N.Z. ADMIRALS IN R.N.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28992, 5 September 1959, Page 4

N.Z. ADMIRALS IN R.N.

New Flag Thought To Be Fourth

The promition to flag rank of a New Zealander serving with the Royal Navy, Captain R. E. Washbourn, has provoked widespread discussion on the number of other New Zealanders who have gained this distinction, says the Royal New Zealand Navy news summary. There appear to have been four: Vice Admirals Sir John E. T. Harper and Sir Maxwell -Richmond, and Rear Admirals C. Sin-clair-Thompson and J. S. M. Ritchie.

The late Vice Admiral Harper was born in Christchurch in 1874 and was educated at Christ’s College. He entered the Royal Navy in 1888, and rose to Rear Admiral in 1924 and Vice Admiral (ret-! ired) in 1929. Following Vice Admiral Harper was the late Rear Admiral J. S. M. Ritchie who entered the Royal Navy in 1899 and specialised in gunnery. For periods between 1925 and 1928 he commanded the cruisers Diomede and Dunedin, in what was then the New Zealand Division of the Roy-! al Navy. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1935 but did not actually serve in that rank until 1941 when he became flag officer-in-charge, Liverpool. Another New Zealander who went to the United Kingdom to join the ~ Royal Navy returned later as a member of the New Zealand Naval Board. He was Rear Admiral C. Sinclair-Thomp-son who was educated" at Wanganui Collegiate School. He entered the Royal Navy in 1911, and in 1920 commanded H.M.S. Verdun which carried the body of the Unknown Warrior to England. Promoted to Captain in 1931 he became Second Member of the New Zealand Naval Board and returned to the United Kingdom in 1932. Rear Admiral Sinclair. Thompson died recently in the United Kingdom. Vice Admiral Sir Maxwell Richmond, now living in retirement at Auckland, was born at Wellington in 1900 and was educated at Wellington College and at Christchurch Boys’ High School. He entered the Royal Navy in 1918. He was promoted Rear Admiral in 1952 and was Flag Officer (Air) and Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet from 1955 to 1956. He retired in 1956 with the rank of Vice Admiral.