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Jules James

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jules James
Portrait of Admiral James by Bjorn Egeli while he commanded U.S. forces in Bermuda.
Born(1885-02-15)February 15, 1885
Danville, Virginia, US
Died12 March 1975(1975-03-12) (aged 90)
Bethesda, Maryland, US
Allegiance United States
Branch
 United States Navy
Service years
1906–1946
Rank
Vice admiral
CommandsUSS Edsall (DD-219)
USS Philadelphia (CL-41)
Office of Naval Intelligence
Sixth naval district
United States Sixth Fleet
AwardsLegion of Honour
Other workSpecial representative, National Lead Company

Jules James (February 14, 1885 – March 12, 1957) was an American naval officer. During World War II, he commanded U.S. Naval forces in Bermuda and then later oversaw the construction of a large number of U.S. Navy ships while commanding the Sixth Naval District.

Biography

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James was born on 14 February 1885, in Danville, Virginia. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1910 and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy. One of his early assignments was as a White House naval aide to President Woodrow Wilson from 1912 to 1913. The following year James had his first taste of combat, serving on the USS Florida during the Battle of Veracruz. Lieutenant Commander James served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Rochester (CA-2) during World War I as the ship escorted convoys to and from Europe. For his actions Jules was give a special letter of commendation. Later, during the 70th U.S. Congress, special dispensation allowed James to accept the French Legion of Honour for his World War I service.[1]

In 1921, United States Army General Billy Mitchell, an outspoken advocate for air power, led a series of tests off the Virginia coast in which the ex-German battleship SMS Ostfriesland and other ships were sunk by bomber aircraft. James served as Chief Censor, given responsibility for censoring what information about the tests were released to the news media.[2] After a tour aboard the USS Columbia in 1922, James served as assistant naval attache to the American embassies in France, Spain, and Portugal from 1923 to 1926.

At times between 1926 and 1934, James was navigator on the USS Florida (BB-30); commanded the USS Edsall (DD-219), with which he participated in the Yangtze River patrol; served as naval aide for the Governor-General of the Philippines; attended the Naval War College; and commanded the Destroyer Division 6, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet. In 1933, James was head of the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery at the U.S. Naval Academy.[3] In 1937, he directed the fitting out of the light cruiser USS Philadelphia (CL-41), which he then commanded until mid-1939. On her shake-down cruise in January and February of 1938, Philadelphia visited the Royal Naval Dockyard at the British Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, the home base of the Royal Navy's America and West Indies Station 640 miles off North Carolina,[4][5] where the ship's officers were hosted to lunch by Captain-in-Charge HM Dockyard, Captain Henry Bradford Maltby, and the dockyard cinema presented a special show for the crew. Captain James, selected other officers and US Consul Harold L. Williamson, was entertained at Government House by the Governor and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, General Sir Reginald John Thoroton Hildyard. Captain James was also the guest of honour at a tea-dance held by the US Consul, where he was presented to more than 350 local naval, military and civil dignitaries, including Governor and Lady Hildyard, at the Princess Hotel.[6][7][8]

From 1939 to 1941, James served as assistant director, and briefly acting director, of the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Following the onset of the Second World War in 1939, but prior to the US entry to the war, secret negotiations between the British and US governments would led to Britain granting the United States leases for a Naval Operating Base and Kindley Field of the Bermuda Base Command (this agreement would later be grouped with the exchange of base rights in other British territories for destroyers in the Destroyers-for-bases deal, although the bases in Bermuda and Newfoundland were granted freely). Already familiar with the British naval and military leadership in the British territory from his 1938 visit, James in 1941 became commander of the newly acquired U.S. Naval Operating Base, where he also commanded the combined U.S. and British local defense forces.[9]

From May 1943 to September 1945, James commanded the Sixth Naval District, headquartered at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina.[10] In 1945 James received his final assignment, commander of United States Naval Forces, Mediterranean (now redesignated the U.S. Sixth Fleet) where he served until retiring from active duty in 1946.

In addition to being a serving officer, James was an inventor and songwriter. During his time in Bermuda James wrote and published the tune "Traveling High". Earlier in his career he was responsible for the invention of a new type of gunsight for Navy machine guns and a naval mine.[11]

James died on March 12, 1957, aged 90 in, Bethesda, Maryland.

