Succeeded by
John W. Carrington
Preceded by
George R. B. Blount 		Captain of H.M.S. Barham
1 Sep, 1928[19] – Apr, 1929[20] 		Succeeded by
John C. Hamilton
Preceded by
Formation Established 		Flag Officer Commanding, Force H
1929 – 10 Jan, 1942 		Succeeded by
Edward N. Syfret
Preceded by
Cecil B. Prickett 		Captain of H.M.S. Norfolk
28 Dec, 1931[21] 		Succeeded by
H. Evelyn C. Blagrove
Preceded by
Hubert E. Dannreuther 		Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth
14 Oct, 1932[22][23] – 4 May, 1934[24] 		Succeeded by
Geoffrey Layton
Preceded by
Andrew B. Cunningham
as Rear Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean 		Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean
21 Mar, 1936[25] – Apr, 1938[26] 		Succeeded by
John C. Tovey
as Rear Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean
Preceded by
John G. Crace
as Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station 		Commander-in-Chief, East Indies
Jul, 1938 – Apr, 1939 		Succeeded by
Sir Ralph Leatham
Preceded by
William J. Whitworth 		Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron
28 Jun, 1940[27] – 10 Aug, 1940[Citation needed] 		Succeeded by
William J. Whitworth
Preceded by
Sir Tom S. V. Phillips
as Commander-in-Chief, China Station 		Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet
Feb, 1942 – Aug, 1944 		Succeeded by
Sir Bruce A. Fraser
as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  2. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  3. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  4. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  5. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  6. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  7. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  8. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  9. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  10. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  11. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  12. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  13. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  14. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 216.
  15. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  16. ↑ Inferred from successor. Monroe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 403.
  17. ↑ Date inferred from his successor in Barham and Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  18. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  19. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  20. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  21. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.
  22. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1933). p. 284.
  23. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  24. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/87. f. 292.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 242.
  26. ↑ Successor assumed command that month. Tovey Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49. f. 131.
  27. ↑ Somerville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 292.

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