Dudley Burton Napier North

Admiral Sir Dudley Burton Napier North GCVO CB CSI CMG
Born	25 Nov 1881 Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Died	15 May 1961 (aged 79) Parnham, Beaminster, Dorset
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1897 - 1946
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	HMS New Zealand (1915 - 1916) HMS Caledon (15 Sep 1922 - Au g 1923) HMS Tiger (10 May 1929 - Aug 1929) Vice Admiral Commanding Royal Yacht (HMY Victoria and Albert III) (15 Dec 1934 - Aug 1939) Vice Admiral Commanding Royal Squadron for Royal Visit to Canada and USA (1939) Rear Admiral-in-Charge, Gibraltar (1 Nov 1939 – 9 Dec 1940) Flag Officer in Charge Great Yarmouth HMS Watchful (23 Dec 1942 - 1945)
Battles/wars	World War I - Heligoland Bight - Dogger Bank - Jutland World War II
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1947) Companion of the Order of the Bath (1935) Companion of the Order of the Star of India (1922) Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (1919) Legion of Merit (30 Apr 1946) Commander of Order of St Stanislaus with swords Croix de Guerre with Palm Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class Order of the Nile, 2nd Class Order of Merit of Chile
Other work	Major, 1st Battalion Dorset Home Guard {1942} Younger Brother of Trinity House Extra Equerry to King George VI Deputy Lieutenant, Dorset (1952)

Admiral Sir Dudley Burton Napier North GCVO CB CSI CMG (1881 – 15 May 1961) was an Admiral of the Royal Navy who served during World War I and World War II. He was relieved of his command on the grounds of his failure, while naval commander at Gibraltar, to challenge a Vichy French naval squadron; this after he had narrowly escaped replacement in response to his earlier objection to the action at Mers-el-Kébir. He was later exonerated of blame.^[1] Ludovic Kennedy considers the failure to challenge the squadron the fault of people in London, not North.^[2]

Naval career

North entered the Royal Navy as an acting Sub Lieutenant, and was confirmed in that rank 15 March 1901.^[3]

Honours and decorations

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order 12 June 1947 (KCVO 1937, CVO 1920)

Companion of the Order of the Bath 1935

Companion of the Order of the Star of India 1922

1919

Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) 30 April 1946

Commander of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Imperial House of Romanov) (Russia)

Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)

Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class (Japan)

Order of the Nile, 2nd Class (Egypt)

Order of Merit (Chile)

References

1. "Royal Naval Attack on French Ships 1940". Retrieved 10 September 2011.
2. Kennedy, Ludovic Pursuit: The Sinking of the Bismarck
3. The London Gazette: no. 27425. p. 2502. 15 April 1902.