James Campbell Clouston
Encyclopedia
James Campbell Clouston (31 August 1900 – 3 June 1940) was a Canadian officer of the British Royal Navy
, who acted as pier-master during the Dunkirk evacuation, and who was lost when his motor launch was sunk by enemy aircraft.
, Canada, the son of William Stewart Clouston and Evelyn Campbell. After training at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
, he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant
on 15 August 1923, with seniority from 15 May 1921. He first served aboard the destroyer leader in the Mediterranean, receiving promotion to lieutenant
on 15 June 1922. He trained at HMS Excellent, the Naval Gunnery School at Portsmouth
, in mid-1927. He then served as Gunnery Officer in the light cruiser
s on the America and West Indies Station, and at Portsmouth
, being promoted to lieutenant commander
on 15 June 1930. Promoted to commander
on 31 December 1934, Clouston served as a gunnery instructor at Excellent throughout the mid-1930s before being appointed to command the destroyer on 29 May 1937.
sent to the port of Dunkirk to help organise the evacuation. The Naval Shore Party embarked on the destroyer at Dover and sailed on 27 May 1940. Three officers cut cards for their assignments and Clouston won the eastern mole, a narrow wooden walkway mounted on a concrete breakwater, not designed to be used by ships, but the only part of the port that had not been heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. Clouston organised and regulated the flow of men along the mole into the waiting ships for five days and nights with barely a break.
On 1 June Clouston returned to Dover to report to Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay
. On the afternoon of 2 June he and a party of 30 men left Dover on two RAF rescue motorboats for the final night of the evacuation. Off the coast of France the two boats were strafed and bombed by eight Ju 87 Stuka
's and Clouston's boat was sunk, leaving the crew clinging to the wreckage. Clouston ordered the other boat to continue to Dunkirk, and while waiting for rescue he and his men eventually succumbed to exhaustion and hypothermia
. Only one man survived.
On 11 July 1940 Clouston posthumously received a Mention in Despatches for his part in the Dunkirk operation.
His two younger brothers were also naval officers. Commander William Stratford Clouston (1908–1974), commanded the Royal Navy
destroyer during the engagement with in December 1943. Lieutenant John Douglas Clouston (1909–1942) served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
aboard in the North Atlantic, and was killed in action.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, who acted as pier-master during the Dunkirk evacuation, and who was lost when his motor launch was sunk by enemy aircraft.
Biography
Clouston was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada, the son of William Stewart Clouston and Evelyn Campbell. After training at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
on 15 August 1923, with seniority from 15 May 1921. He first served aboard the destroyer leader in the Mediterranean, receiving promotion to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 15 June 1922. He trained at HMS Excellent, the Naval Gunnery School at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, in mid-1927. He then served as Gunnery Officer in the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s on the America and West Indies Station, and at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, being promoted to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
on 15 June 1930. Promoted to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on 31 December 1934, Clouston served as a gunnery instructor at Excellent throughout the mid-1930s before being appointed to command the destroyer on 29 May 1937.
Dunkirk
In May 1940 while Isis was in dock for repairs, Clouston was attached the Naval Shore Party of eight officers and 160 men under the command of Captain William TennantWilliam Tennant (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Sir William George "Bill" Tennant KCB CBE MVO DL was a British naval officer. He was lauded for overseeing the successful evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. Tennant subsequently served as captain of the battlecruiser HMS Repulse, when it searched for German capital ships in the Atlantic...
sent to the port of Dunkirk to help organise the evacuation. The Naval Shore Party embarked on the destroyer at Dover and sailed on 27 May 1940. Three officers cut cards for their assignments and Clouston won the eastern mole, a narrow wooden walkway mounted on a concrete breakwater, not designed to be used by ships, but the only part of the port that had not been heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. Clouston organised and regulated the flow of men along the mole into the waiting ships for five days and nights with barely a break.
On 1 June Clouston returned to Dover to report to Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay
Bertram Ramsay
Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay KCB, KBE, MVO was a British admiral during World War II. He was an important contributor in the field of amphibious warfare.-Early life:...
. On the afternoon of 2 June he and a party of 30 men left Dover on two RAF rescue motorboats for the final night of the evacuation. Off the coast of France the two boats were strafed and bombed by eight Ju 87 Stuka
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
's and Clouston's boat was sunk, leaving the crew clinging to the wreckage. Clouston ordered the other boat to continue to Dunkirk, and while waiting for rescue he and his men eventually succumbed to exhaustion and hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
. Only one man survived.
On 11 July 1940 Clouston posthumously received a Mention in Despatches for his part in the Dunkirk operation.
Personal life
Clouston married Gwyneth Lilian Vanderpump (1906–2002) on 28 September 1935, they had two sons.His two younger brothers were also naval officers. Commander William Stratford Clouston (1908–1974), commanded the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
destroyer during the engagement with in December 1943. Lieutenant John Douglas Clouston (1909–1942) served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve was a naval reserve force of the Royal Canadian Navy, which replaced the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve .-Foundation:...
aboard in the North Atlantic, and was killed in action.