Durnford | John | | Commander | DURNFORD, JOHN, Commander, Royal Navy, was born on the 6th February 1849, son of the Reverend Francis E Durnford, Fellow of Eton, and Rector of Greeting St Mary, Suffolk, and of Mrs Durnford, daughter of Admiral John Thompson, of Longparish, Hants. He was educated at Eton, and entered the Royal Navy in 1862. In 1881 he married Mary, daughter of the Reverend John Henry Kirwan, Rector of St John's, Cornwall, and they had one son, Frederick John, Lieutenant, Royal Navy; and three daughters. He became Commander in 1882; served in the Upper Burma Expedition of 1885-86, on the Staff of Sir H Prendergast, VC, KCB, and with the Naval Brigade, being present at the engagement at Minhla. He was mentioned in Despatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 13 January 1887]: "For operations in Burma. John Durnford, Commander, Royal Navy". Commander Durnford commanded the Naval Brigade for manning armed steam launches in Upper Burma in 1887; was mentioned in Despatches and thanked by the Governor General of India. He was promoted to Captain in 1888; was created a CB in 1897; became Junior Naval Lord in 1901; Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope, 1904-7; was created a KCB in 1906, and was Admiral President, Royal Naval College, Greenwich, from 1908 to 1911. In 1913 he was created a GCB. Admiral Sir John Durnford, GCB, DSO, died on 13 June 1914. The 'Times' of Monday, 15 June 1914, has the following notice: "We regret to announce the death, which took place suddenly on Saturday, at his residence, Elmshurst, Catisham, Fareham, in his 66th year, of Admiral Sir John Durnford, GCB, DSO, a former Sea Lord, who saw active service in Burma. Sir John Durnford was a son of Reverend Francis E Durnford, a Fellow of Eton and Rector of Greeting St Mary, Suffolk. He was born 6 February 1849, and, after preliminary education at Eton, entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet from the Britannia in September 1862. He became Sub-Lieutenant in 1868, and a Lieutenant in 1872, receiving honorary certificates at the Royal Naval College on passing his examination for the latter grade. Ten years later he was promoted a Commander, and when in charge of the Mariner, on the East Indies station, took part in the Burmese War of 1885-86. He served with the field force on the staff of General Sir H Prendergast, VC, and also with the Naval Brigade, being present at the engagement at Minhla. For his services he was specially mentioned in Naval and Military Despatches, and was granted the Distinguished Service Order. In the following year he was placed in command of a naval brigade and a flotilla of armed launches, engaged in the suppression of dacoity in Upper Burma, when he was again mentioned in Despatches, his services receiving the approbation of the Admiralty, and being specially acknowledged by the Viceroy and by the Secretary of State for India. At the conclusion of the operations he received the India Medal with clasp for Burma, 1885-87. On 30 June 1888, he was promoted a Captain, and among other posts held while in this rank he commanded the Vernon, the torpedo school of the Navy, from 1895 to 1899. On the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, in 1897, he was made a CB, and attained flag rank in 1902. In the meanwhile he had gone to the Admiralty as Junior Sea Lord, and continued a member of the board after his promotion until December 1903. His next appointment was as Commander-in-Chief on the Cape of Good Hope Station from 11 February 1904 to March 1907, and while there he became, in October 1906, a Vice Admiral. Although he held no further commands afloat his wide experience, ripe judgment and talent for organization continued to be drawn upon and utilized for the benefit and advancement of the Service, particularly as a member of various committees. He was president of the committee appointed to inquire into the Naval Medical Service, and from March 1908 to March 1911, was President of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. He was actually serving on a committee in connection with the rehousing of the Museum at Greenwich at the time of his death. He became an Admiral in 1910, and retired from active service in May of last year, when, on the King's birthday, he received the GCB. Admiral Durnford married, in 1881, Mary Louisa Eleanor, daughter of Reverend J H Kirwan, Rector of St John's, Cornwall, and he has a son and three daughters. Sincere, warm-hearted, and a staunch comrade, his sudden death will arouse feelings of keen regret and sorrow in a very wide circle of friends and brother officers". The 'Times' of 17 June 1914, says: "The funeral of Admiral John Durnford took place at Longparish yesterday, with naval honours. The pall-bearers were Admiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Kerr, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Gerard Noel, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Fanshawe, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, Admiral Sir Arthur Moore, Admiral Barlow, Admiral Robinson, Surgeon General Sir James Porter, Rear Admiral De Chair and Rear Admiral Napier, and Mr C H Stansfield, CB, Director of Greenwich Hospital. The King was represented by Admiral the Honourable Sir Hedworth Meux, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, and Admiral Archibald Moore represented the Admiralty".
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Navy |