| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | MS Trawler |
| Class | [No specific class] |
| Pennant | FY 667 |
| Built by | Fletcher, Son & Fearnall (Limehouse, London, U.K.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | |
| Launched | |
| Commissioned | Sep 1939 |
| End service | 4 Sep 1944 |
| History | Completed on 4 November 1918. Paid off on 4 September 1944.Returned to her owner in October 1944. |
Commands listed for HMS James Lay (FY 667)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Skr. William Henry Makings, RNR | 1 Nov 1939 | 22 Aug 1940 |
| 2 | T/Skr. Frank Stephen Gleeson, RNR | 22 Aug 1940 | 2 Jan 1942 |
| 3 | T/Skr. Frederick Cook, RNR | 2 Jan 1942 | 18 Mar 1942 |
| 4 | W Jordan, RNR | 18 Mar 1942 | 4 Sep 1944 |
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Notable events involving James Lay include:
18 May 1940
Operation Quixote.
Cutting of underwater telephone lines between Scandinavia and the U.K.
On 18 May 1940 the auxiliary M/S trawlers HMS Cape Melville (Ch.Skr. A. Flaws, RNR), HMS Grampian (Lt.Cdr. A. Longmuir, RNR), HMS James Lay (Skr. W.H. Makings, RNR), HMS Milford Princess (T/Skr. J.W. Cook, RNR), HMS Milford Queen (T/Skr. F.J. Burgess, RNR) and HMS Pelton (Skr. J.A. Sutherland, RNR) departed Harwich to cut underwater telephone cables. They were escorted by the patrol vessel HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D.F. Beattie, RN). Cover for the operation was provided by the destroyers HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN).