ATLANTIC FLEET.
abmiral .de robeck hauls DOMJNi HIS FLAG. LONDON, Aug 16. pJr? r ? ay , Acimiral Sir' John de Kobeck brought to a close his period as Coinmander-in-Chief 0 f the Atlantic hleet, and hauled down hi s fl ag j n the Queen Elizabeth. Sir John has had evoi ten years of continuous service in command afloat as an admiral, having hoisted his flag in the Aboukir in July, i 9l }', , as Rear-Admiral Commanding the ToflpTe , I Cruiser Squadron _ During J.JIS-16 he commanded the naval forces m the Dardanelles, and in 1916-18 was a division commander of' the Grand Meet, while m 1919-22, or until he took up his present command, he was Com-mander-in-Ghief j n the Mediterranean. Admual Sir Henry Oliver, who goes ii om the Admiralty to succeed him will take over a reconstituted fleet’ owing to the transfer of certain divisions to the Mediterranean, and will also hoist his flag in a new flagship, the Revenge, lhe Fleet null reassemble under the new Commander-in-Chief for the first time at Portland. Staff to Admiral Oliver will be Commodore A. J. Davies from the Excellent. The Morning Post naval corresponde l nt : When Admiral Sir John c*e Robeck hauls down his flag and steps ashore from H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth to-day, after two years in command of the Atlantic Fleet, he will terminate one of the most distinguished careers afloat of any man alive. It is nearly fifty years since he entered the service a s a naval- cadet; since then he has had a life full of varied experiences, and held many high appointments. He flew his flag, afloat almost continually during the war, and was. early called upon to assume the difficult and onerous post as Admiral Commanding the Allied Fleet in the Dardanelles. It was due to his high courage and gallent leadership that the position afloat was stabilised when misfortunes occurred in those winters. His sound judgment and honest representation of the situation to the Home authorities prevented the fleet being embarked on a disastrous undertaking, while he was ever in the fore in assisting and cooperating with'the Army in every way which, was practicable. In the latter part of the war he commanded a division of battleships in the Grand Fleet. From 1919 to 1922 he flew bis flag as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, so that for ten years he has been continually 'in charge of large forces afloat. Only those who know the never-ceasing strain of such responsibility can realise in full how exceptional must be a man to endure it. A great factor in Admiral de Robeck’s success has undoubtedly been his greathearted and cheerful outlook on life. His charming personality and Irish good humour have ever endeared him to all around him. He possesses the sense of true leadership, and has always inspired those v'hom he has commanded with genuine enthusiasm to fulfil his wishes. In moments of relaxation he is a keen sportsman. Not only is he the ever-courtly and charming host, but in the thousand and one ways in which the Service lends itself to human kindness he has shown, his thoughtfulness for others. ■ He has a strong dislike for show and anything savouring of self-advertise-ment, and is happiest in the society of his brother-officers.. Nevertheless, ‘-a commanding and arresting personality makes him conspicuous among men in any setting. . Few officers who have held great position of responsibility, especially in war, escape criticisni, and Sir John de Robeck has liad to endure his share. In the Service, however, his reputation is unassailable, and to an officer who has never sought popular approval this is the supreme consideration. It is no exaggeration to s av that his departure leaves a sense of personal loss throughout the fleet, hut his example in patriotism, courage, kindness, and the happy performance of the duty to hand will long remain to inspire a younger generation which he. has led so truly and so well.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 14
Word Count
660ATLANTIC FLEET. Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 14
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