Dudley Burton Napier North

Admiral Sir Dudley Burton Napier North, (25 November 1881 – 15 May 1961) was a Royal Navy officer who served during First and Second World Wars. He was relieved of his command in 1940 in controversial circumstances.

Naval career The son of Colonel Roger North of the Royal Artillery, Dudley North entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1896, passed out of HMS Britannia in 1897, and was confirmed as sub-lieutenant on 15 March 1901. He was appointed to on 31 December 1902, while she was serving the Devonport instructional flotilla.

During the First World War, North saw action at the battles of Heligoland, Dogger Bank, and Jutland.

He became Director of Naval Operations in January 1930 and Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts in December 1934. Chief of Staff, Home Fleet in December 1932

Second World War and relief of command North became Vice-Admiral, Gibraltar in November 1939 and was promoted admiral on 8 May 1940. After the sinking of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940, North wrote a letter criticizing the operation to the Admiralty. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and First Lord of the Admiralty A. V. Alexander called for him to be replaced, but the First Sea Lord, Sir Dudley Pound, disagreed. In the end, North was reprimanded by the Admiralty.

Two months later, on 11 September 1940, North did not challenge a Vichy French squadron of three cruisers and three destroyers sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar, from Toulon to Dakar. North had ambiguous instructions as to whether he should challenge the French squadron. After his relief, North retired on 25 December 1941. He served for a time in the Home Guard, then was appointed Flag Officer-in-Charge, Great Yarmouth in 1943, for which service he was appointed a Commander of the US Legion of Merit. In 1957, Macmillan partially, though not entirely, exonerated North of blame. Eglantine died in 1917 of pernicious anaemia. North later married Eilean Graham in 1923 and they had four children. Their daughter Elizabeth was a novelist.

Honours and decorations