Joseph Hugh Langdon Yorke

Commander (retired) Joseph Hugh Langdon Yorke, R.N. (20 September, 1888 – 16 July, 1936) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in New Zealand. Yorke was awarded three months' time on passing out of Britannia and received his first appointment, to the pre-dreadnought Duncan, serving in the Mediterranean, on 15 September, 1904.

On 25 May, 1908, he suffered a bout of Rubella which required a three week stay in Haslar Hospital.

Yorke was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1910.

Great War

Yorke was sent to the hospital ship China to combat eczema and boils. Given six weeks to improve, he went to Haslar on 6 January and emerged fit on 19 February, 1915, being appointed in command of the destroyer Peterel that same day. He would stay in Peterel until December of 1915 when he was moved over to command the River Class destroyer Ouse.

On 11 June, 1916, Yorke was superseded in Ouse by Lt. Arthur E. Durham and was appointed in command of the Acheron Class destroyer Tigress. In her on 14 November, 1916, Yorke's prompt actions in lifesaving efforts following a submarine attack on S.S. Idaho reflected great credit upon him.

Yorke spent a half year in command of Linnet before being appointed in command of the destroyer Skate on 2 July, 1917. He would command her through the end of the war, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 March, 1918.

Post-War

On 5 February, 1920, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Trinidad and was mentioned in despatches on 19 May. However, Trinidad received an unsatisfactory inspection in April, 1921.

Yorke was superseded in command of the light cruiser Dartmouth in May, 1928 and placed on the Retired List with the rank of Commander, being medically unfit due to sclerosis on 22 October, 1928. Yorke was informed that the disability could not be viewed as attributable to his naval service, and he was thus not eligible for addition to his retired pay.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by George F. Hole	Captain of H.M.S. Peterel 19 Feb, 1915 – 16 Dec, 1915	Succeeded by Alphonse M. Tulloch
Preceded by Cyril P. Franklin	Captain of H.M.S. Ouse 16 Dec, 1915 – 11 Jun, 1916	Succeeded by Arthur E. Durham
Preceded by Astley D. C. Cooper-Key	Captain of H.M.S. Tigress 11 Jun, 1916 – 4 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Frank A. C. Baker
Preceded by James V. Creagh	Captain of H.M.S. Linnet 11 Jan, 1917 – 2 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by John N. Knox
Preceded by John C. Hodgson	Captain of H.M.S. Skate 2 Jul, 1917 – 29 Jan, 1919	Succeeded by Basil E. Reinold
Preceded by Basil E. Reinold	Captain of H.M.S. Plucky 29 Jan, 1919 – 25 Apr, 1919	Succeeded by John M. Smith
Preceded by Claude P. Champion de Crespigny	Captain of H.M.S. M.24 25 Apr, 1919 – Jul, 1919	Succeeded by Edward T. Grayston
Preceded by Edward T. Grayston	Captain of H.M.S. Cicala 2 Jul, 1919 – 22 Dec, 1919	Succeeded by Robert G. M. D. Hunt
Preceded by Lionel G. Foote	Captain of H.M.S. Trinidad 5 Feb, 1920 – 2 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by Vernon Hammersley-Heenan
Preceded by Norman A. G. Ohlenschlager	Captain of H.M.S. Vanessa 15 Dec, 1922 – Dec, 1923	Succeeded by Norman A. G. Ohlenschlager
Preceded by Norman A. G. Ohlenschlager	Captain of H.M.S. Violent Dec, 1923 – 8 Apr, 1924	Succeeded by Francis E. Wright
Preceded by Edward C. Thornton	Captain of H.M.S. Forres 15 Aug, 1924 – 22 Oct, 1925	Succeeded by John G. Crossley
Preceded by John G. Crossley	Captain of H.M.S. Sturgeon 22 Oct, 1925 – 4 Nov, 1925	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Herbert W. Wyld	Captain of H.M.S. Spindrift c. Nov, 1927 – c. late Nov, 1927	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Ivan B. Colvin	Captain of H.M.S. Ursula 21 Nov, 1927 – c. Dec, 1927	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Bernard Acworth	Captain of H.M.S. Dartmouth early 1928 – 1 May, 1928	Succeeded by Ronald H. C. Hallifax