William Firth Slayter
Admiral William Firth Slayter, C.B., (22 January, 1867 — 15 May, 1936) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Slayter gained seven months' time oin passing out of Britannia.
Slayter was promoted to Lieutenant on 30 June, 1890.[1]
Slayter was promoted to Commander on 31 December, 1901.[2]
Slayter was promoted to Captain on 30 June, 1907. Around this time, Admiral Archibald Douglas wrote of Slayter that "a better (N) offr is nowhere to be found."[3]
Slayter was appointed to command the second class protected cruiser Eclipse on 24 March, 1908.[4]
Slayter was appointed Captain of the armoured cruiser Carnarvon in May 1910.
He attended the Royal Navy War College from 9 September, 1912, but left on 20 December without completing the course.
When the Great War broke out, Slayter was appointed in command of the armed merchant cruiser Oceanic, dated 3 August, 1914. He wrecked the ship on 8 September and was tried by a Court Martial for this on 20/21 November, 1914. Although he was acquitted of the charge of stranding her, the Board of Admiralty did not consider that he was without blame in the matter. In light of this, perhsaps, his next appointment was to work under the the Coast Guard District Captain in Edinburgh. This was brief, however, as he was made Flag Captain, King's Harbour Master and Captain of Dockyard, Rosyth on 12 January, 1915.[5]
Slayter ceased his work as Flag Captain on 31 March 1916 but remained in his other posts at Rosyth until being appointed to command the battleship Neptune on 15 October, 1917. He would spend exactly on year in command of the dreadnought.[6][7]
Slayter was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 January, 1919.[8]
Slayter was placed on the Retired List at the end of his appointment on 1 April, 1921.
He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July, 1924,[9] and advanced to Admiral on the Retired List on 22 February, 1928.[10]
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/89.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Robert K. Arbuthnot |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 59 22 Jul, 1890[11] |
Succeeded by Herbert Chatterton |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.Y. Alexandra 18 Sep, 1907[12] |
Succeeded by George R. Mansell |
| Preceded by Clement Greatorex |
Captain of H.M.S. Eclipse 24 Mar, 1908[13][14] – 31 Mar, 1910[15] |
Succeeded by Henry Blackett |
| Preceded by Robert J. Prendergast |
Captain of H.M.S. Carnarvon 21 May, 1910[16][17] – 10 Aug, 1912[18] |
Succeeded by Warren H. D'Oyly |
| Preceded by Herbert J. O. Millar |
Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich 8 Dec, 1912[19][20] – 3 Aug, 1914[21] |
Succeeded by Edmund P. F. Jervoise |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Oceanic 3 Aug, 1914[22] – 8 Sep, 1914 |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
| Preceded by Edward H. Moubray |
Captain of Rosyth Dockyard 12 Jan, 1915[23][24] – 15 Oct, 1917[25] |
Succeeded by Charles F. Henderson |
| Preceded by Vivian H. G. Bernard |
Captain of H.M.S. Neptune 15 Oct, 1917[26][27] – 15 Oct, 1918[28] |
Succeeded by John R. Segrave |
Footnotes
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 450.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 450.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 450.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 306.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395w.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32962. p. 5889. 5 August, 1924.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33362. p. 1494. 2 March, 1928.
- ↑ "Naval Intelligence". The Times. Friday, 19 July, 1890. Issue 33068, col C, p. 12.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 275.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 306.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 291.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1912). p. 359.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1914). p. 402e.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395w.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395w.
- ↑ Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
