Robert Neale Lawson
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.
Captain
He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1912, aged thirty-nine.
On 9 May, 1913, he became Flag Captain to Admiral Callaghan in Neptune,[1] 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 on 24 October, 1915 and was immediately placed in command of the light cruiser Chester. He was to remain in her through the end of the war.
Jellicoe had informed the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Henry B. Jackson, on 31 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.[2]
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.[3]
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 12 May, 1913. Issue 40209, col B, p. 3.
- ↑ National Museum of the Royal Navy. Jackson Papers. MSS 255/4/25.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30723. p. 6527. 3 June, 1918.
Bibliography
Service Record
- The National Archives. ADM 196/141.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/89.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/43.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Allan F. Everett |
Captain of H.M.S. Neptune 1913 – 1914 |
Succeeded by Allen T. Hunt |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Iron Duke 1914 – 1915 |
Succeeded by Frederic Dreyer |
