Difference between revisions of "Robert Neale Lawson"

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==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
 
Robert Neale Lawson was born on 8 March, 1873, the son of the Reverend R. Lawson.
 
Robert Neale Lawson was born on 8 March, 1873, the son of the Reverend R. Lawson.
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He was made a {{LieutRN}} in October, 1894 and promoted to {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1905.<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref>
  
 
==Captain==
 
==Captain==
He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1912, aged thirty-nine.
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He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1912, aged thirty-nine.<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref>
  
On 9 May, 1913, he became [[Flag Captain]] to Admiral Callaghan in [[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|''Neptune'']],<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 12 May, 1913.  Issue '''40209''', col B, p. 3.</ref> and transferred to [[H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)|H.M.S. ''Iron Duke'']] on 10 March, 1914, when that ship became flagship of the Home Fleets.  After Callaghan's supersession on 4 August, he served as Flag Captain to Admiral [[John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|Sir John R. Jellicoe]].  He was relieved by Captain [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Frederic C. Dreyer]] on 24 October, 1915.
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On 9 May, 1913, he became [[Flag Captain]] to Admiral Callaghan in {{UK-1Neptune}},{{NMI|Monday, 12 May, 1913.  Issue '''40209''', col B, p. 3}} and transferred to {{UK-IronDuke}} on 10 March, 1914, when that ship became flagship of the Home Fleets.  After Callaghan's supersession on 4 August, he served as Flag Captain to Admiral [[John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|Sir John R. Jellicoe]].  He was relieved by Captain [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Frederic C. Dreyer]], who was five years younger than he, on 24 October, 1915 and was immediately placed in command of the {{UK-Chester|f=t}}.
  
On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June, 1918.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30723/supplements/6527 (Supplement) no. 30723.  p. 6527.]  3 June, 1918.</ref>
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Jellicoe had informed the First Sea Lord, Admiral [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Sir Henry B. Jackson]], on 30 September, 1915, that he wanted Dreyer to replace Lawson:
  
==Footnotes==
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<blockquote>But I can't make the move till Lawson has a suitable appointment.  His one desire is to be <u>at sea</u>, & for this no one in the Service is better fitted.  I do hope a light cruiser can be found for him.  Will you help me in this.  Now the change is decided, the sooner it is made the better, but it would be most unfair to Lawson to do it till he has another command in sight.  His war experience should not be thrown away.  It is unique.<ref>Jellicoe to Jackson.  Letter of 30 September, 1915.  National Museum of the Royal Navy.  Jackson Papers.  MSS 255/4/25.</ref></blockquote>
{{reflist}}
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==Bibliography==
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Lawson remained in command of ''Chester'' through the end of the war, enduring a hail of fire while screening the detached {{UK-BCS|3}} at the [[Battle of Jutland]].
{{refbegin}}
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{{refend}}
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On 1 January, 1918, Lawson was appointed second in command of the {{UK-LCS|3}}.<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref>
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On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June, 1918.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30723/supplements/6527 (Supplement) no. 30723.  p. 6527.]  3 June, 1918.</ref>
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Lawson was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 4 August, 1919.<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref>  He was advanced to the rank of {{RearRN}} on the Retired List on 15 January, 1923.<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 338.</ref>
  
