The son of Colonel Roger North of the Royal Artillery, Dudley North entered the
Royal Navy as a cadet in 1896, passed out of HMS
Britannia in 1897, and was confirmed as
sub-lieutenant on 15 March 1901. He was appointed to on 31 December 1902, while she was serving the Devonport instructional flotilla. During the
First World War, North saw action at the battles of
Heligoland,
Dogger Bank, and
Jutland. He became Director of Naval Operations in January 1930 and
Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts in December 1934. Chief of Staff,
Home Fleet in December 1932
Second World War and relief of command North became
Vice-Admiral, Gibraltar in November 1939 and was promoted admiral on 8 May 1940. After the
sinking of the French fleet at
Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940, North wrote a letter criticizing the operation to the Admiralty. Prime Minister
Winston Churchill and
First Lord of the Admiralty A. V. Alexander called for him to be replaced, but the
First Sea Lord,
Sir Dudley Pound, disagreed. In the end, North was reprimanded by the Admiralty. Two months later, on 11 September 1940, North did not challenge a
Vichy French squadron of three cruisers and three destroyers transited through the
Strait of Gibraltar from Toulon to Dakar. North had ambiguous instructions as to whether he should challenge the French squadron. After his relief, North retired on 25 December 1941. He served for a time in the
Home Guard, then was appointed Flag Officer-in-Charge, Great Yarmouth in 1943, for which service he was appointed a Commander of the US
Legion of Merit. In 1957, Macmillan partially, though not entirely, exonerated North of blame. ==Personal life==