ADMIRAL’S CAREER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 104, 27 January 1931, Page 11

ADMIRAL’S CAREER

Sir Richard Poore Dead

FIFTY YEARS IN NAVY

Australia’s C-in-C Admiral Sir Richard Poore, whose death, at the age of 77, occurred in Wiltshire on December 10, was an officer of high character and distinguished record, who attached himself to no school of naval opinion, never shirked responsibility, and thought only of the good of the Service. He saw much fighting in the East and Middle East early in his career, and afterward held important flag commands. He was commander-in-chief on the Australian Station from 1908 till 1910, during which time he made two visits to New Zealand in H.M.S. Powerful. The head of an ancient Wiltshire family, Poore was born on July 7, 1853, and entered the Royal Navy, in 1806. As sub-lieutenant of the Philomel, he was lauded with the Naval Brigade in the operations in the Straits of Malacca, 1375-76, and was attached to Brigadier-General Ross s tarut Field Force, gaining special commeudation for bravery in saving a body of troops from a Malay ambush. For this service he was promoted to lieutenant, and received the Perak medal and clasp. Alexandria Bombardment. Lieutenant Poore was in the Invincible, flagship of Sir Beauchamp Seymour, at the bombardment of Alexandria in July, 1882, and was one of Lie party of volunteers who landed at Fort Mex and destroyed with spin-cotton two big guns and spiked six others. He assisted Captain (afterward Lord; Fisher in inprovising the armoured train. In temporary command of the old gunboat Decoy in the next month he conveyed to. El Arlsh Colonel (<ifterward Sir) Charles Warren, who was engaged in investigating the disappearance of Professor Palmer and his companions, afterward found to have been murdered by the Bedouin. The gunboat, crippled and short of coal, drifted for several days, eventually with great difficulty making Famagusta, where she filled up and proceeded to Malta. Returning to Egypt, Poole continued to serve throughout the war. In March, 1884, he accompanied Captain More Molyneux, of the Invincible, in a through survey of the Nile from Assuan to Wady Haifa, which proved of great value during the expedition for the relief of Gordon. In this operation, with Lord Charles-Beresford’s Naval Brigade, Poole rendered conspicuous service. He was given command of the gunboat Nassif Kheir, which by enormous exertions ascended the Nile, climbing the cataracts with a falling river and the thermometer often standing at 105 deg. Ultimately, after steaming through many miles of rapids, studded with rocks and obstructions, the Nassif Kheir reached Dongola, where her, arrival Immensely impressed the native population. For three months Poore was engaged in running detachments and stores from between the head of the Third Cataract and Korti. He was with the naval forces which accompanied Sir Herbert Stewart’s column in the march across the Bayuda Desert to Gubat, where news was received of the fall of Khartoum. At the close of these arduous operations he was promoted to commander, and came home invalided, suffering from fever and dysentery.

Commanded Royal Yacht.

At Alexandria be bad met his tenure wife, Ida Margaret, daughter of Dr. Charles Graves, Bishop of Limerick; he married her In London on September 14, 1885. Years afterward Lady Poore published some delightful books, “Recollections of an Admiral’s Wife,” “An Admiral’s Wife in the Making,” and “Harbour Lights.” Later he was In command for three years of the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert. Appointed to the Apollo for the manoeuvres of 1892, a misfortune befell him. The Naiad, with the Apollo in her wake, was following the Forth round the Skelligs in a fog, and while the leader got clear the ships astern came upon the rocks. Poore displayed both coolness and good judgment in avoiding the Naiad, which he might have rammed, but at the subsequent court-martial both the captains were “admonished.” Then happened what is not unknown ,in the Navy. The ship’s company of the Apollo gave their captain a sort of testimonial of confidence, which they communicated to the Press.

After service as captain in various parts of the world, be was promoted to flag rank and flew his flag for the first time in the Ramillies in the naval manoeuvres of 1904. In the following November he was appointed rear-ad-miral in the - Mediterranean, and remained there for a year. Promoted to vice-admiral on March 1, 1907, Sir Richard became Command-er-In-Chief of the Australian Station in February, 1908. There he was very popular and worked in complete harmony with that fine officer, Ad liral Sir Harry Rawson, Governor of New South Wales. During his period of command in Australia Admiral Poore was created K.C.B. He struck his flag on relief in December, 1910. and was promoted to full admiral in July, 1911. His last command, to which he was appointed in the next month, was at the Nore, and he held It until December 31, 1914, being succeeded by Sir George Callaghan. The Admiral retired in 1917. He bad an only son, Roger Poore, a promising young naval officer, who, owing to a certain migraine which affected his eyesight at sea, left the service, and. obtaining a commission in the Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action in 1915. Sir Richard Is succeeded in the baronetcy by bis nephew.