James Campbell Clouston
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James Campbell Clouston (31 August 1900 – 3 June 1940) was a Canadian officer in the British
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
, who acted as pier-master during the
Dunkirk evacuation The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo and also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, or just Dunkirk, was the evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers during the Second World War from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the ...
. While returning to
Dunkirk, France Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the department of Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgian border. It has the third-largest French harbour. The population of the commune in 2019 was 86,279. E ...
, his motor launch was sunk by enemy aircraft and he perished awaiting rescue.


Early life and military service

Clouston was born in
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
,
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, Canada, the son of William Stewart Clouston and Evelyn Campbell.
Edward Clouston Sir Edward Seaborne Clouston, 1st Baronet (May 9, 1849 – November 23, 1912) was a Canadian banker and financier who became the General Manager of the Bank of Montreal. Life and career He was born in Moose Factory to James Stewart Clouston (182 ...
, a prominent banker, was his uncle. He studied at
Selwyn House School Selwyn House School (SHS) is an English-language independent K-12 boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. The school was founded in 1908 by Englishman Captain Algernon Lucas and was named in honour of Selwyn College at the University of C ...
,
Lower Canada College Lower Canada College (LCC) is an English-language Elementary school, elementary and Secondary school, secondary level independent school located in Montreal, Quebec. It is located in the Monkland Village area of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourho ...
and
McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
. After training at the
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, ...
, he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on 15 August 1923, with seniority from 15 May 1921. He first served aboard the
destroyer leader Destroyer leader (DL) was the United States Navy designation for large destroyers from 9 February 1951 through the early years of the Cold War. United States ships with hull classification symbol DL were officially frigates from 1 January 1955Blac ...
in the Mediterranean, receiving promotion to
lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...
on 11 March 1924, with seniority from 15 June 1922. He trained at , the Naval Gunnery School at
Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...
, in mid-1927. Clouston had been an ice hockey player, and when stationed at Portsmouth, had organized the staff into a hockey team. He then served as Gunnery Officer in the
light cruiser A light cruiser is a type of small or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck. Prior to thi ...
s on the
America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956, with main bases at the Imperial fortresses of Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...
, and at
Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...
, being promoted to lieutenant commander on 18 June 1930. Promoted to
commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...
on 31 December 1934, Clouston served as a gunnery instructor at ''Excellent'' throughout the mid-1930s before being appointed to command the destroyer on 29 May 1937.


Personal life

Clouston married Gwyneth Lilian Vanderpump (1906–2002) on 28 September 1935; they had two sons. His two younger brothers were also naval officers. Commander William Stratford Clouston (1908–1974), commanded the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
destroyer during the engagement with in December 1943. Lieutenant John Douglas Clouston (1909–1942) served in the
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve The Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) was a naval reserve force of the Royal Canadian Navy from 1923 to 1946. It replaced the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR). Foundation The RCNVR was created in 1923. The organizati ...
aboard in the North Atlantic, and was killed in action.


Dunkirk

In May 1940 while ''Isis'' was in dock for repairs, Clouston was attached to the Naval Shore Party of eight officers and 160 men under the command of Captain William Tennant sent to the port of Dunkirk to help organise the evacuation. The Naval Shore Party embarked on the destroyer at Dover and sailed on 27 May. Three officers cut cards for their assignments. Clouston won the eastern
mole Mole (or Molé) may refer to: Animals * Mole (animal) or "true mole" * Golden mole, southern African mammals * Marsupial mole Marsupial moles, the Notoryctidae family, are two species of highly specialized marsupial mammals that are found i ...
, a narrow wooden walkway mounted on a concrete breakwater, not designed to be used by ships, but the only part of the port that had not been heavily bombed by the ''Luftwaffe''. For the next five days, Clouston organised and regulated the flow of men along the mole into the waiting ships. Megaphone in hand, he shouted instructions, matching the flow of men to the flow of ships. Tennant estimated on May 28, that Clouston was getting men off at a rate of 2,000 an hour. When panicked soldiers began attempting to leave the pier, Clouston, a junior officer alongside him, promptly restored order by waving a revolver in the air, stating, "We have come to take you back to the UK. I have six shots here and I am not a bad shot. The lieutenant behind me is an even better one. So that makes 12 of you. Now get down into those bloody ships!" On 1 June, Clouston returned to Dover to report to Vice-Admiral
Bertram Ramsay Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay, KCB, KBE, MVO (20 January 1883 – 2 January 1945) was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded the destroyer during the First World War. In the Second World War, he was responsible for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1 ...
. On the afternoon of 2 June, he and a party of 30 men left Dover on two
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
rescue motorboats for the final night of the evacuation. Off the coast of France, the two boats were strafed and bombed by eight Ju 87 Stukas, and Clouston's boat was sunk, leaving him and his crew clinging to wreckage. When the other boat attempted to pick up survivors, Clouston ordered the other boat to continue to Dunkirk, and refused to be picked up and wanted to remain with his men. A French liaison officer reported an empty lifeboat floating a mile away and Sub-Lieutenant Solomon asked permission to swim over and try to bring it back. Clouston approved and decided to come along. Despite being a good swimmer, Clouston was exhausted, and swam back to the others clinging to the wreck. Clouston's men sang and discussed old times, while Clouston tried to encourage them with white lies about the nearness of rescue, before he and his men eventually succumbed to exhaustion and
hypothermia Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe ...
. Only one man, Aircraftsman Carmaham survived. Solomon had reached the empty lifeboat but was unable to get back to the others. On 11 July 1940, Clouston posthumously received a
Mention in Despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of t ...
for his part in the Dunkirk operation. Clouston is buried in
Becklingen War Cemetery The Becklingen War Cemetery is a military cemetery located in the state of Lower Saxony in north Germany on the Lüneburg Heath. It was built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who continue to look after it today. The cemetery lies near Get ...
,
Lower Saxony Lower Saxony is a States of Germany, German state (') in Northern Germany, northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ' of the Germany, Federal Re ...
, Germany. Clouston was portrayed by
William Hope William Hope may refer to: * William Johnstone Hope (1766–1831), prominent and controversial British Royal Navy officer and politician * Sir William Hope, 14th Baronet (1819–1898), British Army officer * William Hope (VC) (1834–1909), Scottis ...
in the 2004 BBC series ''
Dunkirk Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...
''. Clouston's actions inspired the character of "Commander Bolton" in
Christopher Nolan Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. Known for his Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters with complex storytelling, he is considered a leading filmma ...
's 2017 film, ''
Dunkirk Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...
''. Clouston's family drew criticism due to the lack of an actual depiction, with Nolan stating that he could not do Clouston's story justice. Due to the attention drawn to Clouston by the film,
Parks Canada Parks Canada ()Parks Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Parks Canada Agency (). is the agency of the Government of Canada which manages the country's 37 National Parks, three National Marine Co ...
installed a plaque in Montreal honouring him for his role in the evacuation at Dunkirk.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Clouston, James Campbell 1900 births 1940 deaths Royal Navy officers of World War II Canadian people of Scottish descent Royal Navy personnel killed in World War II Military personnel from Montreal Anglophone Quebec people McGill University alumni Dunkirk evacuation Burials at Becklingen War Cemetery Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College Selwyn House School alumni