Reginald Maurice James Hutton DSO, RN
| Born | 28 Sep 1899 | Disley, Cheshire | |
| Died | 8 Jan 1973 | (73) | St Edmund’s, Wootton |
 Capt Reginald Maurice James Hutton DSC, RN | Ranks
Retired: 8 Jan 1953 Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for Reginald Maurice James Hutton, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Laforey (G 99) | Capt. | Destroyer | 10 Apr 1941 | 30 Nov 1943 |
| HMS Tyne (F 24) | Capt. | Destroyer Depot Ship | 4 Dec 1943 | 19 Jul 1944 |
Career information
Taken from the Hutton family book. Rear Admiral Reginald Maurice James Hutton, Royal Navy. Son of Reginald William Hutton and Elsie Gwendolen Griffith. Born 28 Sept 1899, Disley, Cheshire; ed. Osborne & Dartmouth; married 18 Dec 1930, Royal Naval Chapel, Greenwich to Lois Griffith-Jones; 4 sons.Midshipman 1915, serving in HMS Indomitable in The Battle of Jutland, Sub-Lieutenant in P48 in Dover Patrol 1917-18; post war served in HM Ships Valerie, Somme & Witch; as Lieut.Cdr (1927) went round the world with the Duke & Duchess of York (later King George VI) in HMS Renown; 1928-29, HMS Truant and HMS Wanderer in command, Naval Staff Coll. Greenwich 1930; 1931-32 Staff Officer to Commander-in-Cheif, East Indies Station, Ceylon; Commander 1932; Admiralty Plans Division, 1932-34, then Executive Officer HMS Despatch, Mediterranean Fleet; Directing Staff, RN Coll., Greenwich, 1937-39; Admiralty Plans Division and promoted Captain 1940. From April 1941 HMS Laforey, in command and Captain (D) 19th Destroyer Flotilla. In August 1942 as escort commander in Operation Pedestal (to relieve Malta) awarded DSO for “courage and dauntless resolution”; in May 1943 led very successful maritime attacks on German retreat from Africa, awarded Bar to DSO; in Oct 1943 awarded second Bar to DSO for “untiring devotion to duty and gallant service” in the invasion and capture of Sicily; mentioned in dispatches for “outstanding courage, leadership and skill” in successful landings at Salerno; relieved in command Nov 1943 (HMS Laforey survived only 4 months, being torpedoed by a U-boat (which she sank), only 55 officer and men of 240 surviving). Jan 1944 appointed HMS Tyne in command and Commodore (Destroyers) Home Fleet; from Scapa Flow then Spithead directed and supported destroyer operations to Russia and Canada and during invasion of Normandy; Sept 1945 appointed Chief of Staff to the British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany; created CBE in 1945 for “distinguished war services”; July 1946 reopened RN Staff College, Greenwich as Director; 1949 HMS Triumph in command (Mediterranean and Korea); Rear Admiral 1950; Senior Naval Director, Imperial Defence College; created CB in 1951; May 1952 appointed Flag Officer Commanding 5th Cruiser Squadron and 2nd in Command Far East Station but could not take up the appointment on account of ill health.
Invalided from Royal Navy in November 1952; 1954-65 Clerk to the Governors, Sherburn House, Durham, then retired to Arundel and on his mother’s death to his parents’ home, Oak Lawn, Wootton Bridge, IOW. Died 8 Jan 1973; bd St Edmund’s, Wootton.
A man of great integrity, buoyant spirit and humour whom many believed to be very highly destined. He was worn down by two ward and had adversities with health during retirement; loved fishing, walking and gardening and actively promoted the best ideas for his country.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Laforey (G 99)
23 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100B/23, HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, RN), HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) and HMS Penn (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) departed Gibraltar to join the battleships HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN) and HMS Ramillies (Cdr. L.N. Brownfield, RN) coming from Freetown. (1)
7 May 1943
The German auxiliary minesweeper M 6616/Alba Eder (21 GRT) and the Italian tug Porto Cesareo (230 GRT) were sunk off Cape Bon, Tunisia by gunfire from the British destroyers HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, DSO, RN), HMS Loyal (Lt.Cdr. H.E.F. Tweedie, DSC, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) and HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN).
Sources
- ADM 199/662
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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