Ships
- HMS Newfoundland (59) Captain from 13 October 1942 · Relieved on 28 September 1943
William Rudolph Slayter commanded the light cruiser Newfoundland from 13 October 1942 until 28 September 1943. He had her at her completion, through the work-up at Scapa Flow, and through the Sicilian campaign. He left her while she was under repair at Boston after the torpedo hit of 23 July 1943. Uboat.net later lists him as an admiral.
Uboat.net gives his birth as 13 February 1896 at Chicago, Illinois. No parentage was on the page that was fetched.
The same page lists him as midshipman from 15 September 1913, acting sub-lieutenant from 15 September 1915, sub-lieutenant from 15 March 1916, and lieutenant from 15 April 1917. It says he survived the loss of Queen Mary on 31 May 1916, one of very few. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 20 September 1918. He was a lieutenant-commander from 15 April 1925 and a commander from 31 December 1930. He was executive officer of Devonshire from February 1934 to October 1936. He was promoted captain on 31 December 1937.
He commanded the light cruiser Liverpool from 30 September 1941 to 7 October 1942, and took her out of the Mare Island yard in October 1941. He commissioned Newfoundland on the following appointment. The naval-history chronology does not print his name in the 1943 diary. Its later list of commanding officers gives Captain W. Slayter for 1942 to 1943, and a note on distinguished officers calls him Captain W. R. Slayter, commanding officer 1942 to 1943, later vice admiral. He was mentioned in despatches on 1 September 1942 and again on 21 December 1943, and he received the Distinguished Service Order on 7 March 1944. From 8 November 1943 he was Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, as a commodore, first to Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser and then, from 14 June 1944, to Admiral Sir Henry Moore, until June 1945. He was made a Companion of the Bath on 4 September 1945. He commanded Excellent from September 1945 to January 1947.
Uboat.net promotes him rear admiral on 8 January 1947, vice admiral on 15 August 1950, and admiral on 15 September 1953, and dates his retirement 16 December 1954. It lists him as Rear Admiral Commanding the 2nd Cruiser Squadron from May 1949 to September 1950, and as Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, from August 1952 to August 1954. He was made a Knight Commander of the Bath on 5 June 1952. The page gives his death as 30 April 1971, aged 75, and does not give a place.