Personal life

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Admiral James and Mrs. William P. Liddle preparing to christen the USS Liddle (DE-206) at Charleston Navy Yard

In 1928, James married Eleanor Standish Gamble, niece of U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. Gamble was also the great-great-granddaughter of American founding father Roger Sherman. Following his retirement from the Navy in 1946, James became a special representative in Europe for the National Lead Company.[12]

References

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  1. ↑ "James, Jules VADM career". Together We Served. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Naval Bombing Experiments off the Virginia Capes - June and July 1921". U.S. Navy archives online. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "Naval Ordnance Books". Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Willock USMC, Lieutenant-Colonel Roger (1988). Bulwark Of Empire: Bermuda's Fortified Naval Base 1860–1920. Bermuda: The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press. ISBN 9780921560005.
  5. ↑ Stranack, Lieutenant-Commander Ian (1990). The Andrew And The Onions: The Story Of The Royal Navy In Bermuda, 1795 – 1975. Bermuda: The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press. ISBN 9780921560036.
  6. ↑ "U.S.S.Philadelphia is Arriving Here Today". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda: The Royal Gazette. 1938-02-10. p. 1. The United States cruiser Philadelphia is due to arrive at Bermuda early this morning on the last call of her shake-down cruise. The first of a new type of light cruisers building for the United States Navy, Philadelphia has a displacement of 10,000 tons, carries 43 officers and 750 men, and is 608 feet long. She carries four aeroplanes, and her armament consists of fifteen 6-inch guns and a battery of eight 5-inch anti-aircraft guns. Philadelphia, which has been to Barbados, Jamaica and Cuba on her maiden cruise, is commanded by Captain Jules James, U.S.N. This morning Captain James will make official calls, and tonight he and some officers of the ship, and the U.S. Consul, Mr. Harold L. Williamson, will be entertained to dinner at Government House. Tomorrow at "Loughlands," Paget, Mrs. Powell Crichton will entertain Captain James and officers of the cruiser to luncheon and a cocktail party will be given at "La Garza" in the evening by the Colonial Secretary and Mrs. Grantham. At night the U.S. Consul, Mr. Williamson, will give a dinner at his residence, "Miamba." At H.M. Dockyard the crew of Philadelphia will attend a special movie show being given for their entertainment tomorrow night. On Saturday (anniversary of Lincoln's Birthday) Mrs. Thomas Trueman Gaff will entertain Captain James and officers of the cruiser to luncheon at "Lyndham", Paget, and in the afternoon the U.S. Consul will hold a tea-dance at the Princess Hotel. About 359 guests have been invited. On Sunday Captain Maltby.R.N., Captain-in-Charge of H. M. Dockyard will give a luncheon for the American Naval officers. Philadelphia will sail for America the following day.
  7. ↑ "Delightful Reception at Princess Hotel: U.S. Consul Entertains in Honour of Visiting Cruiser". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda: The Royal Gazette. 1938-02-14. p. 1. On Saturday afternoon, the birthday anniversary of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Harold L. Williamson, American Consul, entertained upwards of 500 guests in honour of the visit of the U.S.S. Philadelphia, Captain Jules James. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Hildyard attended and included in the guests were representatives of the Navy, Army, Civil Service and visiting and local society. Mr. Clay Merrill assisted ta the introduction of guests to Captain James and his officers. A most delightful tea was served on the verandah and dancing to the excellent music of the Princess orchestra was much enjoyed. As usual the service was excellent, the capable staff handling the huge crowd with extraordinary facility. The Philadelphia concludes her visit today and Captain James has expressed his deep appreciation of the many courtesies extended to himself and his crew.
  8. ↑ "NAVAL TUG AGROUND TWO HOURS YESTERDAY: Was Taking Guests to U.S.S. Philadelphia at the Time". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda: The Royal Gazette. 1938-02-14. p. 1. The Naval tug Sandboy was aground for about two hours yesterday afternoon, from 4 o'clock to 6 o'clock, on the rocks between Salt Kettle and Doctor's Island, finally coming clear as the tide rose. The Sandboy, at the time she stranded, was conveying guests to the U.S.S. Philadelphia in Grassy Bay. She was en route from Hamilton to the American cruiser, and was turning to port to call at Darrell's Wharf when she grounded. The passengers were transferred to other vessels sent down from the Dockyard. The Sandboy was not damaged by the grounding. She was drawing 13 feet of water, and struck the rocks on the route regularly followed by the ferryboat service to Darrell's Wharf.
  9. ↑ Evette Champion (2014-01-30). "Bermuda Was As Important to the Atlantic as Pearl Harbor Was To The Pacific". War History Online. USA: War History Online. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  10. ↑ Robert Cressman. "Appendix I: Principal Civilian Officials And Naval Officers In Command 7 December 1941 -- 2 September 1945". The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "Guide to the Jules James Papers, 1907–1968". East Carolina University. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  12. ↑ "Guide to the Jules James Papers, 1907–1968". East Carolina University. Retrieved 27 June 2012.

Further reading

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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jules_James&oldid=1361368642"