Halton Stirling Lecky
Captain Halton Stirling Lecky, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (15 December, 1878 – 2 June, 1940) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
At least two of his evaluations noted that he was deficient in tact, and at least two noted that he possessed a great sense of naval history. His naval career was to be a rocky road.[1]
Life & Career
Lecky was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1900.[2]
He married Agnes Close on 19 August, 1908.[3]
On 17 October, 1913, he was tasked with fitting mechanical control to searchlights in destroyers of the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla and his work reflected credit upon him in the eyes of the Admiralty.[4]
Lecky was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1913 and his character soon up-ended his career when the praise his work on the searchlights had earned for him was immediately dashed to nothing when he was found primarily responsible for insubordination among stokers in Zealandia. This precipitated the "gravest displeasure" of Their Lordships and prompted him immediate replacement in his appointment and switch to half pay, effective 30 March, 1914. The Board expressed the opinion that he should not be employed further.[5]
The War would arrive just in time to offer him some professional salvation.
The Great War
When the war began, he was appointed to help with minesweeping work in Harwich. In October, 1914 he was appointed to assist with armed trawlers.
Lecky was appointed in command of the light cruiser Southampton in December, 1916. Misfortune found him here, too, when on 7 March, 1917 he was subjected to a Court Martial on a charge of having failed to take "reasonable and seamanlike" precautions to protect a work party on the forecastle of the ship. This charge was proved and Their Lordships directed that Lecky be reprimanded.[6]
Finishing up an appointment in charge of detention barracks in August, 1924, his final evaluator, whose name is indistinct opined that Lecky was "extremely capable & fearless", but was "not fit for high command."[7]
Lecky was promoted to the rank of Captain as he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 23 February, 1925.[8]
World War II
Lecky was reported not fit for strenuous sea work, but ok for office and administrative duties on 14 March, 1939.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by William E. Goodenough |
Captain of H.M.S. Southampton 22 Dec, 1916[9] – 16 Feb, 1917[10] |
Succeeded by Basil V. Brooke |
| Preceded by Arthur A. M. Duff |
Captain of H.M.S. Birmingham 16 Feb, 1917[11] – 14 Mar, 1917[12] |
Succeeded by Ernest A. Taylor |
Footnotes
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 514. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. ff. 513-4. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 514. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
- ↑ Lecky Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 513. In our PDF for Benjamin Wingate Barrow.
