Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville, GCB GBE DSO, (17 July 1882 – 19 March 1949) was one of the most famous British Admirals of World War II. Admiral of the Fleet is a supreme naval position that has existed in historical navies and still exists in several modern-day navies. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

Early career

The son of Arthur Fownes Somerville (1850-1942, who appears to have spent some time farming sheep in New Zealand), James Fownes Somerville was born in Weybridge, Surrey. He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1898, and achieved the rank of lieutenant by 1904. Somerville became the Navy's leading radio specialist and served at Gallipoli during World War I, where he earned the Distinguished Service Order for his efforts. Map of Weybridge (from OpenStreetMap) Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... A cadet is a person who is junior in some way. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants British Empire Australia India Newfoundland New Zealand United Kingdom France Turkey (Ottoman Empire) Commanders Sir Ian Hamilton Otto von Sanders Enver pasha Strength 5 divisions (initial) 14 divisions (final) 6 divisions The Battle of Gallipoli (sometimes referred to as the first D-Day) took place on the Turkish peninsula... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ...

Somerville stayed in the service after the war, and in 1921 he was promoted to captain. Somerville served as Director of the Admiralty's Signal Department from 1925 to 1927, and as a Naval Instructor at the Imperial Defence College from 1929–1931. He was promoted to Commodore in 1932 and to rear admiral in 1933. Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for full calendar). ... This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Commodore Insignia Rank Pennant Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear-Admiral. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Somerville commanded the Mediterranean Fleet destroyer flotillas from 1936 to 1938, and during the Spanish Civil War helped protect Majorca from the Republicans. From 1938 to 1939 he served in the East Indies before being forced to retire in 1939 for medical reasons (it was thought, incorrectly, that he had tuberculosis). 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Spanish Republic CNT-FAI UGT POUM Soviet Union International Brigades Spanish State Falangists Carlists Fascist Italy Nazi Germany Army Comrades Association Commanders Manuel Azaña Francisco Largo Caballero Juan Negrín Francisco Franco Casualties Civilians killed/wounded = hundreds of thousands The Spanish Civil War, which lasted from July 17... Majorca (Mallorca in Catalan and Spanish, sometimes also encountered in English),: from Latin insula maior, later Maiorica, (major island) is one of the Balearic Islands (Catalan: Illes Balears, Spanish: Islas Baleares), which are located in the Mediterranean Sea and are a part of Spain. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones and joints. ...

European operations, 1939-1942

He was recalled to duty on special service to the Admiralty later in 1939 with the start of World War II, and for the next year performed important work on naval radar development. In May, 1940, Somerville served under Admiral Bertram Ramsay, helping organize the evacuation of Dunkirk. Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Categories: People stubs | 1883 births | 1945 deaths | Royal Navy admirals | Royal Navy officers | British World War II people ... Men from the French army disembark in England after evacuation of Dunkirk, France 1940. ...

His next major assignment was as naval commander, on HMS Hood, of the newly-formed Force H based in Gibraltar. After Henri-Philippe Pétain signed an armistice with Germany on 22 June 1940, Winston Churchill gave Somerville the task of neutralizing the main element of the French fleet, at Mers-el-Kébir in North Africa, attacking and destroying it if all other options failed. Churchill wrote to him: HMS Hood (pennant number 51) was a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy. ... Force H was a British naval squadron during World War II. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany. ... Philippe Pétain Marshal Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French soldier and Head of State of Vichy France, from 1940 to 1944. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Mers-el-Kébir is a port town in northwestern Algeria, located by the Mediterranean Sea near Oran, in the Oran Province. ...

You are charged with one of the most disagreeable tasks that a British Admiral has ever been faced with, but we have complete confidence in you and rely on you to carry it out relentlessly.

Although privately he felt that his orders to attack if all other avenues failed were a mistake, Somerville executed his orders, and eventually attacked the French fleet as they rode at anchor. Somerville's forces inflicted severe damage on their erstwhile allies, most notably sinking the battleship Bretagne with heavy loss of life. Several other major French ships were damaged during the bombardment. The operation was judged a success, although he admitted privately to his wife that he had not been quite as aggressive in the destruction as he could have been. Combatants United Kingdom France Commanders James Somerville Marcel-Bruno Gensoul Strength 3 battleships, 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 11 destroyers 4 battleships, 6 destroyers, 1 seaplane tender Casualties — 1 battleship sunk 2 battleships damaged 1,297 killed The Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, French North Africa (now... The Bretagne was a dreadnought of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. ...

