NOTED AIR MARSHAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 19 September 1934, Page 8

NOTED AIR MARSHAL

SIR R. CLARK-HALL TO LIVES IN DOMINION ARRIVAL ON TUESDAY One of Great Britain’s most prominent military airmen, Air-Marshal Sir Robert Hamilton. Clark-Hall, C.M.G., D. 5.0., Legion of Honour, arrived in Wellington on Tuesday by the Tainui from Southampton with the intention of settling in New Zealand. He was accompanied by his wife and two young sons and a daughter. When the Tainui drew out from Southampton Sir Robert was given a striking farewell by a squadron or seaplanes from the Royal Air Force, which demonstrated overhead while a band on a tug also provided a sendoff. Sir Robert was one of the very early British air pilots, his Royal Aero Club certificate being only No. 127. He was formerly in the navy, which he joined in 1897. He was appointed to the Royal Naval Air Service and became a squadron commander in 1913. He served at the Dardanelles in H.M.S. Ark Royal in 1915. On the formation of the Royal Air Force, lie was appointed a wing commander and, ■ served in France. He was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918, and created Commander of the Qtdep of St. Michael and St. Georg© in 1919» The same year he received a pewhanent commission in the Royal Air Force as wing commander. ■

•_ - • f ; , •• He has since served at the Royal Air Force staff college, in Fsgypt,, and in command of the Mediterranean Group. He was promoted to his present rank in 1929 and from theti until 1931 he was Director of Equipment. Since 1931 he has been Air Officer Commanding the Coastal Area. Ladv Clark-Hall, who was married in 1919, was Miss Lillias Lockhart, daughter of Colonel R. Elliott Lockliart, Lockerbie. Sir Robert and Lady ClairkHall and their children will go fifst to Christchurch.