Ernest William Leir

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Rear-Admiral Ernest William Leir, D.S.O., Royal Navy (26 February, 1883 – 2 August, 1971) was an officer in the Royal Navy during the Great War who saw considerable service in submarines.

Life & Career

Born the son of Reverend C. E. Lair, a rector in Somerset, Ernest Leir underwent examinations for several days commencing on 20 July, 1897 and gained entrance to the Britannia term of August, 1897, his 1260 marks placing him thirty-fifth in merit among the sixty-three candidates accepted as naval cadets.[1]

Leir gained seven months' time on passing out of Britannia. His first appointments were in Powerful and Terrible, serving on the China Station, starting on 15 January, 1899. From there, he was lent for a month in command of T.B. 25 for annual manoeuvres on 21 July, 1903.[2]

Leir was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 November, 1903.[3]

In August, 1910, Captain Hall observed that Leir was "clever at lathe work. Very zealous. Thoroughly recd."[4]

Appointed to Forth, additional for submarines, and to the Egmont, additional, for command of the Malta Submarine Flotilla on 25 July 1911.[5]

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 November, 1911.[6]

He was appointed in command of the submarine E 4 in September, 1913.[7]

Great War

On 28 August, 1914, Leir fought in the Battle of Heligoland Bight with his E 4 and was mentioned in despatches, gazetted 23 October.[8]

Leir was promoted to the rank of Commander on 21 October, 1914.[9]

On 24 January, 1915 at the Battle of Dogger Bank, his E 4 was one of four "E" class boats deployed for the Eighth Submarine Flotilla.

Upon leaving E 4 on 16 November, 1915 and being appointed in command of the submarine J 1, Captain (S) wrote a special a special report on Leir, recording that Leir "[h]as been senior S/M officer of 8th Flotilla since the outbreak of war & has been continuously employed in operations on the enemy's coast. All his work has been most ably carried out & his resourcefulness, coolness & keenness have been of the greatest value & & have afforded a splendid example to all in the Flotilla. He rescued Defender's whaler's crew off Heligoland, 28 August, 1914 : Sank an armed trawler 28 July, 1915 : Captured a German trawler 5 Sept 1915. (Captain S to COS 25/1/16)" [10]

He was appointed in command of the steam-powered submarine K 3 6 April, 1916.[11]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Trident on 24 July, 1917,[12] and assumed command of the Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla.

Leir was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Ithuriel in September, 1917.[13]

Post-War

He was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Fearless on 7 March, 1919, and in command of Twelfth Submarine Flotilla.[14]

Leir was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1919.[15] On 25 July, he was appointed in command of H.M.S. Dolphin and an unspecified submarine flotilla. This appointment ended on 27 July, 1921 when he was superseded.[16]

A memo from the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Station, Admiral Keyes dated 20 March, 1930 recommended that neither Leir nor Reginald St. Pierre Parry should be retained for employment at flag rank.[17]

Leir was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 8 October and placed on the Retired List on 9 October, 1931.[18]

World War II

Leir was active with the Liverpool and Leigh Convoy Pools from September, 1939. In 1942 he was mentioned in despatches for three years outstanding devotion to duty as a commodore of ocean convoys. He reverted to the Retired List on 11 September, 1945, to receive class 'A' benefits in the rank of Commodore, Second Class.[19]

In April 1952, the Admiralty forwarded his service particulars to the Superintendent of the Somerset Constabulary in hopes that his service might grant him leniency on a charge of "unlawfully striking" the Reverend Harold George Cole, rector of Ditcheat. The Times reported the incident as follows:[20]

... the alleged offence occurred on Sunday Morning, March 23. The rector officiated at a service and was assisted by the Rev. L. C. Mergerison. Rear-Admiral Leir left his place in the congregation in the course of the service.

After the service the two clergymen were crossing the road when the Rear-Admiral asked the rector when he was going to get a reply to some letters, and was told "in due course." The clergymen then went to their car. The Rear-Admiral said the rector was "no going to get away with it," and he lay down by the back wheels of the car, which was parked with its nose against the wall. At first the rector could not start his car, as he had forgotten to turn on the ignition. When he did so the car at the third attempt sprang into life, and apparently so did the Admiral, because he was lying just under the exhaust.

The Rear-Admiral then got up, went to the front of the war, and rained blows on the rector, who was left with blood flowing from his nose and lacerations of the upper lip. The rector offered no resistance, but simply turned his head to one side."

