John Eaton (Royal Navy officer)
Vice Admiral Sir John Willson Musgrave Eaton, KBE, CB, DSO, DSC (3 November 1902 – 21 July 1981[1]) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief America and West Indies Station from 1955 to 1956.
Sir John Willson Musgrave Eaton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 November 1902 Bulawayo, Rhodesia |
| Died | 21 July 1981 (aged 78) Kelvedon, Essex |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1916–1958 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | America and West Indies Station (1955–56) Reserve Fleet (1954–55) HM Australian Fleet (1951–53) HMS St Vincent (1945–47) HMS Sheffield (1945) HMS Eskimo (1942–43) HMS Somali (1942) HMS Mohawk (1939–41) HMS Venetia (1939) HMS Boreas (1936–39) HMS Westminster (1935–36) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Naval career
Eaton joined the Royal Navy in 1916 and served in the First World War.[2] After the war he served in destroyers and then in submarines.[2]
Eaton served in the Second World War and commanded the destroyers HMS Venetia, HMS Mohawk, HMS Somali and HMS Eskimo.[2]
After the war he became Captain of the cruiser HMS Sheffield and then Captain of the training school HMS St Vincent.[2] He was appointed Director at the Royal Navy Staff College, Greenwich in 1949, Flag Officer commanding HM Australian Fleet in 1951 and Flag Officer commanding the Reserve Fleet in 1954.[2] His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1955; he took part in Operation Strikeback (a major NATO training exercise) in 1957 and retired in 1958.[2]
His life is commemorated by an inscription at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Kelvedon in Essex.[3]
References
- "Vice-Admiral Sir John Eaton". The Times (60987). 23 July 1981. p. 16.
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- Monumental inscriptions Essex Record Office
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John Stevens |
Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station 1955–1956 |
Succeeded by Sir Wilfrid Woods as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic |
| Preceded by Sir Ian Campbell |
Commander-in-Chief, Reserve Fleet 1954–1955 |
Succeeded by Sir Peter Cazalet |
| Preceded by John Eccles |
Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet 1951–1953 |
Succeeded by Roy Dowling |
