View source for Austen Gerald Lilley

{{CaptRN}} '''Austen Gerald Lilley''' (28 July, 1890 &ndash; 29 March, 1937) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].

His first name is sometimes spelled as "Austin" in the ''Navy List'' editions.

==Life & Career==
Born in Hereford the son of a solicitor, it appears that Lilley entered [[Royal Naval College, Dartmouth]] directly &ndash; part of the Royal Navy's transition from training new cadets in {{UK-1Britannia|f=p}} as the new scheme was being primed.<ref>"Cadetships in the Royal Navy."  ''The Times'' (London, England), Friday, Dec 22, 1905; pg. 10; Issue 37897.</ref>{{FC}}

He gained two months' time on passing out and joining {{UK-Drake}} on 15 May, 1907.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>

In 1909, Lilley received instruction in navigation.  After taking Part I and Part II in 1910-11, Lilley received his Watch Keeping certificate on 27 July, 1912.

Lilley was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 October, 1912 and was re-appointed in {{UK-1Boadicea}} in lieu of a Sub-Lieutenant and contributed to the ship's good results in the 1912 Battle Practice.  In early 1913, he underwent an appendectomy at King Edward VII Hospital.  He emerged fit on 19 April and returned to {{UK-1Boadicea}} until October, 1913.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>

Lilley was appointed to {{UK-Attack}} as first lieutenant on 29 October, 1913 and was in her through 17 February, 1916 when he was appointed in command of {{UK-TB9}}, operating with the [[Nore Local Defence Flotilla]].  He lost ''T.B. 9'' to a collision with the {{UK-Matchless|f=t}} on 26 July.  In the end, Lilley was commended for returning aboard the foundering boat to recover a confidential book that had been left behind.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>

While captain of {{UK-1Forester}}, Lilley was commended by the Admiralty for his role in saving survivors of flotilla-mate {{UK-Contest|f=p}}, which was torpedoed on 18 September, 1917.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>

On 30 November 1917, Lilley was admitted to Plymouth Hospital with neurasthenia and was given three weeks to regain his health.  It took him a bit more time, but he was back in hospital soon after being deemed ready for service on 18 January, 1918.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>

After so much time out of action, Lilley was appointed in temporary command of the {{UK-Tower|f=t}} on 1 August, 1918.  On 6 September, the temporary designation was dropped.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>

==Post-War==
Lilley married Beatrice Watkins Wells on 28 May 1919.

In January 1920 while in command of ''Tower'', Lilley was commended for sweeping ahead of S.S. ''Edouard [illeg]'' on her passage from Dover to Flensburg.

Lilley was appointed in command of the {{UK-Torch|f=t}} in August, 1920.{{NLDec20|p. 876}}

Lilley was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 October, 1920.  On 6 November, 1920, Lilley grounded {{UK-Torch}} off Odessa.  A Court of Enquiry held on the 18th faulted him for approaching an unlit coast without sufficient margin of safety, but no disciplinary action was taken.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref><ref>[http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-10-HMS_Torch2.htm Torch's Logbook].</ref>

In August, 1921, Lilley was appointed in command of {{UK-Serapis}}.  In October, 1922 he would be placed in command of {{UK-Sparrowhawk}}.  The rest of the decade would be spent in an impressive series of destroyer commands with some time off.

Lilley was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1926.  On 6 July, he was appointed to {{UK-Osprey}} for a short anti-submarine course.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/92/147.|D8116268}} f. 147.</ref>

Lilley wrapped up the 1920s with a stint in command of the {{UK-Constance|f=t}}.

Lilley was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1933.  he was loaned to the [[Royal Australian Navy]] from 31 August, 1933 to 28 October, 1935.  He was warmly evaluated in this duty by Rear-Admiral Commanding His Majesty's Australian Squadron [[Wilbraham Tennyson Randle Ford|W. T. R. Ford]], "I have formed a high opinion of Captain Lilley.  He has had a most un-enviable task in organizing and training his destroyers under difficult and annoying conditions and restrictions in spite of which he has succeeded in bringing his Flotilla into a good state of efficiency."<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/92/147.|D8116268}} f. 147.</ref>

He was appointed Deputy Director of Personal Services on 8 October, 1936, vice Denison.<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/92/147.|D8116268}} f. 147.</ref>

Lilley was reported sick on shore on 15 March 1937.  He would die two weeks later.

