John Douglas Harvey

Captain John Douglas Harvey, R.N. (10 October, 1891 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Harvey passed out of the Training Establishment on 15 January, 1909 and was immediately appointed to the battlecruiser Inflexible. On 15 May 1910, he was appointed to Cochrane by the commander-in chief. After a half-year there, he went through brief appointments in Scourge and Hibernia before being appointed for six months to Indomitable, where he remained until 30 May, 1913 except for a six-week loan back to Cochrane.

Harvey was appointed to the destroyer Phoenix on 30 May, 1913. While in her, he was re-appointed as acting first Lieutenant on 4 March, 1914 before being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 May, 1914.

In 1914 he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for saving life at sea.

Harvey left his role as first lieutenant in Phoenix when he was appointed to the newly worked-up "M" Class destroyer Pigeon on 3 May, 1916.

On 18 August, 1917, he was given his first command, of the patrol boat P29.

Harvey was appointed in command of the destroyer Oriole on 17 December, 1917.

Post-War

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Starfish on 24 October, 1919.

In January, 1920 Harvey received an uncommonly glowing evaluation from Captain Bingham: "specially Brilliant Destroyer captain. Handles his destroyer perfectly. Unusual judgment & nerve. Very highly recommended."

Harvey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 May, 1922.

In November, 1922, Harvey was appointed in command of Sparrowhawk. Before the end of the year, he grounded her and the Admiralty expressed its displeasure at his "lack of seamanlike precaution". In 1924, Harvey was similarly faulted for a collision between Volunteer and some yard craft.

Harvey was promoted to the rank of Commander on 11 October, 1934.

World War II

In August 1939, he was made Naval Officer in Charge, Hartlepool and placed in command of H.M.S. Paragon. On 16 September 1941, he was appointed in command of the armed merchant cruiser Alcantara vice Ingham, serving with the acting rank of captain while in that appointment. This work ended on 17 July, 1943 and Harvey reverted to the rank of Commander and was placed on the books of Victory, not to join. An appointment to Dinosaur for command of a squadron of L.C.I. (Landing Craft, Infantry) was contemplated and cancelled.

The balance of the conflict saw Harvey in a variety of roles such as a Chief Naval Instructor out of Brontosaurus and staff work in Bombay.

Harvey was granted the War Service rank of Captain on 6 April, 1946.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles C. de M. Malan	Captain of H.M.S. P29 17 Aug, 1917 – 17 Dec, 1917	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Edward R. M. Geake	Captain of H.M.S. Oriole 17 Dec, 1917 – 22 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by George A. Scott	Captain of H.M.S. Starfish 24 Oct, 1919 – 6 Jul, 1921	Succeeded by John M. Heath
Preceded by Montague R. Bernard	Captain of H.M.S. Valkyrie 6 Jul, 1921 – 31 Jan, 1922	Succeeded by Ralph Kerr
Preceded by Eric P. Vivian	Captain of H.M.S. Tuscan 27 Apr, 1922 – Nov, 1922	Succeeded by Richard L. Hamer
Preceded by Austen G. Lilley	Captain of H.M.S. Sparrowhawk Nov, 1922 – 30 Sep, 1923	Succeeded by Gerald M. McKenna
Preceded by Cecil R. E. W. Perryman	Captain of H.M.S. Woolston 1 Jan, 1924 – 1 Sep, 1924	Succeeded by Austen G. Lilley
Preceded by Edward S. F. Fegen	Captain of H.M.S. Volunteer 1 Sep, 1924 – 9 Feb, 1925	Succeeded by Thomas C. C. Bolster
Preceded by Thomas C. C. Bolster	Captain of H.M.S. Wren 9 Feb, 1925 – 1 Apr, 1926	Succeeded by David J. R. Simson
Preceded by John E. Phayre	Captain of H.M.S. Wolsey 19 Feb, 1925 – c. late Mar, 1925[Inference]	Succeeded by Cyril J. H. Hill
Preceded by Gerald M. McKenna	Captain of H.M.S. Whirlwind 1 May, 1926 – 10 Dec, 1927	Succeeded by John W. D. W. Easterbrook
Preceded by ?	Naval Officer in Command, Hartlepool 28 Sep, 1938 – 16 Sep, 1941	Succeeded by Eric J. Shelley