Box 1: contains a printed book entitled 'Ward-room diary HMS Ariadne 1902-1905' by T.T.Jeans, RN; two scrapbooks/folders containing dinner menus, telegrams, letters, photos, newspaper cuttings and the LONDON GAZETTE dated 14 October 1947.

Box 2: contains letters and extracts re: Brief Life of Lord Tovey by his nephew Lt. Colonel A. H. Tovey; xerox copies of small album of letters returned to Mrs Tovey; four scrapbooks/folders containing photographs, letters to Admiral Tovey including from Andrew Cunningham, Admiral Tovey's commissions (flimsies), photographs including Winston Churchill on HMS TYNE, also clergymen at sea, a religious service, Tovey's living quarters on board, many photographs of crew and of locations including Iceland and during arctic convoys.

Box 3: contains two visitor books containing names/addresses 1935-1946; These records are not available for public access until 1 January 2047 in accordance with current Data Protection legislation. Please contact Archive staff for further information about access to these records.

Photograph album dated 2 December 1940 and initialled J.C.T includes photographs of King George VI visiting HMS KING GEORGE V and shaking hands with the Admiral; crew; U.S.S WASHINGTON in Scapa Flow with KING GEORGE V in background; HM inspecting WRENS at Lyness; several photographs of Winston Churchill on HMS TYNE including him giving a speech on board; KING GEORGE V covering Russian convoys.

Oversize folders: Two official grants with seals: Sir John Cronyn, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, ennobled as Baron Tovey, 11 February 1946.

Please contact archive staff for more information about ordering from this collection.

Administrative / biographical background
Tovey entered the Royal Navy on 15 May 1901 as a midshipman. A month later he was posted to the battleship MAJESTIC, flagship of the Channel Squadron under Vice-Admiral Arthur Wilson. He remained in the MAJESTIC until June 1902, when he transferred to the cruiser ARIADNE, flagship on the North America and West Indies Station. Tovey was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 15 July 1904. In 1905, he attended courses in gunnery, torpedo, navigation and pilotage. In November, Tovey was appointed to the flagship, EXMOUTH, at the request of Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson, the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet. Tovey was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 July 1906. Tovey was appointed, on 18 May 1908, to the armoured cruiser KING ALFRED. In 1913, Tovey was posted to HMS VIVID (the naval barracks at Devonport) and subsequently served on AMPHION from 2 April 1913. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 15 July 1914. During the World War One period Tovey continued to serve on the AMPHION as its first lieutenant until she was mined and sunk on 6 August 1914. He was then posted to the destroyer FAULKNOR. Tovey received his first command on 13 January 1915, when he was appointed to the destroyer JACKAL which took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24 January. He subsequently commanded HMS ONSLOW at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May. Tovey was promoted to Commander on 30 June 1916 and subsequently awarded the DSO in 1919. He transferred to command the new destroyer HMS URSA and in April 1918 Tovey took command of another new destroyer WOLFHOUND and was also appointed to the staff of the Captain Superintendent Torpedo-Boat Destroyers; these appointments lasted until June 1919. Tovey commanded the 7th Cruiser Squadron when, on 28 June 1940, it intercepted three Italian destroyers that were making an urgent supply run to north Africa (Battle of the Espero Convoy). Tovey was In November 1940 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet with the acting rank of Admiral. Perhaps his best achievement was orchestrating the pursuit and destruction of the BISMARCK. When the two British battleships RODNEY and KING GEORGE V located Bismarck, they had the setting sun silhouetting them while BISMARCK remained in the evening gloom. Tovey observed this and, to the surprise of his staff, ordered that the final action be delayed until the following morning. In so doing, he ensured that the benefits of the light would be reversed to the British advantage and that the German crews would be fatigued by constant harassment by Vian's destroyers. Tovey was made a KBE for his distinguished conduct in this engagement which led to the destruction of the BISMARCK.