Following his defence at Bridgwater Quarter Sessions on 25 April, Leir was fined and ordered to pay the costs of his prosecution.[21]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Vincent B. Molteno
Captain of H.M. T.B. 25
21 Jul, 1903[22][23] – 18 Aug, 1903[24]
Succeeded by
Eustace R. D. Long
Preceded by
Adrian St. Vincent Keyes
Captain of H.M.S. Onyx
1 Nov, 1908[25] – 8 Aug, 1910[26]
Succeeded by
Francis A. N. Cromie
Preceded by
?
Commander (S), Malta Submarine Flotilla
8 Jan, 1912[27] – Oct, 1913
Succeeded by
George H. Pownall
Preceded by
Francis A. N. Cromie
Captain of H.M.S. E 4
Oct, 1913[28] – 16 Nov, 1915[29]
Succeeded by
Julian T. Tenison
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M.S. K 3
6 Apr, 1916[30] – 22 Apr, 1917[31]
Succeeded by
Herbert W. Shove
Preceded by
?
Commander (S), Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla
22 Apr, 1917[32] – 24 Jul, 1917[33]
Succeeded by
Ernest W. Leir
Preceded by
Edmond J. G. Mackinnon
Captain of H.M.S. Trident
24 Jul, 1917[34] – Sep, 1917[35]
Succeeded by
Clarence W. E. Trelawny
Preceded by
Harry R. Godfrey
Captain of H.M.S. Ithuriel
Sep, 1917[36][37] – 7 Mar, 1919[38]
Succeeded by
William R. D. Crowther
Preceded by
Ernest W. Leir
Commander (S), Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla
Oct, 1917[39] – 7 Mar, 1919[40]
Succeeded by
William R. D. Crowther
Preceded by
Charles J. C. Little
Captain of H.M.S. Fearless
7 Mar, 1919[41] – 25 Jul, 1919[42]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
George A. Saltren-Willett
as Lieutenant-Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla
Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla
7 Mar, 1919[43] – 25 Jul, 1919[44]
Succeeded by
George B. Lewis
Preceded by
Alexander H. Quicke
Captain of H.M.S. Dolphin
25 Jul, 1919[45] – 27 Jul, 1921[46]
Succeeded by
Max K. Horton
Preceded by
Arthur B. Hughes
Assistant Captain of Chatham Dockyard
15 Mar, 1922[47] – 10 Feb, 1923[48]
Succeeded by
Alban E. T. Tate
Preceded by
Charles S. Wills
Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master, Chatham Dockyard
14 Feb, 1923[49] – 1 Feb, 1924[50]
Succeeded by
Cyril I. Horton
Preceded by
Charles S. Wills
Captain of Chatham Dockyard
14 Feb, 1923[51] – 1 Feb, 1924[52]
Succeeded by
Alfred F. B. Carpenter
Preceded by
Alexander R. Palmer
Captain of H.M.S. Triad
1 Feb, 1924[53][54] – 4 Feb, 1926[55]
Succeeded by
Reginald St. P. Parry
Preceded by
Alexander R. Palmer
Senior Officer, Persian Gulf
6 Mar, 1924[56][57] – 4 Feb, 1926[58]
Succeeded by
Reginald St. P. Parry
Preceded by
Cyril St. C. Cameron
Captain of H.M.S. Spenser
12 Apr, 1926[59][60]c. early 1927[61]
Succeeded by
Leonard S. Holbrook
Preceded by
Cyril St. C. Cameron
Captain of H.M.S. Seymour
c. early 1927[62] – 15 Nov, 1927[63]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Leonard L. P. Willan
Commodore-in-Charge, Portland
23 Apr, 1929[64] – 23 Apr, 1931[65]
Succeeded by
Hugh S. Shipway

Footnotes

  1. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Friday, Aug 13, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 35281.
  2. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  3. The Navy List. (August, 1913). p. 46.
  4. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  5. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Jul 22, 1911; pg. 12; Issue 39644.
  6. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 49.
  7. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 353.
  8. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 113.
  10. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/91/48. f. 48.
  11. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/91/48. f. 48.
  12. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/91/48. f. 48.
  13. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 822.
  14. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/91/48. f. 48.
  15. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 68.
  16. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  17. Parry Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/91. Memo enclosed at f. 39.
  18. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  19. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  20. "Alleged Assault on Rector." The Times (London, England), 10 Apr. 1952, p. 3..
  21. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  22. "APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NAVAL MANOEUVRES." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Jul 16, 1903; pg. 8; Issue 37134.
  23. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  24. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  25. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 350.
  26. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21
  27. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 10 Jan. 1912, p. 10.
  28. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  29. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  30. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  31. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  32. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  33. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  34. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  35. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  36. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  37. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 822.
  38. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  39. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  40. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  41. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  42. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  43. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  44. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  45. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  46. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  47. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  48. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  49. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  50. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  51. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  52. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  53. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  54. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 276.
  55. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  56. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  57. The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 276.
  58. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  59. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 270.
  60. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  61. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  62. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  63. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  64. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  65. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.