John Bostock

Commander (retired) John Bostock, D.S.C. (24 April, 1897 – 18 April, 1980) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of R. Ashton Bostock, Esq., former surgeon for the 2nd Scots Guard.

Curiously, Bostock is listed in The Times as qualifying to join two different terms at Royal Naval College, Osborne: January, 1910 and January, 1911. I am assuming that he entered with the later term, but his Service Record indicates January, 1910, too.

Bostock was appointed to the Cornwall at the outbreak of war, but moved to the battleship H.M.S. Warspite in March, 1915. He fought in her at the Battle of Jutland, and on 7 June, 1916 was appointed to the destroyer Attack though he was transferred to the destroyer Medway around on month later.

Bostock served in Medway through the remainder of the war, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1918.

He passed for command of a destroyer in 1925.

Bostock was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1926.

World War II

On 3 September, 1939, Bostock distinguished himself with a "very creditable performance" while rescuing survivors of the torpedoed S.S. Athenia.

Bostock was placed on the Retired List on account of age at the rank of Commander on 24 April, 1942.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Ronald Langton-Jones	Captain of H.M.S. Cicala 9 Jan, 1928 – Jan, 1930	Succeeded by Arthur A. Havers
Preceded by Jack G. Bickford	Captain of H.M.S. Wren c. Aug, 1930 – 2 May, 1931	Succeeded by St. John A. Micklethwait
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Basilisk 2 May, 1931 – 29 Aug, 1932	Succeeded by Roland F. B. Swinley
Preceded by David J. R. Simson	Captain of H.M.S. Vanquisher 5 Apr, 1933 – 4 May, 1933	Succeeded by Henry J. Haynes
Preceded by Rory C. O'Conor	Captain of H.M.S. Wessex 4 May, 1933 – 5 Jul, 1933	Succeeded by John Bostock
Preceded by Richard F. Jolly	Captain of H.M.S. Volunteer 5 Jul, 1933 – 1933	Succeeded by Hugh Gartside-Tippinge
Preceded by Humphrey M. Robson	Captain of H.M.S. Whitley c. Aug, 1933 – 28 Oct, 1933	Succeeded by Eric H. Dyke
Preceded by John Bostock	Captain of H.M.S. Wessex 28 Oct, 1933 – 29 Nov, 1933	Succeeded by Thomas J. N. Hilken
Preceded by Reginald M. Servaes	Captain of H.M.S. Fermoy late Mar, 1934	Succeeded by Arthur L. Pears
Preceded by Thomas J. N. Hilken	Captain of H.M.S. Wessex 1 Oct, 1934 – 7 Nov, 1934	Succeeded by Hugh Gartside-Tippinge
Preceded by Godfrey N. Brewer	Captain of H.M.S. Whitehall 1 Oct, 1934 – late 1934	Succeeded by John M. Rodgers
Preceded by William D. G. Weir	Captain of H.M.S. Vanoc 3 Sep, 1935 – 8 Oct, 1935	Succeeded by Robert St. V. Sherbrooke
Preceded by Frank G. L. Bullock	Assistant King's Harbour Master, Sheerness 15 Feb, 1937	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John M. Rodgers	Captain of H.M.S. Whitehall 21 Feb, 1938 – 26 May, 1938	Succeeded by Frederick J. C. Halahan
Preceded by Arthur L. Pears	Captain of H.M.S. Scimitar 26 May, 1938 – 7 Jun, 1938	Succeeded by Mark Thornton
Preceded by Hugh Gartside-Tippinge	Captain of H.M.S. Vivien 28 Jul, 1938 – 29 Oct, 1938	Succeeded by William D. G. Weir
Preceded by Donald K. Bain	Captain of H.M.S. Valorous 3 Apr, 1939 – 6 May, 1939	Succeeded by Edward Mack
Preceded by Ernest C. Coats	Captain of H.M.S. Escort 31 Jul, 1939 – 11 Jul, 1940	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Howard S. Jeans as Captain of U.S.S. Aulick	Captain of H.M.S. Burnham 9 Oct, 1940 – 5 Feb, 1942	Succeeded by Thomas Taylor