John Osler Chattock Hayes

Vice Admiral Sir John Osler Chattock Hayes KCB OBE DL (9 May 1913 – 7 September 1998) was a Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary.

Sir John Hayes
Born	9 May 1913 Southcote, Paget Parish, Bermuda
Died	7 September 1998 (1998-09-08) (aged 85)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1927–1968
Rank	Vice Admiral
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Naval career

Educated at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth, Hayes joined the Royal Navy in 1927.[1] He served in World War II as a Navigation Officer on HMS Repulse and survived her sinking by Japanese air attach in December 1941.[2] He then became naval liaison officer to the 2nd Battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was present at the surrender of Singapore and in February 1942 and then saw the disintegration of Convoy PQ 17 on its way to Russia as 23 of its 36 ships were lost in July 1942.[2]

He was appointed Captain at the Training Establishment HMS St Vincent in 1955.[3] He became Commodore at the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport in 1960 and Naval Secretary in 1962[3] before becoming Flag Officer (Flotillas) for the Home Fleet in 1964 and Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1966.[3] He retired in 1968.[1]

In retirement he was appointed Chairman of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority.[1] He also became Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty.[2]

Family

In 1939 he married The Hon Rosalind Finlay, daughter of William Finlay, 2nd Viscount Finlay; they had two sons and one daughter.[2]

References

1. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
2. Obituary: Admiral Sir John Hayes The Independent, 29 September 1998
3. Senior Royal Navy Appointments Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

Military offices
Preceded by Frank Twiss	Naval Secretary 1962–1964	Succeeded by William O'Brien
Preceded by Sir David Gregory	Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland 1966–1968	Succeeded by Sir Ian McGeoch