Arthur Frank Capel Layard

Commander (retired) Arthur Frank Capel Layard, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N. (28 November, 1899 – 25 November, 1999) served in the Royal Navy. One Service Record has his name as "Caple".

Life & Career

The son of a planter in Ceylon, Layard was passed out of the Training Establishment on 1 September 1915 and soon appointed to the Indomitable, in which he fought at the Battle of Jutland, operating a Dumaresq in the foretop.

On 10 December 1917, he was sent for a three week course in Torpedo Control at H.M.S. Vernon. In January, 1918 he was sent for a mere week to P18 and then was appointed to Vancouver for seven months. He ended the war in the destroyer Seabear, remaining in that apopintment until 10 October, 1919.

Layard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 February, 1920.

Layard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 February, 1928.

World War II

Awarded his D.S.O. for the landings on North Africa.

Layard commanded a series of anti-submarine vessels, including Lend/Lease destroyers.

Layard was placed on the Retired List on account of age at the rank of Commander on 28 November, 1944. He was lent to the Royal Canadian Navy and commanded the 9th Escort Group, vice Easton, from 6 April, 1944 to the end of the war.

Recalled to service for 18 months (subject to medical fitness) on 17 March, 1951. He was re-appointed for a further 18 months on 24 October, 1952. A further extension pushed his reversion to the Retired List out to 15 October, 1954.

See Also

• Service Records
• H.M.S. Indomitable at the Battle of Jutland

Bibliography

• "Commander Frank Layard" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 27 December, 1999. Issue 66707, col A, p. 19.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Meredith S. Spalding	Captain of H.M.S. Verity 12 Jun, 1928 – 11 Dec, 1928	Succeeded by Cecil A. N. Chatwin
Preceded by Ian R. H. Black	Captain of H.M.S. Wakeful Sep, 1930 – 1931	Succeeded by Hugh Gartside-Tippinge
Preceded by William G. Gerard	Captain of H.M.S. Vivacious Oct, 1930 – Oct, 1932	Succeeded by Albert L. Poland
Preceded by Harold W. Seaman	Captain of H.M.S. Walpole 4 May, 1933 – 11 Dec, 1934	Succeeded by Errol C. L. Turner
Preceded by John A. Barter	Captain of H.M.S. Dundalk 1 Jul, 1935 – 19 Jul, 1935	Succeeded by Lionel V. Lloyd
Preceded by Harry S. Endicott	Captain of H.M.S. Stoke 16 Sep, 1935 – 3 Oct, 1935	Succeeded by Geoffrey F. Agutter
Preceded by Howard V. W. C. Hyde	Captain of H.M.S. Harrow 4 Oct, 1935 – 21 Sep, 1936	Succeeded by Philip L. Hocking
Preceded by Richard D. H. S. Pankhurst	Captain of H.M.S. Chelsea 19 Jul, 1941 – 31 Mar, 1942	Succeeded by James E. R. Wilford
Preceded by Walter T. Couchman	Captain of H.M.S. Broke Apr, 1942 – 8 Nov, 1942	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Bernard J. de St. Croix	Captain of H.M.S. Salisbury Aug, 1943 – early 1944	Succeeded by ?