Arthur Frank Capel Layard DSO, DSC, RN
| Ranks | | | 15 Feb 1920 | Lt. | | 15 Feb 1928 | Lt.Cdr. | | 28 Nov 1944 | Cdr. (retired) |
Retired: 28 Nov 1944
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Arthur Frank Capel Layard, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Chelsea (I 35) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 19 Jul 1941 | ??? |
| HMS Broke (D 83) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | Apr 1942 | 8 Nov 1942 |
| HMS Salisbury (I 52) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | Aug 1943 | Early 1944 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
8 Nov 1942
On the morning of 8 November 1942 at Algiers, HMS Broke had been ordered to break through the boom, enter the harbour and land a party of soldiers whose orders were to take and hold selected positions until the main landing force arrived. This she did but on leaving harbour she was targeted by 8inch shore batteries sited on the cliffs overlooking Algiers bay.
She was hit several times, was on fire and almost still in the water.
HMS Zetland overseeing the landing of troops immediately made to place herself between the batteries and HMS Broke, made smoke and dropped smoke floats, all the while returning fire with her 4inch guns.
Zetland made enough of a distraction to allow Broke to slowly make for the open sea and then received orders to take HMS Broke in tow to Gibraltar which she commenced to do.
Badly listing and making slow going in mounting seas, it was decided that she wasn't going to make it. Hammocks and bedding were spread on Zetland's forecastle and at a given signal groups of survivors were ordered to jump from the Broke onto the hammocks. Every man including stretcher cases were safely brought on board Zetland and as night began to fall, Zetland sailed alongside HMS Broke and dropped two depth charges primed at shallow settings.
In a very short time HMS Broke sank beneath the waves.
The survivors were landed at Gibraltar and Zetland returned to Algiers to commence escorting convoys of troops from Algiers to Bone.
