Geoffrey Court Julian, RNZNVR
| Born | 28 Dec 1910 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Died | 5 Oct 1970 | (59) |
 | Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Geoffrey Court Julian, RNZNVR
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Dacres (K 472) | T/A/Lt.Cdr. | Frigate | 1 Sep 1944 | 26 Feb 1945 |
| HMS Mounsey (K 569) | T/A/Lt.Cdr. | Frigate | 27 Mar 1945 | 15 Jun 1945 (1) |
| HMS Starling (U 66) | T/A/Lt.Cdr. | Sloop | 26 Jun 1945 | 15 Sep 1945 |
Career information
Geoffrey Julian was born in Auckland on 28th December 1910 and educated at King's College and the University of Auckland, where he studied civil engineering. During this period, he was also trained on board HMS Wakakura and, by the time of his 20th birthday, he was an acting Petty Officer RNVR, qualified in minesweeping and gunnery.
He left for England at the end of his studies and joined the Associated Portland Cement Company in London. War was declared on 3rd September 1939 and, by 13th October, Sub-Lieutenant Geoffrey Julian was at sea in a minesweeping trawler, based at Hull. One year later, he became a Lieutenant and, by April 1942, he was in command of HM Motor Launch 486 stationed at HMS Benbow, the RN base in Trinidad, on anti-submarine duty. He returned to England as a Lieutenant-Commander RNZNVR (after October 1941, New Zealand officers became RNZN or RNZNVR as appropriate), and joined the 'Z'-class fleet destroyer HMS Myngs as First Lieutenant on 23rd May 1944. He was then posted to the 15th Escort Group and took command of his first frigate HMS Dacres on 1st September 1944. He joined HMS Mounsey on 27th March 1945 as CO and continued through VE Day until 26th June 1945, when he took command of the famous sloop HMS Starling, which he left shortly after VJ Day on 15th September 1945, when plans for the vessel to join the British Pacific Fleet were cancelled.
He re-joined the Associated Portland Cement Company in early 1946 and travelled extensively for the next nine years. He was also in demand as an ocean racing skipper during this time, enjoying considerable success on board both Foxhound and Bloodhound. He married Molly Estridge in 1955 and travelled less after the birth of their son, having accepted a senior position in the Company's London headquarters, which he held until his death on 5th October 1970.
Photo and bio supplied by his son, John Julian
Events related to this officer
Frigate HMS Mounsey (K 569)
10 May 1945
U-1023 (Kapit?nleutnant Heinrich-Andreas Schroeteler) surrendered to HMS Mounsey (Lt Cdr Geoffrey Court Julian RNZNVR) at 2300 off Land's End. The U-boat later made a well-publicised tour of various British ports because it had the dubious distinction of being the one to sink the last Allied warship. U-1023 itself sank on 7th January 1946 at 55°49'N, 08°24'W while under tow and on the way to be scuttled in Operation Deadlight. (2)
Sources
- http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RNZNVR_officers.html#Julian_GC
- Personal communication
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