John Foster Grant-Dalton

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Rear-Admiral (retired) John Foster Grant-Dalton (10 May, 1873 – 11 August, 1938) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Grant-Dalton was awarded eight months time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1888. He proceeded to join the central battery ironclad Sultan in the Mediterranean, appointed 1 September, 1888. On 1 April, 1889, he moved briefly to Dreadnought. After spending the annual manoeuvres in Immortalité, he was sent to the Channel Squadron, appointed first to the battleship Monarch on 19 November, 1889 and then to Rodney on 14 May, 1890.

Grant-Dalton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant from Canada on 31 December, 1894. He was next appointed to Galatea in April of 1895. In September, he was appointed to the Ringarooma on the Australia Station.[1]

Grant-Dalton was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Magicienne on the Cape of Good Hope Station on 18 November, 1897. The Foreign Service relayed its thanks for the services Grant-Dalton rendered in operations against Ogadens, a tribe located in Somalia and Ethiopia, in 1900. He left Magicienne 19 June, 1901 and participated in the annual manoeuvres the following month, assigned to Ariadne.

After an inspection in September, 1902, Captain Dicken noted that Lieutenant Grant-Dalton's destroyer Snapper required more attention to "internal order & cleanliness." However, in December, Captain Barrow wrote that he "[s]trongly recommended [Grant-Dalton] for appointment for G(unnery) duties in 2nd class cruiser." This did not exactly occur, but Grant-Dalton was appointed to Europa as first Lieutenant on 3 March, 1903. THe following year, he would be first lieutenant in the monitor Mersey and then the second class protected cruiser Juno in the Home Fleet. His time in Juno was short, just over six weeks. This may have been a consequence of his attracting the "severe displeasure" of the Admiralty in an explosion of fireworks aboard the ship![2]

Grant-Dalton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1906 while in the midst of a two year appointment in Diadem on the China Station. When she paid off on 11 April, 1907, Grant-Dalton proceeded to take a month attending gunnery and torpedo courses.[3]

On 15 August, 1908, Grant-Dalton was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital with an ulcer as he was approaching the end of an appointment as executive officer in the battleship Britannia. He was released to a private nursing home and monitored. His condition remained poor even as a final inspection of Britannia showed that he'd greatly improved on the discipline he directed toward such matters. He was finally declared fit on 19 January, 1909.

Grant-Dalton attended the Royal Navy War College from 9 February through 28 May, 1909, placing sixth out of seven commanders. On 15 October, 1909, he was appointed to the battleship Hindustan of the Home Fleet, remaining in her until she paid off on 1 April, 1912 and receiving, once again, favourable inspection reports. Grant-Dalton would enjoy a very brief stint in command of Albion before being appointed to Pembroke Royal Naval Barracks on 1 August, 1912.

Grant-Dalton was still at Pembroke when he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1914.[4][5]

Great War

Grant-Dalton was appointed in command of the battleship Hannibal on 28 July, 1914. She spent the first months of the war with Magnificent providing local defence to Scapa Flow. Grant-Dalton left the ship in January, 1915 and was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Crescent in February 1915, remaining with her until November.

In December 1917, he was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Challenger.

On 6 November, 1918 Grant-Dalton was appointed Naval Officer in Charge of Africa, as reported in a telegram from Senior Naval Officer, Zanzibar.

Post-War

Upon leaving his post in Africa, Grant-Dalton was appointed in command of the depot vessel Hecla on 30 October, 1919 and also made Captain (D) of the Nore Reserve Flotilla. On 1 March, 1921, he was appointed to Malabar, additional for charge of H.M. Naval Establishments at Bermuda, assuming command of Malabar on 16 April, 1921 and working there until June of 1922, when he was found to have jaundice and a stomach disease which warranted his immediate return to England.[6]

Grant-Dalton arrived back in England on 29 June and was placed on the Retired List at his own request upon the expiration of his foreign service and full-pay sick leave. This meant an effective date of 31 October, 1922 but his retirement was post-dated to 31 March, 1923 for some reason. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 26 September, 1924.[7]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John Masterman
Captain of H.M.S. Medway
12 Aug, 1897[8] – 18 Nov, 1897[9]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
John M. Casement
Captain of H.M.S. Haughty
18 Sep, 1901[10] – 14 Feb, 1902[11]
Succeeded by
Harry C. J. R. West
Preceded by
John R. Segrave
Captain of H.M.S. Snapper
14 Feb, 1902[12][13][14] – 17 Oct, 1902[15]
Succeeded by
Charles M. Foot
Preceded by
Constantine H. Hughes-Onslow
Captain of H.M.S. Diadem
24 Jul, 1909[16] – 5 Oct, 1909[17]
Succeeded by
William D. Church
Preceded by
James W. G. Innes
Captain of H.M.S. Canopus
1 May, 1912[18] – 21 May, 1912[19]
Succeeded by
Edgar R. Morant
Preceded by
Ernest K. Loring
Captain of H.M.S. Hannibal
28 Jul, 1914[20][21] – Jan, 1915[22]
Succeeded by
Philip Streatfeild
Preceded by
George Trewby
Captain of H.M.S. Crescent
Feb, 1915[23] – 11 Nov, 1915[24]
Succeeded by
Percival H. Warleigh
Preceded by
Hugh Edwards
Captain of H.M.S. Hildebrand
11 Nov, 1915[25][26] – 2 Apr, 1917[27]
Succeeded by
Horace C. Watson
Preceded by
George P. England
Captain of H.M.S. Armadale Castle
2 Apr, 1917[28] – Dec, 1917[29]
Succeeded by
George P. Leith
Preceded by
Alfred C. Sykes
Captain of H.M.S. Challenger
Dec, 1917[30][31] – 6 Nov, 1918[32]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
John B. Sparks
Captain of H.M.S. Hecla
30 Oct, 1919[33][34] – 1 Feb, 1921[35]
Succeeded by
Edward O. Gladstone
Preceded by
John B. Sparks
Captain (D), Nore Reserve Flotilla
30 Oct, 1919[36] – 1 Feb, 1921[37]
Succeeded by
Leonard L. P. Willan

Footnotes

  1. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  2. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  3. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  4. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 28842. p. 4880. 22 June, 1914.
  6. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  7. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  8. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  9. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  10. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  11. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  12. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  13. "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Tuesday, 25 February 1902. (36700), p. 11.
  14. The Navy List. (May, 1902). p. 302a.
  15. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  16. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  17. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  18. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  19. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  20. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  21. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 327.
  22. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  23. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393f.
  24. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  25. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  26. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 401o.
  27. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  28. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  29. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  30. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  31. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 755.
  32. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  33. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  34. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 785.
  35. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  36. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  37. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.