John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Tovey
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Admiral of the Fleet Sir J C Tovey at his desk, most likely while serving as Commander in Chief Nore, at Chatham, Kent
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| Nickname(s) | Jack |
| Born | 7 March 1885 Rochester, Kent |
| Died | 12 January 1971 (aged 85) Funchal, Madeira |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1900–1946 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | Commander-in-Chief, The Nore (1943–46) Home Fleet (1940–43) 1st Battle Squadron (1940) 7th Cruiser Squadron (Mediterranean) (1940) Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet (1938–40) RN Barracks, Chatham (1935–37) HMS Rodney (1932–34) 6th Destroyer Flotilla (1926–27) HMS Campbell (1926–27) 8th Destroyer Flotilla (1924–26) HMS Bruce (1924–26) HMS Seawolf (1922–24) HMS Wolfhound (1918–19) HMS Ursa (1917–18) HMS Onslow (1916–17) HMS Jackal (1915–16) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches |
Admiral of the Fleet John Cronyn Tovey, also known as Jack Tovey, was a brave and important officer in the Royal Navy. He was born on March 7, 1885, and passed away on January 12, 1971.
During the First World War, he commanded the destroyer HMS Onslow at the famous Battle of Jutland. Later, he led Ursa in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. In the Second World War, he became a top commander. He was in charge of the Home Fleet and famously led the hunt for and destruction of the huge German battleship, the Bismarck. After that, he managed important convoys and minesweeping operations.
Contents
John Tovey was born in Rochester, Kent, in 1885. He was the youngest of eleven children. He went to Durnford School and then joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on the training ship Britannia. He was very good at sports, playing cricket and even international football.
Tovey joined the Royal Navy officially in 1901 as a midshipman. He served on battleships and cruisers, learning all about naval life. He was known for being "zealous" and "painstaking" in his duties. He became a sub-lieutenant in 1904 and a lieutenant in 1906.
In 1908, Tovey was sent to the armoured cruiser HMS King Alfred in China. He spent two years there before moving to different ships. In 1914, he was promoted to lieutenant-commander.
First World War Actions
Tovey was serving on HMS Amphion when it was sunk by a mine in August 1914. This was the first British warship lost in the First World War. He then moved to the destroyer HMS Faulknor.
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In January 1915, Tovey got his first command: the destroyer HMS Jackal. He took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank. Later, he commanded HMS Onslow at the huge Battle of Jutland in May 1916. His ship was badly damaged while attacking German ships, but Tovey bravely ordered his crew to fire their remaining torpedoes.
Even though Onslow was heavily shelled, it was towed to safety. For his bravery, Tovey was promoted to commander and received the DSO medal. He later commanded Ursa and HMS Wolfhound, earning the French Croix de Guerre.
Between the Wars
After the war, Tovey spent time studying and working at the Admiralty. He was promoted to captain in 1923. He commanded destroyer flotillas and attended important courses to improve his skills.
In 1932, Tovey took command of the battleship HMS Rodney. This ship had been involved in a crew protest, and Tovey was chosen to help get the ship back into top shape. He quickly made the crew efficient and confident. His superiors praised him for making the ship highly ready for battle.
Tovey was promoted to rear admiral in 1935 and later to vice admiral in 1939. He commanded destroyer forces in the Mediterranean Fleet, helping to keep peace during the Spanish Civil War.
Second World War Leadership
When the Second World War began, Tovey was in the Mediterranean. He commanded the fleet's cruisers and destroyers. In June 1940, he led his ships in the Battle of the Espero Convoy, sinking an Italian destroyer.
He also commanded forces at the Battle of Calabria. His leadership was praised, even though the battle didn't have a clear winner. In November 1940, Tovey became the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, one of the most important naval commands.
Tovey's most famous achievement was leading the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck. He believed in leading from the front, so he was on his flagship, HMS King George V, during the chase. He made a smart decision to delay the final attack on Bismarck until morning, giving his ships a better advantage with the sunlight. This helped lead to the Bismarck's destruction. For this, he was awarded the KBE.
After the Bismarck battle, Tovey stood up for his officers. He disagreed with plans to blame other captains for their actions during the battle, even threatening to resign. He also argued against dangerous orders from Winston Churchill and Dudley Pound that would have put his flagship at risk. He was known for his strong will and for doing what he believed was right.
Tovey was also in charge of protecting the Arctic Convoys that delivered supplies to Russia. He often argued that these convoys were too dangerous in summer due to long daylight hours and lack of air cover. The terrible losses of Convoy PQ 17 proved his concerns were right. Despite disagreements with Churchill, Tovey remained in his post for the full term.
In 1943, Tovey became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. He managed convoys along the east coast and organized minesweeping. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet in October 1943, the highest rank in the Royal Navy. He also helped plan the logistics for the invasions of Sicily and Normandy.
Later Life and Legacy
Tovey retired from the Navy in 1946 and was given the title of Baron Tovey. In retirement, he took on many roles, including serving in the House of Lords and leading naval charities. He was very dedicated to his wife, Aida, who suffered from arthritis, and he spent his later years caring for her.
John Tovey passed away in Madeira in 1971. He and his wife, who died a few months earlier, had no children. His title ended with his death.
Character and Personality
Tovey was known for his strong character and leadership. Early reports described him as "zealous" and "painstaking." He was praised for his ability to command respect and improve the efficiency of his ships and crews.
He was not afraid to challenge higher authorities when he felt it was necessary. One story tells how, as a young officer, he once took off his gloves and sword and walked away when a superior officer tried to take over his duties. Later in his career, an admiral described Tovey's strong will as "sheer bloody obstinacy," which Tovey often quoted with pride.
Awards and Honours
Tovey received many awards for his service:
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Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) | (13 April 1943) |
| Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) | (1 January 1941) | |
| Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) | (29 January 1937) | |
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Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) | (14 October 1941) |
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Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | (10 July 1919) |
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Order of St. Anna 3rd class (with swords) | (Russian Empire) (awarded 1 October 1917) |
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1914–1918 War Cross | (France) (2 November 1917) |
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Order of Suvorov 1st Class | (USSR) (29 February 1944) |
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Commander of the Legion of Merit | (United States) (28 May 1946) |
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Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix | (Greece) (15 April 1947) |
Images for kids
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The armoured cruiser HMS King Alfred where Tovey served in 1908.
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The cruiser HMS Orion, Tovey's flagship in the Mediterranean.
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The battleship HMS King George V, which helped sink the Bismarck.
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