Dudley North (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids

Admiral Sir Dudley Burton Napier North (1881–1961) was a respected officer in the Royal Navy. He served his country during both the First World War and the Second World War. Later in his career, he faced a difficult situation when he was removed from his command in 1940.

A Young Sailor's Start

Dudley North joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1896. A cadet is a young person training to become an officer. He finished his training at HMS Britannia in 1897. By 1901, he became a sub-lieutenant, which is a junior officer rank.

He was assigned to a ship called HMS Charger in 1902. This ship was part of a training group in Devonport.

Fighting in World War I

During the First World War, Dudley North was involved in several important naval battles. These included the Battle of Heligoland, the Battle of Dogger Bank, and the famous Battle of Jutland. These were major sea fights where large fleets of warships clashed.

After the war, he continued to rise through the ranks. In 1930, he became the Director of Naval Operations. This role meant he helped plan and manage naval activities. In 1934, he became the Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts. This was a special role in charge of the royal family's ships. He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1936.

World War II and a Difficult Decision

In November 1939, as the Second World War began, North became the Flag Officer Commanding Gibraltar and Mediterranean Approaches. This meant he was in charge of naval operations around Gibraltar, a key British base. He was promoted to admiral in May 1940.

The French Fleet Incident

A difficult event happened in July 1940. British forces attacked French warships at Mers El Kébir in North Africa. This was because Britain feared the French fleet might fall into enemy hands. Admiral North wrote a letter criticizing this operation. Because of this, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the First Lord of the Admiralty (the head of the Navy) wanted him replaced. However, the First Sea Lord, Sir Dudley Pound, disagreed. In the end, North received a warning from the Admiralty.

The Vichy French Squadron

Two months later, in September 1940, another incident occurred. A group of French warships from Vichy France (a part of France that cooperated with Germany) sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Admiral North did not stop them.

It turned out that North had unclear instructions about what to do. There were also mistakes in how messages were sent to him. Because of these issues, the Admiralty's clear orders did not reach him.

As a result, the Admiralty decided to remove North from his command in October 1940. Even though another admiral, Sir James Somerville, tried to take responsibility, the Admiralty did not blame him.

Clearing His Name

After being relieved of his command, North retired in December 1941. He later served in the Home Guard, a defense force in Britain. He also became Flag Officer-in-Charge at Great Yarmouth in 1943. For this service, he received an award from the United States called the Legion of Merit.

Admiral North spent many years trying to clear his name. He asked for an official investigation multiple times. In 1955, five very senior admirals supported him. In 1957, four of them even visited Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, asking him to clear North's name. The issue was also discussed in Parliament.

Finally, in 1957, Prime Minister Macmillan partly cleared North's name. He acknowledged that North was not entirely to blame for the events.

Family Life

Dudley North married Eglantine Campbell in 1909 in Sydney, Australia. Sadly, Eglantine passed away in 1917. Later, in 1923, North married Eilean Graham. They had four children together. One of their daughters, Elizabeth, became a novelist.

Awards and Recognitions

Admiral Sir Dudley North received many honors for his service:

• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
• Companion of the Order of the Bath
• Companion of the Order of the Star of India
• Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
• Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Images for kids

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  Ribbon for the Royal Victorian Order

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  Ribbon for the Order of the Bath

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  Ribbon for the Order of the Star of India

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  Ribbon for the Order of St Michael and St George

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  Ribbon for the Legion of Merit