John Alexander Duncan
From The Dreadnought Project
Commander John Alexander Duncan, C.B., Royal Navy (22 March, 1878 – 13 August, 1943) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
On 1 August, 1904, Duncan was appointed to Duncan as an interpreter in Russian.[1]
On the strength of a conversation with Admiral Frederic C. Dreyer in 1946, Professor Marder wrote in 1961 that:
- [I]t seems that the person mainly responsible for the shell deficiency was an officer in the Department of the D.N.O., Lieutenant-Commander John A. Duncan. He was, in 1910—1913, one of the naval officers employed on inspection and experimental duties under the War Office. In 1914 he served as Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance, with the acting rank of Commander.[2]
Marder later wrote, "The statement is not fair, since I have only the Admiral's [Dreyer] opinion, without supporting facts, and were he alive, moreover, he might wish to qualify the charge."[3]
He was placed on the Retired List with the rank of Commander on 11 April, 1919.[4]
Duncan died on 13 August, 1943 after a short illness at Parkhill, Arbroath. He left a widow, Dorothy, and two daughters, Ursula and Frances.[5]
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 19 September, 1904. Issue 37503, col D, pg. 8.
- ↑ Marder. From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow. I. p. 418.
- ↑ Marder. From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow. p. 206.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 31308. p. 5202. 25 April, 1919.
- ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Tuesday, 17 August, 1943. Issue 49626, col A, pg. 1.
Bibliography
Service Record
- The National Archives. ADM 196/44.
