John Eaton (Royal Navy officer)

Sir John Eaton
Born	1902
Died	1981
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1916 - 1958
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	HMS Venetia HMS Mohawk HMS Somali HMS Eskimo HMS Sheffield HMS St Vincent HM Australian Fleet Reserve Fleet Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath

Vice Admiral Sir John William Musgrave Eaton KBE CB DSO DSC (1902–1981) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief America and West Indies Station.

Naval career

Eaton joined the Royal Navy in 1916 and served in World War I. After the War he served in destroyers and then in submarines.

He served in World War II he commanded the detroyers HMS Venetia, HMS Mohawk, HMS Somali and HMS Eskimo.

After the War he became Captain of the cruiser HMS Sheffield and then Captain of the training school HMS St Vincent. He was appointed Director at the Royal Navy Staff College, Greenwich in 1949, Flag Officer commanding HM Australian Fleet in 1951 and Flag Officer commanding the Reserve Fleet in 1954. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1955; he took part in Operation Strikeback (a major NATO training exercise) in 1957 and retired in 1958.

His life is commemorated by an inscription at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Kelvedon in Essex.

References

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Ian Campbell	Commander-in-Chief, Reserve Fleet 1954–1955	Succeeded by Sir Peter Cazalet
Preceded by Sir John Stevens	Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station 1955–1956	Succeeded by Sir Wilfrid Woods As Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic