Cdr James Campbell Clouston R.N.

M, #715, b. 31 August 1900, d. 2 June 1940

 
J. Campbell Clouston
By permission of D S C Clouston

FatherWilliam Stewart Clouston b. 24 Apr 1861, d. 14 Feb 1934
MotherEvelyn Campbell b. 7 Nov 1873, d. 29 Nov 1952
Cdr James Campbell Clouston R.N.|b. 31 Aug 1900\nd. 2 Jun 1940|p715.htm|William Stewart Clouston|b. 24 Apr 1861\nd. 14 Feb 1934|p713.htm|Evelyn Campbell|b. 7 Nov 1873\nd. 29 Nov 1952|p714.htm|James S. Clouston|b. c 1826\nd. c 1874|p706.htm|Margaret Miles||p708.htm|||||||

Birth*31 August 1900 Montreal, Canada 
Milit-Beg*circa 1918 Service Record, England 
(Witness) History20 August 1923 HMS Montrose 
(Witness) History15 April 1929 Gunnery Officer - HMS Capetown 
(Witness) History30 December 1929 Gunnery Officer - HMS Delhi 
(Witness) History22 February 1935 Royal Aero Club, Aviators Certificate
Marriage*28 September 1935 Maidenhead, Surrey, England, Principal=Gwyneth Lillian Vanderpump 
(Witness) History29 May 1937 CO - HMS Isis 
Death*2 June 1940 Dunkirk, France 
(Witness) HistoryMarch 1941 The Nine Days Wonder (The Operation Dynamo) by John Masefield - William Heinemann Ltd, London and Toronto., "In the account of this day (Sunday, June 2nd) something must be written of the loss of Commander Clouston, R.N., who had for six anxious days been 'doing noble service on the jetty at Dunquerque' (where for the whole period he was pier-master).
On Saturday night he returned to Dover to report upon the situation and to receive final orders for the great lifting of troops planned for Sunday night. He left Dover on this day in a motor-launch with a naval officer and some seamen. A second motor launch came with them. On their way they were attacked by enemy aircraft who put his motor launch out of action and left her in a sinking condition. Commander Clouston waved to the men in the second launch to get away before they were sunk. With the naval officer, the only survivor of his company, he then left his wrecked launch to try to swim to a boat seen a couple of miles away. Becoming weary long before he could reach this boat he turned to swim back to the water logged launch, and was never seen agaiin.
. . . . Commander Clouston had been of the utmost service in helping the escape of nearly two hundred thousand men under frightful conditions of strain and danger. It was a grief to many that he did not live to see the lifting brought to an end" 
(Witness) History15 July 1947 London Gazette Supplement 38017, SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947
79. The Rear Admiral, Dover, arrived back from the coast in a M.T.B. and during the forenoon a joint Naval and Military conference was held to devise a plan for the forthcoming night's evacuation. The fact that evacuation traffic was suspended in daylight hours ena/b'led all transport resources to accumulate during the day and to be held available for a massed descent upon Dunkirk Harbour during the night. By making provision for increased pier and -berthing parties and traffic controlled 'by motor boat in the harbour channels, it was hoped to berth all craft that were available between the hours of 2100/2 and 0300/3.

The times of sailing of all vessels were adjusted so as to space them out over the evacuation period at Dunkirk, and allowance was made for a proportion failing to make the passage. The French agreed to make their own arrangements for embarkation from the Dunkirk East Beach and the West Pier on the new outer harbour.

At 1530 two R.A.F. Motor Boats, 243 and 270, left in company for Dunkirk carrying Commander J. C. Clouston and an augmented pier party. When off Gravelines attacks were made on the boats by eight Junkers 87 with machine guns and small 'bomibs. No. 243 had a near miss which damaged her. For ten minutes No. 270 carried on trying to avoid attacks. She then returned to No. 243 but Commander Clouston who was in the water instructed 270 to proceed. Destroyers were instructed to look for survivors. Two were picked up only. One stated that he saw Commander Clouston dead in the water. 
(Witness) HistoryFebruary 2004 In the spring of 2004 the BBC screened a drama documentary on the events of Dunkirk in 1940. Campbell Clouston was to feature in this and he was to be played by the actor William Hope.

As a result of the screening Campbell's webpage started to take a greater number of 'hits' and so I asked his son for anything that I might add to this webiste.

The attached file contains some of the reports and tributes paid after his death from personal correspondance, my thanks for this to Dane.

NB: Campbell's brother Bill (Cdr. William S Clouston) is mentioned in the letters and it is mentioned that he was hoping for a command. Eventually he was appointed to HMS Scorpion and on the 25th/26th December 1943 Scorpion was one of the destroyer force which helped to sink the Scharnhorst.

Family

Gwyneth Lillian Vanderpump b. 31 May 1906, d. 13 Sep 2002
Marriage*28 September 1935 Maidenhead, Surrey, England, Principal=Gwyneth Lillian Vanderpump 
Children

Last Edited 28 Jun 2008