Dudley Burton Napier North

Admiral Sir Dudley Burton Napier North GCVO CB CSI CMG (1881 – 15 May 1961) was a Royal Navy officer who served during World War I and World War II.

Naval career

North entered the Royal Navy as an acting sub lieutenant, and was confirmed in that rank 15 March 1901. He became Director of Naval Operations in January 1930, Chief of Staff, Home Fleet in December 1932 and Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts in December 1934. He went on to be Flag Officer Commanding Gibraltar and Mediterranean Approaches in November 1939. He was relieved of his command in December 1940 on the grounds of his failure to challenge a Vichy French naval squadron some three months previously; this after he had narrowly escaped replacement in response to his earlier objection to the attack on Mers-el-Kébir. He was later exonerated of blame. Ludovic Kennedy considered the failure to challenge the squadron the fault of people in London, not North.

Honours and decorations

• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order 12 June 1947 (KCVO 1937)
• 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
• Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) 30 April 1946

• The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37977. p. 2577. 6 June 1947. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
• The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34420. p. 4734. 23 July 1937. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
• The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34166. p. 3594. 31 May 1935. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
• The Edinburgh Gazette: (Supplement) no. 13826. p. 1089. 27 June 1922. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
• The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31398. p. 7507. 10 June 1919. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
• The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37549. p. 2087. 26 April 1946. Retrieved 23 November 2016.