John Foster Grant-Dalton

Rear-Admiral (retired) John Foster Grant-Dalton (10 May, 1873 – 11 August, 1938) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Grant-Dalton was awarded eight months time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1888. He proceeded to join the central battery ironclad Sultan in the Mediterranean, appointed 1 September, 1888. On 1 April, 1889, he moved briefly to Dreadnought. After spending the annual manoeuvres in Immortalité, he was sent to the Channel Squadron, appointed first to the battleship Monarch on 19 November, 1889 and then to Rodney on 14 May, 1890.

Grant-Dalton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant from Canada on 31 December, 1894. He was next appointed to Galatea in April of 1895. In September, he was appointed to the Ringarooma on the Australia Station.

Grant-Dalton was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Magicienne on the Cape of Good Hope Station on 18 November, 1897. The Foreign Service relayed its thanks for the services Grant-Dalton rendered in operations against Ogadens, a tribe located in Somalia and Ethiopia, in 1900. He left Magicienne 19 June, 1901 and participated in the annual manoeuvres the following month, assigned to Ariadne.

After an inspection in September, 1902, Captain Dicken noted that Lieutenant Grant-Dalton's destroyer Snapper required more attention to "internal order & cleanliness." However, in December, Captain Barrow wrote that he "[s]trongly recommended [Grant-Dalton] for appointment for G(unnery) duties in 2nd class cruiser." This did not exactly occur, but Grant-Dalton was appointed to Europa as first Lieutenant on 3 March, 1903. THe following year, he would be first lieutenant in the monitor Mersey and then the second class protected cruiser Juno in the Home Fleet. His time in Juno was short, just over six weeks. This may have been a consequence of his attracting the "severe displeasure" of the Admiralty in an explosion of fireworks aboard the ship!

Grant-Dalton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1906 while in the midst of a two year appointment in Diadem on the China Station. When she paid off on 11 April, 1907, Grant-Dalton proceeded to take a month attending gunnery and torpedo courses.

On 15 August, 1908, Grant-Dalton was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital with an ulcer as he was approaching the end of an appointment as executive officer in the battleship Britannia. He was released to a private nursing home and monitored. His condition remained poor even as a final inspection of Britannia showed that he'd greatly improved on the discipline he directed toward such matters. He was finally declared fit on 19 January, 1909.

Grant-Dalton attended the Royal Navy War College from 9 February through 28 May, 1909, placing sixth out of seven commanders. On 15 October, 1909, he was appointed to the battleship Hindustan of the Home Fleet, remaining in her until she paid off on 1 April, 1912 and receiving, once again, favourable inspection reports. Grant-Dalton would enjoy a very brief stint in command of Albion before being appointed to Pembroke Royal Naval Barracks on 1 August, 1912.

Grant-Dalton was still at Pembroke when he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1914.

Great War

Grant-Dalton was appointed in command of the battleship Hannibal on 28 July, 1914. She spent the first months of the war with Magnificent providing local defence to Scapa Flow. Grant-Dalton left the ship in January, 1915 and was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Crescent in February 1915, remaining with her until November.

In December 1917, he was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Challenger.

On 6 November, 1918 Grant-Dalton was appointed Naval Officer in Charge of Africa, as reported in a telegram from Senior Naval Officer, Zanzibar.

Post-War

Upon leaving his post in Africa, Grant-Dalton was appointed in command of the depot vessel Hecla on 30 October, 1919 and also made Captain (D) of the Nore Reserve Flotilla. On 1 March, 1921, he was appointed to Malabar, additional for charge of H.M. Naval Establishments at Bermuda, assuming command of Malabar on 16 April, 1921 and working there until June of 1922, when he was found to have jaundice and a stomach disease which warranted his immediate return to England.

Grant-Dalton arrived back in England on 29 June and was placed on the Retired List at his own request upon the expiration of his foreign service and full-pay sick leave. This meant an effective date of 31 October, 1922 but his retirement was post-dated to 31 March, 1923 for some reason. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 26 September, 1924.

See Also

• Wikipedia
• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John Masterman	Captain of H.M.S. Medway 12 Aug, 1897 – 18 Nov, 1897	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John M. Casement	Captain of H.M.S. Haughty 18 Sep, 1901 – 14 Feb, 1902	Succeeded by Harry C. J. R. West
Preceded by John R. Segrave	Captain of H.M.S. Snapper 14 Feb, 1902 – 17 Oct, 1902	Succeeded by Charles M. Foot
Preceded by Constantine H. Hughes-Onslow	Captain of H.M.S. Diadem 24 Jul, 1909 – 5 Oct, 1909	Succeeded by William D. Church
Preceded by James W. G. Innes	Captain of H.M.S. Canopus 1 May, 1912 – 21 May, 1912	Succeeded by Edgar R. Morant
Preceded by Ernest K. Loring	Captain of H.M.S. Hannibal 28 Jul, 1914 – Jan, 1915	Succeeded by Philip Streatfeild
Preceded by George Trewby	Captain of H.M.S. Crescent Feb, 1915 – 11 Nov, 1915	Succeeded by Percival H. Warleigh
Preceded by Hugh Edwards	Captain of H.M.S. Hildebrand 11 Nov, 1915 – 2 Apr, 1917	Succeeded by Horace C. Watson
Preceded by George P. England	Captain of H.M.S. Armadale Castle 2 Apr, 1917 – Dec, 1917	Succeeded by George P. Leith
Preceded by Alfred C. Sykes	Captain of H.M.S. Challenger Dec, 1917 – 6 Nov, 1918	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John B. Sparks	Captain of H.M.S. Hecla 30 Oct, 1919 – 1 Feb, 1921	Succeeded by Edward O. Gladstone
Preceded by John B. Sparks	Captain (D), Nore Reserve Flotilla 30 Oct, 1919 – 1 Feb, 1921	Succeeded by Leonard L. P. Willan