Lionel Halsey

Admiral SIR Lionel Halsey, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (26 February, 1872 – 26 October, 1949) was a British Royal Navy officer and courtier.

Early Life & Career

Halsey was born in London, the fourth son of Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, First Baronet. After primary education at Stubbington House, Fareham, Hampshire, he entered H.M.S. Britannia in January, 1885. He was commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant on 14 July, 1891. In July, 1893 he was posted to the Royal Yacht and was promoted Lieutenant on 28 August, 1893. He served with the Mediterranean Fleet and then on the North America and West Indies Station, before joining H.M.S. Powerful. In the South African War he commanded a battery of naval guns in the Defence of Ladysmith, for which he was mentioned in dispatches.

Halsey was specially promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1901, for services in South Africa. He was posted to the cruiser H.M.S. Diana as Executive Officer and served in her in the Mediterranean until June, 1902. From November, 1902 he served as Executive Officer in H.M.S. Good Hope, flagship of the First Cruiser Squadron.

In January, 1905 Halsey was appointed Naval Member of the new Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Committee at the Admiralty.

Captain

Halsey was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1905. In August, 1905 he took command of H.M.S. Powerful, as flag captain to Sir Wilmot H. Fawkes as Commander-in-Chief, Australia. On 11 April, 1911 he was given command of the armoured cruiser Donegal in the Fourth Cruiser Squadron and in 1912 took over the new battle cruiser New Zealand on her cruise around the world to "show the flag". He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) on 8 December, 1913. On 19 September, 1914 he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King.

Great War

After the outbreak of the First World War, Halsey commanded the New Zealand at the Battle of Dogger Bank in January, 1915, for which he was again mentioned in dispatches. In June, 1915 he became Captain of the Fleet to Sir John Jellicoe in H.M.S. Iron Duke with the rank of Commodore, First Class. He was present at the Battle of Jutland. In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.). On 15 September, 1916 he was appointed an Officer of the Légion d'honneur and was promoted to Commander in 1917.

On 4 December, 1916 Halsey was appointed Fourth Sea Lord at the Admiralty, becoming Third Sea Lord in May, 1917. On 26 April, 1917, he was promoted Rear-Admiral. In September, 1918 he returned to sea in the battle cruiser H.M.A.S. Australia in command of the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet and was present at the German surrender at Scapa Flow. He was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (K.C.M.G.) in 1918 and in 1919 received the Distinguished Service Medal of the United States. He served at the Admiralty from March to August, 1919, when he became chief of staff to the Prince of Wales for his tour of Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and other colonies in H.M.S. Renown. For this he was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) on 1 December, 1919 and promoted Knight Grand Cross (G.C.V.O.) on 11 October, 1920.

In November, 1920 Halsey was appointed Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales. He became an extra equerry in 1921. He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 5 July, 1921, vice Charlton, and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 November, 1922, "in order to facilitate the promotion of younger officers." He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (K.C.I.E.) in 1922 after the Prince's visit to India, promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (G.C.M.G.) on 16 October, 1925 following the Prince's visit to Africa and South America, and advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 4 October, 1926. He was also awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 1st Class in 1922.

In 1936 he was dismissed from the staff of King Edward VIII, as the Prince of Wales had now become. This was probably due to his opposition to Wallis Simpson becoming queen. In 1937, however, he was appointed an extra equerry to the new King George VI and took part in the coronation procession.

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 27 October, 1949. Issue 51523, col E, pg. 7.

Service Record

• The National Archives. ADM 196/43.

Naval Offices
Preceded by New Command	Commanding Officer of H.M.S. New Zealand 1912 – 1915	Succeeded by John F. E. Green
Preceded by Allan F. Everett	Captain of the Fleet, Grand Fleet 1915 – 1916	Succeeded by The Hon. Hubert G. Brand
Preceded by Cecil F. Lambert	Fourth Sea Lord 1916 – 1917	Succeeded by Hugh H. D. Tothill
Preceded by Frederick C. T. Tudor	Third Sea Lord 1917 – 1918	Succeeded by Charles M. Bartolomé
Preceded by Arthur C. Leveson	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Cruiser Squadron 1918 – 1919	Succeeded by Command Abolished