Lionel Halsey

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

Early Life and Career

Halsey was born in London, the fourth son of Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, 1st Baronet. After primary education at Stubbington House, Fareham, Hampshire, he entered the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth 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 British North America and West Indies Station, before joining HMS 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 and promoted Commander on 1 January, 1901. He was posted to the cruiser HMS Diana as Executive Officer and served in her in the Mediterranean until June, 1902. From November, 1902 he served as Executive Officer in HMS Good Hope, flagship of the 1st Cruiser Squadron.

In January, 1905 Halsey was appointed Naval Member of the new Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Committee at the Admiralty, and was promoted Captain on 30 June, 1905. In August, 1905 he took command of HMS Powerful, as flag captain to Sir Wilmot Hawkes as Commander-in-Chief, Australia. In April, 1911 he was given command of HMS Donegal in the 4th Cruiser Squadron and in 1912 took over the new battle cruiser HMS New Zealand on her cruise around the world to "show the flag". He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 8 December, 1913. On 19 September, 1914 he was appointed a Naval ADC to the King.

First World 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 HMS Iron Duke with the rank of Commodore, 1st Class. He was present at the Battle of Jutland, being mentioned in dispatches for a third time and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 3 June, 1916. 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. In April, 1917 he was promoted Rear-Admiral. In September, 1918 he returned to sea in the battle cruiser HMAS Australia in command of the 2nd 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 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 HMS Renown. For this he was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) on 1 December, 1919 and promoted Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) 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 Vice-Admiral on 5 July, 1921 and retired from the Navy on 1 November, 1922. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in 1922 after the Prince's visit to India, promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) on 16 October, 1925 following the Prince's visit to Africa and South America, and promoted Admiral 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.