Kenneth Cary Helyar
Lieutenant-Commander Kenneth Cary Helyar, D.S.O. (17 August, 1886 – 18 June, 1941) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He did not seem to relish his naval service, but dutifully served with distinction in both world wars, primarily in command of destroyers.
Life & Career
Appointed first to Prince George in January, 1903, Helyar was lent to Empress of India on 21 November, 1903 but could not rejoin the ship after Christmas leave due to illness. He was not well enough to rejoin the ship until April, 1904. In June, 1904, Helyar's annual examination result was so poor that the Admiralty felt compelled to tell him they expected better in next exam.
Helyar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1908.[1]
In April, 1909 he went to Spain, returning 3 June. On 2 November, 1909, he was treated for syphilis and was found fit on the 15th.
In January, 1910, he applied to resign the service but was informed in an Admiralty letter dated January 11 that his services could not be spared at present.
On 23 May, 1910, he was granted fourteen days leave by S.N.O. Gibraltar to proceed to England to attend to urgent private affairs.
In January, 1912, Helyard applied for eight months half-pay status and for his application to resign to be reconsidered. He was again told he could not resign, but that if he renewed his half-pay application in two months' time, it would probably be granted. On 25 March, he was granted six months' half pay time and given permission to proceed abroad. Helyar was transferred to the Emergency List on 3 October, 1912 and granted permission to proceed to Argentina for two years in January, 1913.[2]
Great War
On 29 August, 1914, Helyar was appointed in command of the River Class destroyer Nith, part of the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, a Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters.
On 8 December, 1915, he was appointed in command of the Alarm, part of the Second Destroyer Flotilla, also serving in Home and Atlantic Waters. He commissioned the new Sceptre in May 1917, but went over to North Star the same month upon transfer.
Helyar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1916.[3]
While in command of the "M" Class destroyer North Star, Helyar was mentioned in despatches, gazetted 19 February 1919, "for services in sinking an enemy Explosive Motor Boat on 3 November, 1917". This mention was gazetted 19 December, 1917. Helyard was also awarded a D.S.O., gazetted on 28 April, 1918 and invested with this award on 31 July, 1918 at Buckingham Palace.[4]
Helyar was appointed in command of the destroyer Senator on 15 May, 1918.[5]
Interbellum
Helyar was mentioned in despatches, gazetted 19 February 1919. On 29 April, Helyar reverted to the Emergency List.
In 1919, Helyar was reportedly living in Uruguay. On 3 February, 1920 he was granted permission to move to the Argentine Republic.
World War II
Helyar was appointed to the Naval Control Service in Sierra Leone in September, 1938. In August, 1939, this was altered to N.C.S. duties in Sierra Leone. Other appointments on shore followed, and Helyar was recommended for transfer to some place with more "equable climate" in 1941.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Percy G. Brown |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 104 14 Sep, 1910[6][7] – 9 Sep, 1911[8] |
Succeeded by Pierce Ferris |
| Preceded by Charles A. Poignand |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 110 9 Sep, 1911[9][10] – 9 Mar, 1912[11] |
Succeeded by Harold G. Campbell |
| Preceded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith |
Captain of H.M.S. Nith 29 Aug, 1914[12][13] – 18 Dec, 1915[14] |
Succeeded by Gerald L. Parnell |
| Preceded by Lawrence D'O. Bignell |
Captain of H.M.S. Alarm 18 Dec, 1915[15] – 7 May, 1917[16] |
Succeeded by Edward Eastwick-Field |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Sceptre 15 May, 1917[17] – late May, 1917[18] |
Succeeded by Geoffrey S. Holden |
| Preceded by Geoffrey S. Holden |
Captain of H.M.S. North Star May, 1917[19] – 24 Apr, 1918[20][21] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
| Preceded by Reginald B. C. Hutchinson |
Captain of H.M.S. Plover 9 May, 1918[22] – 20 May, 1918[23][24] |
Succeeded by Henry P. Boxer |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Senator 20 May, 1918[25] – 11 Apr, 1919[26] |
Succeeded by Henry V. Hudson |
Footnotes
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 906.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ The Monthly Navy List. (March, 1911). p. 401a.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1912). p. 401.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396g.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 305z.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. V. p. 263.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. V. p. 263.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
- ↑ Helyar Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/294. f. 325.
