Biographical Data
Lay, Horatio Nelson Photo Credit: RCN Crowsnest

 

Title	Rear-Admiral (RCN)
Official Number	O-41040

 

Birth	23/01/1903	Death	08/05/1988
Place	Skagway	Place	Perth
Area	AK	Area	ON
Country	USA	Country	Canada

 

Titles
Honours	OBE. M.I.D. Cross of Valour (Poland).
Awards
Qualifications	psc. ansc.

 

Biography
After his naval service he was active in the Ottawa United Appeal 1958-72.

 

Military Service

He was appointed as a Naval Cadet RCN (With seniority dated 22/09/1918). He served in the Royal Naval College of Canada (Ninth Term) 1918. He was appointed as a Midshipman RCN (With seniority dated 01/09/1921). He served in H.M.S. Resolution for Training 1921. He served in H.M.S. Cloud for Training 1923. He served in the Royal Naval College Greenwich and RN Barracks Portsmouth for Sub-Lieutenants Courses 1924. He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1924). He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1924). He served in HMCS Patrician 1925. He was appointed as a Lieutenant RCN (With seniority dated 01/10/1925). He served in H.M.S. Tiger (for big ship experience prior to torpedo course) 1927. He served in H.M.S. Repulse (for further experience) 1928. He served in H.M.S. Vernon for Long Torpedo Officers Course 1929. He served as Torpedo Officer Atlantic Coast 1930. He served in HMCS Skeena 1931. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/10/1933). He served as Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast 1933. He served in HMCS Vancouver as First Lieutenant 1934. He served as Torpedo Officer Pacific Coast 1937. He served in HMS President for the Royal Naval Staff Course 1938. He served in HMCS Gaspe (In command) and as Staff Officer Operations to Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast 1939. He served in HMCS Restgouche (I) (In command) 1939. He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1940). He served in NSHQ as Director of Operations 1941. He was appointed as an A/Captain RCN 1943. He served in H.M.S. Nabob (In command) 1943. He was appointed as a Captain RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1945). He served in the Canadian Naval Mission Overseas London for Negotiations With RN for Aircraft Carriers 1945. He served in the US Army/Navy Staff College 1945. He served in NSHQ as Director of Plans and Naval Intelligence 1945. He was appointed as an A/Commodore RCN (With seniority dated 12/04/1948). He served in NHQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) and (Air) 1948. He was appointed as a Commodore RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1949). He served as Canadian Naval Attache Washington and Naval Member of the Canadian Joint Liaison Staff 1949. He served in NHQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Warfare) and as Member of the Naval Board of Canada 1952. He served in NHQ as Vice Chief of Naval Staff and as Chairman of Naval Staff 1954. He was appointed as a Rear-Admiral RCN (With seniority dated 01/10/1954). (He was retired 21/10/1958). (He was qualified for duties as a Torpedo Officer.)

 

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

 

Anecdotes
Polish Cross of Valour in the London Gazette of 21 October 1941 "In recognition of services during withdrawal of Polish Forces in France in 1940" while serving in HMCS Restigouche.

 

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Blatherwick, John (1992); MacFarlane, John M. (1994);
Last update
2015-10-09 00:00:00

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