Horatio Nelson Lay (admiral)
Encyclopedia
Horatio Nelson Lay was a Rear Admiral
of the Royal Canadian Navy
.
In 1918 he was a Naval Cadet at the Royal Naval College of Canada. In 1921 he was made a Midshipman and assigned to HMS Resolution
for training. His next assignment was to HMS Cloud in 1923 for more training.
In 1924 he was sent to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and RN Barracks Portsmouth for Sub-Lieutenant courses. His next assignments were to HMCS Patrician
in 1925. To HMS Tiger
for big ship experience prior to torpedo course in 1927. To HMS Repulse
for further experience in 1928. To HMS Vernon
for Long Torpedo Officers Course in 1929. He was then made Torpedo Officer Atlantic Coast in 1930.
In 1931 assigned to HMCS Skeena
. Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast in 1933. To HMCS Vancouver as First Lieutenant in 1934. Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast in 1937. To Royal Naval Staff course in 1938.
He became the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Gaspe (Fundy Class Minesweeper - J94) from 12 January 1939 to 17 August 1939 and as Staff Officer Operations to Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast.
His next command was as Commanding Officer of HMCS Restigouche (River Class Destroyer - H00) from 26 December 1939 to 23 June 1941.
He was then made Director of Operations from June 1941 to October 1943.
He was the only Canadian Commanding Officer of HMS Nabob (Escort Aircraft Carrier - D77) (a Royal Navy
ship manned by Canadians) from 15 October 1943 until she was damaged on 22 August 1944. HMS Nabob was damaged by U-354
on 22 August 1944. Twenty-one crew were killed in the attack. She was paid off on 30 September 1944, beached and finally scrapped in 1977.
He was next sent to Canadian Naval Mission Overseas London for negotiations with the Royal Navy for aircraft carriers in 1945. Then to US Army/US Navy Staff College
and to Naval Service HQ as Director of Plans and Naval Intelligence.
In 1948 he became Acting Commodore and sent to Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans and Air). Canadian Naval Attache Washington and Naval member of the Canadian Joint Liaison Staff in 1949. Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Warfare) and Member of the Naval Board of Canada in 1952.
He was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned to Naval HQ as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff and as Chief of the Naval Staff
in 1954, serving until his retirement in 1958.
After retirement, he was active in the Ottawa United Appeal from 1958 to 1972.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
of the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
.
In 1918 he was a Naval Cadet at the Royal Naval College of Canada. In 1921 he was made a Midshipman and assigned to HMS Resolution
HMS Resolution
Several ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Resolution. However, the first English warship to bear the name Resolution was actually the first rate Prince Royal , which was renamed Resolution in 1650 following the inauguration of the Commonwealth, and continued to bear that name until...
for training. His next assignment was to HMS Cloud in 1923 for more training.
In 1924 he was sent to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and RN Barracks Portsmouth for Sub-Lieutenant courses. His next assignments were to HMCS Patrician
HMCS Patrician
HMCS Patrician was a Thornycroft M class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy.Built by Thornycroft & Company, Southampton, she was launched on 5 June 1916 as and served in the Royal Navy in World War I....
in 1925. To HMS Tiger
HMS Tiger (1913)
The 11th HMS Tiger was a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, and launched in 1913. Tiger was the most heavily armoured battlecruiser of the Royal Navy at the start of the First World War although she was still being finished when the war began...
for big ship experience prior to torpedo course in 1927. To HMS Repulse
HMS Repulse (1916)
HMS Repulse was a Renown-class battlecruiser of the Royal Navy built during the First World War. She was originally laid down as an improved version of the s. Her construction was suspended on the outbreak of war on the grounds she would not be ready in a timely manner...
for further experience in 1928. To HMS Vernon
HMS Vernon (shore establishment)
HMS Vernon was a shore establishment or 'stone frigate' of the Royal Navy. Vernon was established on 26 April 1876 as the Royal Navy's Torpedo Branch and operated until 1 April 1996, when the various elements comprising the establishment were split up and moved to different commands.-Foundation...
for Long Torpedo Officers Course in 1929. He was then made Torpedo Officer Atlantic Coast in 1930.
In 1931 assigned to HMCS Skeena
HMCS Skeena
Several Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Skeena. was a River class destroyer active from 1931–1944. was an St. Laurent class destroyer escort active from 1957–1993.-Battle honours:*Atlantic 1939-44*Normandy 1944...
. Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast in 1933. To HMCS Vancouver as First Lieutenant in 1934. Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast in 1937. To Royal Naval Staff course in 1938.
He became the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Gaspe (Fundy Class Minesweeper - J94) from 12 January 1939 to 17 August 1939 and as Staff Officer Operations to Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast.
His next command was as Commanding Officer of HMCS Restigouche (River Class Destroyer - H00) from 26 December 1939 to 23 June 1941.
He was then made Director of Operations from June 1941 to October 1943.
He was the only Canadian Commanding Officer of HMS Nabob (Escort Aircraft Carrier - D77) (a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ship manned by Canadians) from 15 October 1943 until she was damaged on 22 August 1944. HMS Nabob was damaged by U-354
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
on 22 August 1944. Twenty-one crew were killed in the attack. She was paid off on 30 September 1944, beached and finally scrapped in 1977.
He was next sent to Canadian Naval Mission Overseas London for negotiations with the Royal Navy for aircraft carriers in 1945. Then to US Army/US Navy Staff College
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
and to Naval Service HQ as Director of Plans and Naval Intelligence.
In 1948 he became Acting Commodore and sent to Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans and Air). Canadian Naval Attache Washington and Naval member of the Canadian Joint Liaison Staff in 1949. Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Warfare) and Member of the Naval Board of Canada in 1952.
He was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned to Naval HQ as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff and as Chief of the Naval Staff
Commander Royal Canadian Navy
The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.-History of the post:...
in 1954, serving until his retirement in 1958.
After retirement, he was active in the Ottawa United Appeal from 1958 to 1972.
Awards
- Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) - "For gallantry and distinguished services before the enemy. This Officer was in command of one of HMC Destroyers engaged in convoy and other duties in United Kingdom waters in the early part of the war, and assisted in the evacuations from France. As Senior Officer of a convoy escort group in the Atlantic over a considerable period, his keenness and efficiency were an inspiration to those serving under his command." - Mention in Despatches - "For good service when his ship HMS Nabob was damaged." "For courage, resolution and skill in Northern waters (London Gazette Citation)."