Noel Frank Laurence

Admiral SIR Noel Frank Laurence, K.C.B., D.S.O., R.N. (27 December, 1882 – 26 January, 1970) was an officer in the Royal Navy. His early service in submarines would translate into aircraft carriers and eventual flag rank.

Life & Career

Born in Maidstone, the son of Frederic Laurence, wholesale grocer. Laurence entered the Navy direct from Worcester.

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 January, 1904.

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 January, 1912.

According to the Navy List, Laurence was appointed in command of the submarine D 4 on 15 October, 1912,, but this is not borne out by his Service Record, and he was appointed in command of the submarine E 1 just two days later.

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1914.

On 19 August, 1915, he torpedoed the battlecruiser Moltke in the Gulf of Riga.

In October, 1918, Laurence was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Bonaventure.

Inter-War

In March, 1919, he was appointed in command of the depot ship Adamant and placed command of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla. He was reappointed in that posting on 28 October, 1919.

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1919.

Laurence was appointed in command of the light cruiser Chatham in October, 1923.

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 23 September, 1932.

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 12 July, 1936.

World War II

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 August, 1940. In early 1941, he was appointed to the Admiralty and as Chief Naval Representative at the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Though Laurence was placed on the Retired List to facilitate the promotion of younger officers on 6 April, 1942, he would continue at his appointment until it was terminated on 13 January, 1945. Laurance reverted to retired pay the following day.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. B 6 21 Jan, 1906 – 12 Jan, 1909	Succeeded by Geoffrey N. Biggs
Preceded by Robert H. T. Raikes	Captain of H.M.S. A 1 4 Apr, 1910 – 3 May, 1910	Succeeded by Cornelius O. Regnart
Preceded by Charles J. C. Little	Captain of H.M.S. D 1 3 May, 1910 – 8 Aug, 1910	Succeeded by David de B. Stocks
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. D 2 8 Aug, 1910 – 21 Nov, 1911	Succeeded by Edward C. Boyle
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. E 1 17 Oct, 1912 – Jan, 1916	Succeeded by Athelstan A. L. Fenner
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. J 1 15 Mar, 1916 – 12 Nov, 1916	Succeeded by Robert Bertram Ramsay
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. K 2 12 Nov, 1916 – 9 Sep, 1918	Succeeded by Reginald B. Darke
Preceded by Malcolm K. de M. Burgess	Captain of H.M.S. Bonaventure Oct, 1918 – Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Charles de Burgh
Preceded by Charles S. Benning	Captain of H.M.S. Adamant Mar, 1919 – Jan, 1920	Succeeded by Robert B. Ramsay
Preceded by George A. Saltren-Willett as Lieutenant-Commander (S), Fifth Submarine Flotilla	Captain (S), Fifth Submarine Flotilla Mar, 1919 – Jan, 1920	Succeeded by Ronald W. Blacklock as Commander (S), Fifth Submarine Flotilla
Preceded by Wilfrid A. Egerton	Captain of H.M.S. Southampton 3 Oct, 1923 – 1924	Succeeded by The Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay
Preceded by The Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay	Captain of H.M.S. Chatham 1924 – 1925	Succeeded by Cecil N. Reyne
Preceded by Cecil N. Reyne	Captain of H.M.S. Effingham ? – Nov, 1925	Succeeded by Roger M. Bellairs
Preceded by Charles A. Scott	Deputy Director of Training and Staff Duties 1 Jul, 1926 – 1 Jul, 1927	Succeeded by Isham W. Gibson as Assistant Director of Training and Staff Duties
Preceded by Sidney J. Meyrick	Director of Training and Staff Duties 1 Jul, 1927 – 10 Apr, 1928	Succeeded by Isham W. Gibson
Preceded by Brien M. Money	Captain of H.M.S. Eagle 1 Jun, 1928 – 9 Nov, 1929	Succeeded by Hubert E. Dannreuther
Preceded by Henry Luxmoore as Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Ney	Captain of H.M.S. Vivid 1 Jan, 1930 – 15 Jan, 1932	Succeeded by James M. Pipon
Preceded by Arthur E. F. Bedford	Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport 1 Jan, 1930 – 15 Jan, 1932	Succeeded by James M. Pipon
Preceded by Charles J. C. Little	Rear-Admiral (S) 10 Dec, 1932 – 10 Dec, 1934	Succeeded by Cecil P. Talbot
Preceded by The Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers	Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers c. 29 Sep, 1935 – 27 Jul, 1937	Succeeded by Guy C. C. Royle as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers
Preceded by Henry J. S. Brownrigg	Admiral Commanding Reserves 21 Nov, 1938 – Jan, 1931	Succeeded by Vernon S. Butler