Lord Cork had a distinctive First World War career and is credited here with valuable ideas during the 1920s, although his later judgment receives much harsher treatment. He tried to court-martial James Somerville for operations conducted while commanding Force H. The proposal reportedly brought Andrew Cunningham close to resigning, with other senior officers also prepared to support Somerville as friends of the accused. They could have given evidence on his behalf even at the cost of their own careers. One senior command decision thus threatened a serious rupture within the Royal Navy's leadership.
Notable Point · 41:57-43:13
The Somerville court-martial threat exposed Royal Navy command culture
Lord Cork's attempt to prosecute Somerville nearly prompted Cunningham and other senior officers to defend him at the cost of their own careers.