Vice Admiral John Knowles Im Thurn, (7 March 1881 – 5 July 1956) was a British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

officer who was Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff from 1931 to 1933.

Biography

Im Thurn joined the Royal Navy in January 1895, and was promoted to the rank of

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

on 15 January 1902. In August that year he was posted to the torpedo boat depot ship , serving with the

Mediterranean Fleet The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between t ...

. He served in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, mainly with wireless telegraph and signalling duties, and was promoted to the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on 30 June 1918. After the war he held several staff appointments, as Assistant Director of Electrical Torpedo and Mining until 1920, then Director of the Signal Department until 1921. He was captain of from 1923 to 1925, during which time the ship participated in a promotional tour of various ports around the world, the World

Cruise of the Special Service Squadron In 1923–24, battlecruisers , and the Special Service Squadron sailed around the world on The Empire Cruise, making many ports of call in the countries which had fought together during the First World War. The squadron departed Devonport on 27 ...

. In March 1931 he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, a senior appointment in the Royal Navy. He served in this position until 1933, when he was appointed commanding officer of the

1st Cruiser Squadron The First Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of cruisers that saw service as part of the Grand Fleet during the World War I then later as part of the Mediterranean Fleet, Mediterranean during the Interwar period and World War II it first ...

in the Mediterranean Fleet. He was promoted to vice-admiral in January 1935, and retired from service later the same year.

Family

Im Thurn was married to Margaret Elizabeth Flemming.

References

External links

*http://www.hmshood.com/crew/biography/imthurn_bio.htm * {{DEFAULTSORT:Im Thurn, John Knowles 1881 births 1956 deaths Royal Navy vice admirals Companions of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Commanders of the Order of the British Empire