P. AND O. LINE COMMODORE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27569, 28 January 1955, Page 12

P. AND O. LINE COMMODORE

CAPTAIN D. G. BAILLIE TO RETIRE After a sea career *of 42 years, Captain D. G. Baillie, master of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company’s liner Himalaya, and commodore captain of the fleet, will retire next month, when the Himalaya returns to Britain. His likely successor is Captain Cyril Pollitt, master of the company’s latest liner, Iberia.

Captain Baillie trained as a P._ and O. cadet in the training ship Worcester from 1911-1913, and then joined the freighter Pera, which took part in the Gallipoli landing. He served in the Royal Naval Reserve until the end of World War I.

He then joined the passenger ship Morea as fourth officer and tor the

next 20 years served in many of the company’s vessels in the China and Australia trades, until he became chief officer.

At the outbreak of World War II Captain Baillie was chief officer of the Carthage and when she was converted to an armed merchant cruiser he was gazetted a lieutenant-comman-der, R.N.R. He served in the Carthage until 1942, when he moved to the Stratheden and was promoted staff captain. In her he took part in many of the North African landings. After the war Captain Baillie took command of the Perim and later the Chitral. He was appointed the company’s agent at Aden in 1948 and went ashore for a short period. When he returned to sea duties he was given command of the Cathage -and later took over the Empire Fowey, which ferried troops to Korea. Among those who travelled in the ship were the survivors of the Gloucester Regiment.

Captain Baillie was appointed commodore in June, 1953, taking command of the Himalaya at the same time. He naid his first visit to New Zealand last month, when he brought the Himalaya on a Christmas cruise.