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23-10-2009, 04:11
Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey
Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., CB., who after long and distinguished service in the Navy was for many years Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales, died at his home near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, yesterday at the age of 77. He was on the active list of the Royal Navy from 1885 until 1922 was in action in the South African war, and in the war of 1914-18, was one of the few Officers who took part in all three of the North Sea battles. During his service he was widely recognized as being in the front rank. He was a born leader, a first class seaman, and a master of his profession. A man of much charm, he was regarded by all who knew him or served under him with affection as well as with the loyalty which a high sense of duty and unswerving devotion to an ideal can always command.
He had a great devotion to the Royal Family, and was deeply moved by the abdication from the Throne of one whom he had served so long and loyally. Though his appointment at Court caused him to move among the great and to take part in great events, he never lost his love of simple things, and he was never so happy as when he was leading a quiet country life at his home in Bedfordshire. The fourth son of the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, he was born on February 26, 1872, joined the Navy in 1885, and served as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Yacht. In 1897 he joined the Powerful, whence he was landed for duty with the naval guns in the South African war. He was in command of a 4.7in, battery in Ladysmith during the siege, towards the end of which he was in charge of all the naval guns, and his services were mentioned in dispatches. He was commander of the Good Hope, flagship of Rear Admiral W. H. Fawkes in the Cruiser Squadron, from 1902 to 1905, in June of which latter year he was promoted to Captain at the early age of 33. After commanding the Donegal he was specially chosen in 1912 for the New Zealand, the battle-cruiser presented to the Royal Navy by the Dominion of that name, and he commanded her on the tour she made of ports in the Antipodes and round the world during 1913, being made a C.M.G. on the conclusion of the cruise. The New Zealand had a great popular reception wherever she went, and it was during this voyage that Halsey received from a Maori chief the kiwi robe which he promised to wear, and indeed did wear, whenever he went into action in the subsequent war. The outbreak of war with Germany found the New Zealand back in the North Sea, and Halsey commanded her in the Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank actions. In May 1915, be was appointed Captain of the Fleet, with the rank of Commodore. During the battle of Jutland he earned the warm commendation of his chief and was made a C.B. later in the year. On the nomination of Jellicoe as First Sea Lord Halsey accompanied him to the Admiralty as Fourth Sea Lord, and in May, 1917, a few days after he had been promoted to Rear Admiral, became Third Sea Lord. He hoisted his flag in September, 1918, in the Australia as Rear Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet and in command of the Second Battle-Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet and he was present at the German surrender on November 22 of that year and promoted K.C.M.G. Created a K.C.V.O. in 1919, he was appointed in the course of the next year Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales, a member of the Council of the Duchy of Cornwall, and promoted. G.C.V.O. He became an Extra Equerry to the Prince in 1921, and accompanied him on his tours to Canada in 1919, to Australia in 1920, and to India and Japan in 1921-22, when he was made a K.C.I.E. Promoted to vice admiral in 1921, he retired voluntarily towards the end of the next year. He was made G.C.M.G. in 1925, and was promoted admiral on the retired list in 1926. After his retirement he became a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Hertfordshire, and threw himself with enthusiasm into the work of the Navy League, particularly in connection with the Sea Cadet Corps, of which he became Honorary Commodore in England and Wales in 1942. During the 1939-45 war he was county director for Bedfordshire of the British Red Cross Society, and had been president since 1945. He inherited his father's interest in Freemasonry, and himself attained high rank in the craft. He married in 1905 Morwenna, youngest daughter of Major Bevil Granville, of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, and by her had two daughters.
Taken from The Times Archive
Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., CB., who after long and distinguished service in the Navy was for many years Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales, died at his home near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, yesterday at the age of 77. He was on the active list of the Royal Navy from 1885 until 1922 was in action in the South African war, and in the war of 1914-18, was one of the few Officers who took part in all three of the North Sea battles. During his service he was widely recognized as being in the front rank. He was a born leader, a first class seaman, and a master of his profession. A man of much charm, he was regarded by all who knew him or served under him with affection as well as with the loyalty which a high sense of duty and unswerving devotion to an ideal can always command.
He had a great devotion to the Royal Family, and was deeply moved by the abdication from the Throne of one whom he had served so long and loyally. Though his appointment at Court caused him to move among the great and to take part in great events, he never lost his love of simple things, and he was never so happy as when he was leading a quiet country life at his home in Bedfordshire. The fourth son of the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, he was born on February 26, 1872, joined the Navy in 1885, and served as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Yacht. In 1897 he joined the Powerful, whence he was landed for duty with the naval guns in the South African war. He was in command of a 4.7in, battery in Ladysmith during the siege, towards the end of which he was in charge of all the naval guns, and his services were mentioned in dispatches. He was commander of the Good Hope, flagship of Rear Admiral W. H. Fawkes in the Cruiser Squadron, from 1902 to 1905, in June of which latter year he was promoted to Captain at the early age of 33. After commanding the Donegal he was specially chosen in 1912 for the New Zealand, the battle-cruiser presented to the Royal Navy by the Dominion of that name, and he commanded her on the tour she made of ports in the Antipodes and round the world during 1913, being made a C.M.G. on the conclusion of the cruise. The New Zealand had a great popular reception wherever she went, and it was during this voyage that Halsey received from a Maori chief the kiwi robe which he promised to wear, and indeed did wear, whenever he went into action in the subsequent war. The outbreak of war with Germany found the New Zealand back in the North Sea, and Halsey commanded her in the Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank actions. In May 1915, be was appointed Captain of the Fleet, with the rank of Commodore. During the battle of Jutland he earned the warm commendation of his chief and was made a C.B. later in the year. On the nomination of Jellicoe as First Sea Lord Halsey accompanied him to the Admiralty as Fourth Sea Lord, and in May, 1917, a few days after he had been promoted to Rear Admiral, became Third Sea Lord. He hoisted his flag in September, 1918, in the Australia as Rear Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet and in command of the Second Battle-Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet and he was present at the German surrender on November 22 of that year and promoted K.C.M.G. Created a K.C.V.O. in 1919, he was appointed in the course of the next year Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales, a member of the Council of the Duchy of Cornwall, and promoted. G.C.V.O. He became an Extra Equerry to the Prince in 1921, and accompanied him on his tours to Canada in 1919, to Australia in 1920, and to India and Japan in 1921-22, when he was made a K.C.I.E. Promoted to vice admiral in 1921, he retired voluntarily towards the end of the next year. He was made G.C.M.G. in 1925, and was promoted admiral on the retired list in 1926. After his retirement he became a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Hertfordshire, and threw himself with enthusiasm into the work of the Navy League, particularly in connection with the Sea Cadet Corps, of which he became Honorary Commodore in England and Wales in 1942. During the 1939-45 war he was county director for Bedfordshire of the British Red Cross Society, and had been president since 1945. He inherited his father's interest in Freemasonry, and himself attained high rank in the craft. He married in 1905 Morwenna, youngest daughter of Major Bevil Granville, of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, and by her had two daughters.
Taken from The Times Archive