William Firth Slayter

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Admiral William Firth Slayter, C.B., (22 January, 1867 — 15 May, 1936) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Slayter gained seven months' time oin passing out of Britannia.

Slayter was promoted to Lieutenant on 30 June, 1890.[1]

Slayter was promoted to Commander on 31 December, 1901.[2]

Slayter was promoted to Captain on 30 June, 1907. Around this time, Admiral Archibald Douglas wrote of Slayter that "a better (N) offr is nowhere to be found."[3]

Slayter was appointed to command the destroyer Eclipse on 24 March, 1908.[4]

Slayter was appointed Captain of the armoured cruiser Carnarvon in May 1910.

He attended the Royal Navy War College from 9 September, 1912, but left on 20 December without completing the course.

When the Great War broke out, Slayter was appointed in command of the armed merchant cruiser Oceanic, dated 3 August, 1914. He wrecked the ship on 8 September and was tried by a Court Martial for this on 20/21 November, 1914. Although he was acquitted of the charge of stranding her, the Board of Admiralty did not consider that he was without blame in the matter. In light of this, perhsaps, his next appointment was to work under the the Coast Guard District Captain in Edinburgh. This was brief, however, as he was made Flag Captain, King's Harbour Master and Captain of Dockyard, Rosyth on 12 January, 1915.[5]

Slayter ceased his work as Flag Captain on 31 March 1916 but remained in his other posts at Rosyth until being appointed to command the battleship Neptune on 15 October, 1917. He would spend exactly on year in command of the dreadnought.[6][7]

Slayter was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 January, 1919.[8]

Slayter was placed on the Retired List at the end of his appointment on 1 April, 1921.

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July, 1924,[9] and advanced to Admiral on the Retired List on 22 February, 1928.[10]

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Cecil E. E. Carey
Captain of H.M. T.B. 59
22 Jul, 1890[11]
Succeeded by
Herbert Chatterton
Preceded by
Clement Greatorex
Captain of H.M.S. Eclipse
24 Mar, 1908[12] – 31 Mar, 1910[13][14]
Succeeded by
Henry Blackett
Preceded by
Robert J. Prendergast
Captain of H.M.S. Carnarvon
21 May, 1910[15]
Succeeded by
Walter M. Ellerton
Preceded by
Herbert J. O. Millar
Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
8 Dec, 1912[16]
Succeeded by
Edmund P. F. Jervoise
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Oceanic
3 Aug, 1914[17] – 8 Sep, 1914
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
Vivian H. G. Bernard
Captain of H.M.S. Neptune
15 Oct, 1917[18]
Succeeded by
John R. Segrave

 

Footnotes

  1. Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 450.
  2. Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 450.
  3. Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 450.
  4. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 306.
  5. Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
  6. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395w.
  7. Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
  8. Slayter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/445. f. 210.
  9. The London Gazette: no. 32962. p. 5889. 5 August, 1924.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 33362. p. 1494. 2 March, 1928.
  11. "Naval Intelligence". The Times. Friday, 19 July, 1890. Issue 33068, col C, p. 12.
  12. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 306.
  13. Blackett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 479.
  14. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 306.
  15. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 291.
  16. The Navy List. (December, 1912). p. 359.
  17. The Navy List. (September, 1914). p. 402e.
  18. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 395w.


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