ADMIRAL BLAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1934, Page 7

ADMIRAL BLAKE.

SQUADRON COMMAND. Promotion As from July 1 Next. H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA TO JOIN. {United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, December 27. The Admiralty announces that Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Blake has been appointed to command, as from July I, the cruiser squadron in the Mediterranean, which H.M.A.S. Australia is to join next year. Rear-Admiral Blake, who is well known to New Zealanders, lias had a distinguished career. He was in command of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy from 192!) to 1932. I Rear-Admiral Blake was born in ISB2, ' and entered the N'av v in 1897. In the war lie served on the Iron Duke and Queen Elizabeth, and took part in the Battle of Jutland, being awarded the D.S.O. for distinguished service. His work as gunnery oflicer during the historic engagement was highly praised by J Earl Jellicoc. He was promoted to captain in 1918. He served as naval attache at Washington from 1919 to 1921, when lie was appointed to the Queen Elizabeth, which was then flagship of the Atlantic Fleet. After two years in the Queen Elizabeth he served for three years on the staff of the Royal Navy War College. He was then appointed deputydirector of the Royal Navy Staff Colleg", and in 1920 was made director. In December, 1927. he became commodore and chief of staff in the Nelson, flagship of the Atlantic Elcct.

In the New Year Honours List in 1029 Rear-Admiral Blake was made a Companion of the Order of the Batli, and on April S of tliat year was loaned to tlie New Zealand Government as commodore of tlie New Zealand Division of the Navy. He arrived 111 Wellington, hoisting iiis broad pennant on H.M.s. Dunedin and taking over command from Commodore G. T. C. P. Swabey. A task of exceptional delicacy and responsibility was entrusted to Admiral Blake when lie was instructed to proceed in H.M.s. Dunedin to Samoa to support tlie Administration in its efforts to restore law and order, which had been undermined by the activities of a large section of the native population, owing to the propaganda of the Mau organisation. For eight and a half weeks the cruiser was kept at a precarious anchorage, while the greater part of her company was scattered about the island in isolated posts and independent expeditions, working under great difficulties and conditions of extreme hardship. During this period Rear-Admiral Blake was intimately associated with the Administration and the Minister of Defence in the conference with the Samoan representatives which led to the disbandinent of the Mau forces and paved the way for the restoration of the tranquillity which has since been preserved. Magnificent work was done at Napier during the earthquake by the men of the admiral's division. The sloop Veronica was at Napier when the disaster occurred, and as soon as the naval base at Auckland was advised that the situation was serious prompt steps were taken by Admiral Blake to organise relief measures. Within a few hours doctors and nurses were mobilised and joined the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede, which proceeded at full speed to Napier.