At the head of Force H, on 9 February 1941 Somerville organized a bombardment raid on Genoa, and also played an important role in the pursuit and sinking of the Bismarck on 26 May 1941. He was also involved in the protection of a number of important convoys to Malta and Egypt. He received the KBE in 1941 for his successes with Force H. February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The Ancient Port of Genoa. ... The German battleship Bismarck is one of the most famous warships of the Second World War. ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... A convoy is a group of vehicles traveling together for mutual support. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are... This article is about the year. ...

Indian Ocean, 1942-1944

Somerville became commander of the British Eastern Fleet in March 1942, replacing Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton. The Eastern Fleet had been established at Trincomalee, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), after the surrender of Singapore, but Somerville was unhappy with the base's security and he ordered the construction of an alternative forward base at Addu Atoll in the Maldives. The Japanese advance through Burma and their capture of the Andaman Islands enforced the move of the bulk of the Eastern Fleet to Addu Atoll and to Kilindini in East Africa. The British Eastern Fleet (also known as the East Indies Fleet and the Far East Fleet) was a fleet of the Royal Navy during World War II and post war until 1971. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, GBE KCB KCMG DSO, (20 April 1884 - 4 September 1964), was a British Naval Officer. ... Trincomalee District Map Trincomalee (Tamil: (Thirukonamalai, hist: Sirigonakanda); Sinhala: (Thirikunamalaya)) is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, about 110 miles northeast of Kandy. ... Addu or Seenu Atoll is the southernmost atoll of the Republic of Maldives. ... This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer or more simplified. ... Kilindini Harbour is a large, natural deep-water inlet extending inland from Mombasa, Kenya. ...

Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's powerful Indian Ocean Raid in April demonstrated the wisdom of Somerville's move from Trincomalee. After the sinking of an aircraft carrier and two cruisers, he attempted to intercept the Japanese fleet, but failed. Had he been successful, it's probable that his two remaining carriers would have been overwhelmed. Chuichi Nagumo (Japanese: 南雲 忠一, Nagumo Chūichi, March 25, 1887–July 6, 1944) was a Vice Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Commander of the 1st Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy for a while. ... It has been suggested that Japanese Raids into Indian Ocean be merged into this article or section. ...

In 1944, with reinforcements , he was able to go on the offensive in a series of aggressive air strikes in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies, enabling naval air crews to gain expertise that they would later need in the Pacific. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Dutch East Indies, or Netherlands East Indies, (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië) was the name of the colonies set up by the Dutch East India Company, which came under administration of the Netherlands during the 19th century (see Indonesia). ...

Later career

Somerville was replaced as commander of the Eastern Fleet by Admiral Bruce Fraser in August, 1944. Two months later was placed in charge of the British Admiralty Delegation in Washington D.C., from 1944 to December, 1945, where he managed—to the surprise of almost everyone—to get on very well with the notoriously abrasive and anti-British Admiral Ernest King, Commander in Chief of the United States Navy. Bruce Fraser, Baron Fraser of North Cape (February 5, 1888–February 12, 1981) was a senior British admiral during World War II. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet during the later stages of the naval war in Europe, and during that period he commanded the fleet that... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Ernest King Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King (November 23, 1878 – June 25, 1956) was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations (COMINCH-CNO) during World War II. As CNO, he directed the United States Navys operations, planning, and administration and was a member of the...

He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 8 May 1945, and retired from the service following the war. He was made Lord Lieutenant of Somerset in August, 1946, and lived in the family seat of Dinder House, Somerset, where he died on 19 March, 1949. Admiral of the Fleet is a supreme naval position that has existed in historical navies and still exists in several modern-day navies. ... This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

External References

• See a photograph of Admiral Somerville.
• Donald MacIntyre, Fighting Admiral: The Life of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville (Evans Brothers, London, 1961)

• James Somerville, The Somerville Papers: Selections from the Private and Official Correspondence of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville, GCB, GBE, DSO (Navy Records Society, London, 1996)