 
==Service Record==
 
==Service Record==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7892065&queryType=1&resultcount=1 ADM 196/44.]
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*{{ADM196|141|D8120707}}
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*{{ADM196|89|D8115666}}
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*{{ADM196|43|D7602637}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabAppts}} 
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{{TabNaval}}
|align=center colspan=3|'''{{SOON}}''' <!-- EDITORS: remove this line when table seems complete -->
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Allan Frederic Everett|Allan F. Everett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Neptune'']]'''<br>9 May, 1913<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref> &ndash; 10 Mar, 1914<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 338.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Allen Thomas Hunt|Allen T. Hunt]]'''}}
|-
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Iron Duke'']]'''<br>10 Mar, 1914{{NLDec14|p. 339}}<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref> &ndash; 24 Oct, 1915<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 338.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Frederic C. Dreyer]]'''}}
<!-- EDITORS:  uncomment and alter second line as: office, predecessor, tenure, successor, e.g. |[[First Sea Lord]]|[[Joe Blow]]|Jan 1912 &ndash; 1914|Office abolished
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Chester (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Chester'']]'''<br>24 Oct, 1915{{NLDec18|p. 757}}<ref>Lawson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 338.</ref> &ndash; 16 Jan, 1919<ref>Successor assumed command that day.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Colin Howard Lindsay|John C. H. Lindsay]]'''}}
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|
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}}
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-->
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<!-- EDITORS:  uncomment and alter second line as: bare ship title, predecessor, tenure, successor, e.g. |[[H.M.S. Dreadnought (1906)|[[Joe Blow]]|Jan 1912 &ndash; Mar 1914|[[Jack Blow]]
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|
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}}
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-->
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Allan Frederic Everett|Allan F. Everett]]'''
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|Commanding Officer of<br>H.M.S. ''Neptune'']]'''<br>1913 &ndash; 1914
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Allen Thomas Hunt|Allen T. Hunt]]'''
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|-
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)|Commanding Officer of<br>H.M.S. ''Iron Duke'']]'''<br>1914 &ndash; 1915
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;" align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Frederic Dreyer]]'''
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|-
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{{TabEnd}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
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</div name=fredbot:appts>
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==Footnotes==
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{{reflist}}
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Robert}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Robert}}
  
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1873|1949}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1873|1949}}
[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of July, 1886]]
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{{CatBritannia|July, 1886}}
 
{{CatNavigatingOfficer|UK}}
 
{{CatNavigatingOfficer|UK}}
{{CatRearAdmiral|UK}}
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{{CatRear|UK}}

Revision as of 08:45, 10 August 2020

Rear-Admiral Robert Neale Lawson, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (8 March, 1873 – 11 August, 1945) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Robert Neale Lawson was born on 8 March, 1873, the son of the Reverend R. Lawson.

He was made a Lieutenant in October, 1894 and promoted to Commander on 30 June, 1905.[1]

Captain

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1912, aged thirty-nine.[2]

On 9 May, 1913, he became Flag Captain to Admiral Callaghan in Neptune,[3] and transferred to Iron Duke on 10 March, 1914, when that ship became flagship of the Home Fleets. After Callaghan's supersession on 4 August, he served as Flag Captain to Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe. He was relieved by Captain Frederic C. Dreyer, who was five years younger than he, on 24 October, 1915 and was immediately placed in command of the light cruiser Chester.

Jellicoe had informed the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Henry B. Jackson, on 30 September, 1915, that he wanted Dreyer to replace Lawson:

But I can't make the move till Lawson has a suitable appointment. His one desire is to be at sea, & for this no one in the Service is better fitted. I do hope a light cruiser can be found for him. Will you help me in this. Now the change is decided, the sooner it is made the better, but it would be most unfair to Lawson to do it till he has another command in sight. His war experience should not be thrown away. It is unique.[4]

Lawson remained in command of Chester through the end of the war, enduring a hail of fire while screening the detached Third Battle Cruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland.

On 1 January, 1918, Lawson was appointed second in command of the Third Light Cruiser Squadron.[5]

On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 3 June, 1918.[6]

Lawson was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 4 August, 1919.[7] He was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral on the Retired List on 15 January, 1923.[8]

Service Record

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Allan F. Everett
Captain of H.M.S. Neptune
9 May, 1913[9] – 10 Mar, 1914[10]
Succeeded by
Allen T. Hunt
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Iron Duke
10 Mar, 1914[11][12] – 24 Oct, 1915[13]
Succeeded by
Frederic C. Dreyer
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Chester
24 Oct, 1915[14][15] – 16 Jan, 1919[16]
Succeeded by
John C. H. Lindsay

Footnotes

  1. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  2. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, 12 May, 1913. Issue 40209, col B, p. 3.
  4. Jellicoe to Jackson. Letter of 30 September, 1915. National Museum of the Royal Navy. Jackson Papers. MSS 255/4/25.
  5. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30723. p. 6527. 3 June, 1918.
  7. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  8. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  9. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  10. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  11. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 339.
  12. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  13. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  14. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 757.
  15. Lawson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 338.
  16. Successor assumed command that day.