Reginald Henderson prepared the convoy proposal at John Jellicoe's direction. Jellicoe removed Henderson's name to protect him from officers who opposed the idea on grounds of professional honor. Critics argued that escorts would become mere sheepdogs and that merchant crews could not maintain convoy discipline. The Royal Navy had nevertheless used convoy systems in earlier wars, including the Napoleonic era, and wartime practice showed that merchant shipping could be organized. Institutional culture and forgotten experience delayed the adoption of an effective ASW measure.
Notable Point · 23:06-24:06
Jellicoe, Henderson, and the return to convoy
A convoy paper commissioned by John Jellicoe had to overcome claims that escort duty was dishonorable and merchant crews could not keep formation.