Noel Frank Laurence

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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.[1]

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 January, 1912.[2]

According to the Navy List, Laurence was appointed in command of the submarine D 4 on 15 October, 1912,[3], 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.[4][5]

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1914.[6]

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.[7]

Inter-War

In March, 1919, he was appointed in command of the depot ship Adamant and placed command of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla.[8] He was reappointed in that posting on 28 October, 1919.[9]

Laurence was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1919.[10]

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.[11]

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

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.[13]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. B 6
21 Jan, 1906[14][15] – 12 Jan, 1909[16]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey N. Biggs
Preceded by
Robert H. T. Raikes
Captain of H.M.S. A 1
4 Apr, 1910[17] – 3 May, 1910[18]
Succeeded by
Cornelius O. Regnart
Preceded by
Charles J. C. Little
Captain of H.M.S. D 1
3 May, 1910[19] – 8 Aug, 1910[20]
Succeeded by
David de B. Stocks
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. D 2
8 Aug, 1910[21][22] – 21 Nov, 1911[23]
Succeeded by
Edward C. Boyle
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. E 1
17 Oct, 1912[24][25] – Jan, 1916[26]
Succeeded by
Athelstan A. L. Fenner
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. J 1
15 Mar, 1916[27] – 12 Nov, 1916[28]
Succeeded by
Robert Bertram Ramsay
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. K 2
12 Nov, 1916[29] – 9 Sep, 1918[30]
Succeeded by
Reginald B. Darke
Preceded by
Malcolm K. de M. Burgess
Captain of H.M.S. Bonaventure
Oct, 1918[31][32] – Mar, 1919[33]
Succeeded by
Charles de Burgh
Preceded by
Charles S. Benning
Captain of H.M.S. Adamant
Mar, 1919[34][35] – Jan, 1920[36]
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[37][38] – Jan, 1920[39]
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[40] – 1924[41]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay
Preceded by
The Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay
Captain of H.M.S. Chatham
1924[42] – 1925
Succeeded by
Cecil N. Reyne
Preceded by
Cecil N. Reyne
Captain of H.M.S. Effingham
? – Nov, 1925[43]
Succeeded by
Roger M. Bellairs
Preceded by
Charles A. Scott
Deputy Director of Training and Staff Duties
1 Jul, 1926[44] – 1 Jul, 1927[45]
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[46][47] – 10 Apr, 1928[48]
Succeeded by
Isham W. Gibson
Preceded by
Brien M. Money
Captain of H.M.S. Eagle
1 Jun, 1928[49] – 9 Nov, 1929[50]
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[51] – 15 Jan, 1932[52]
Succeeded by
James M. Pipon
Preceded by
Charles J. C. Little
Rear-Admiral (S)
10 Dec, 1932[53] – 10 Dec, 1934[54]
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[55] – 27 Jul, 1937[56]
Succeeded by
Guy C. C. Royle
as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers
Preceded by
Henry J. S. Brownrigg
Admiral Commanding Reserves
21 Nov, 1938[57] – Jan, 1931[58]
Succeeded by
Vernon S. Butler

Footnotes

  1. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  2. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  3. The Navy List. (June, 1914). p. 343.
  4. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 301.
  5. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  6. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  7. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 744.
  8. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 724.
  9. The Navy List. (December, 1919). p. 723.
  10. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  11. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  12. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  13. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  14. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 318.
  15. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  16. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  17. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  18. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  19. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  20. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  21. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  22. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 344.
  23. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  24. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 301.
  25. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  26. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  27. R.A.N. web page on J 1.
  28. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  29. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  30. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  31. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  32. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 744.
  33. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  34. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 724.
  35. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  36. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  37. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 724.
  38. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  39. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  40. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 270.
  41. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  42. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  43. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  44. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  45. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  46. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  47. The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 124.
  48. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  49. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  50. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  51. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  52. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  53. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  54. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  55. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  56. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  57. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
  58. Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. named "END".