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Austen+Gerald+Lilley Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austen_Gerald_Lilley}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Philip Allan Heyder|Philip A. Heyder]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 9 (1907)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 9]]'''<br>17 Feb, 1916<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 26 Jul, 1916<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>{{HepperLosses|p. 66}}|Succeeded by<br>'''Vessel Lost'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Eric John Shelley|Eric J. Shelley]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 35 (1909)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 35]]'''<br>30 Aug, 1916<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>{{NLDec16|p. 401}} &ndash; 14 Jan, 1917<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Oliver Richard Wace|Oliver R. Wace]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Wilfred Arthur Thompson|Wilfred A. Thompson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Forester (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Forester'']]'''<br>22 Jan, 1917<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>{{NLNov17|p. 393''v''}} &ndash; 24 Jan, 1918<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Thornton Down|Richard T. Down]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Piercy Leith|George P. Leith]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Porpoise (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Porpoise'']]'''<br>24 Jan, 1918<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 20 Mar, 1918<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Wilfrid Fogarty Fegen|Frederick W. F. Fegen]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Mark Peregrine Charles Kerr|Mark P. C. Kerr]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Tower (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Tower'']]'''<br>1 Aug, 1918<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 6 Mar, 1920<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Valentine Alexander Raleigh|Valentine A. Raleigh]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Lindsay Evan-Thomas|Charles L. Evan-Thomas]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Llewellyn (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Llewellyn'']]'''<br>6 Mar, 1920<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 2 Jun, 1920<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Donal Scott McGrath|Donal S. McGrath]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Trusty (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Trusty'']]'''<br>2 Jun, 1920<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; Aug, 1920<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Owen|Herbert Owen]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Kenneth Gordon Ramsey|Kenneth G. Ramsey]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Torch (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Torch'']]'''<br>Aug, 1920<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>{{NLDec20|p. 876}} &ndash; Aug, 1921<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Vernon Saumarez Butler|Vernon S. Butler]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Vernon Saumarez Butler|Vernon S. Butler]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Serapis (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Serapis'']]'''<br>Aug, 1921<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; Oct, 1922<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Martin Welby|Richard M. Welby]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Martin Welby|Richard M. Welby]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Sparrowhawk'']]'''<br>Oct, 1922<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; Nov, 1922<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Douglas Harvey|John D. Harvey]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Arthur Scott|George A. Scott]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Venturous (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Venturous'']]'''<br>20 Mar, 1923<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; Sep, 1923<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Vernon Hammersley-Heenan|Vernon Hammersley-Heenan]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Paul Felix Palmer Berryman|Paul F. P. Berryman]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Wanderer (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Wanderer'']]'''<br>20 Jun, 1924<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 287}} &ndash; 19 Feb, 1925<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Austen Gerald Lilley|Austen G. Lilley]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Douglas Harvey|John D. Harvey]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Woolston (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Woolston'']]'''<br>19 Feb, 1925<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 1 Apr, 1925<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Gage Stuart|Charles G. Stuart]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Austen Gerald Lilley|Austen G. Lilley]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Wanderer (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Wanderer'']]'''<br>1 Apr, 1925<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 287}} &ndash; 13 Mar, 1926<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Donal Scott McGrath|Donal S. McGrath]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hubert Vaughan-Jones|Hubert Vaughan-Jones]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Thruster (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Thruster'']]'''<br>Jul, 1926<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 28 Apr, 1927<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Leon Stopford Acheson|Leon S. Acheson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Shuttleworth Holden|Geoffrey S. Holden]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vanquisher (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vanquisher'']]'''<br>17 May, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 278}}<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; Jun, 1929<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Donal Scott McGrath|Donal S. McGrath]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Colin Alfred Molyneux Sarel|Colin A. M. Sarel]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Constance (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Constance'']]'''<br>27 Dec, 1930<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 5 Jan, 1931<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Mends|Robert Mends]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Gerald Yerburgh Loveband|John G. Y. Loveband]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Windsor (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Windsor'']]'''<br>5 Jan, 1931<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 13 Apr, 1931<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Taschereaux Beard|Charles T. Beard]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Arthur Scott|George A. Scott]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Watchman (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Watchman'']]'''<br>31 Jul, 1931{{NLJan33|p. 291}}<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref> &ndash; 31 Aug, 1933<ref>Lilley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/24.|D8116656}} f. 24.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Stuart Crawford|John S. Crawford]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Philip Esmonde Phillips|Philip E. Phillips]]'''<br><small>as '''Captain of H.M.S. ''Stuart'''''</small>|'''[[H.M.S. Stuart (1918)|Captain of H.M.A.S. ''Stuart'']]'''<br>11 Oct, 1933{{NLOct35|p. 298}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt|Cecil H. J. Harcourt]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lilley, Austen Gerald}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1890|1937}}
{{CatCapt|UK}}
{{CatDartmouth|January, 1906}}
{{CatRN}}