COMMODORE BLAKE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1931, Page 12

COMMODORE BLAKE

PROMOTED TO REARADMIRAL

It is announced by the Admiralty that Commodore Geoffrey Blake, C.8., D.5.0., A.D.C., commanding H.M. ships on the New Zealand Station, has been promoted to the rank of Kear-Admiral, to date from to-rnonow. As Admiral Blake's present appointment does not terminate until next year, ho will, at the request of the New Zealand Government, retain command of the New Zealand Naval Station until then. Admiral Blake, born in 1882, was educated at Winchester, and entered the Navy in 1897. Ho was promoted to commander in June, 191-1, while gunnery officer of tho Iron Duke, and was probably the youngest officer of that rank when war began. As gunnery and principal control officer in the Iron Duke, he took part in the Jutland Battle, and Admiral Jollicoe reported that his zeal, knowledge, and devotion to duty throughout the battle, and coolness and skill in action, resulted in severo damage being inflicted by the flagship on a German battleship of the Konig class. In the honours list for the action he was appointed D.S.O. From January, 1917, until after the Armistice, ho was executive officer of Admiral Beatty's flagship, the Queen Elizabeth, and was promoted to captain in December, 1918. He was naval attache at Washington in 1919-21, commanded the Queen Elizabeth, Atlantic Fleet flagship, in 1921-23; and afterwards served at the B.N. War College and the B.N. Staff College, being director of the last-named in 1926-27. Ho became commodore and chief of staff in the Nelson, Atlantic Fleet, in Decomber, 1927. He held that position until April, 1929, when it was announced by the Admiralty that ho had been lent to the New Zealand Government as Commodore, second class, to succeed Commodore G. T. C. P. Swabey, D.5.0., in command of the New Zealand Station, and as First Naval Member, New Zealand Naval Board, to date 19th July, 1929. ■