NOTED AIR MARSHAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 12

NOTED AIR MARSHAL

SIR ROBERT CLARK HALL ARRIVAL IN DOMINION " V 'v , i One of Great Britain's most pro. minent military airmen, Air-Marihal Sir Robert Hamilton Clark C.M.G., D.5.0., Legion of Honour, arrived in Wellington by the Taimji from Southampton on Tuesday with the intention of settling in New Zealand. He was accompanied bj big wifo* and two young sons and daughter. 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, he was appointed a wing commander and served in France. He was mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1918, and created Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1919.

In 1919 Sir Robert; received a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force as wing commander. He ha» since served at the Royal Air Fore® staff college, in Egypt, and in command of the Mediterranean Group. He was promoted to his present rank ia 1929, and from then until 1931 he wa» Director of Equipment. Since 1931 ha has been Air Officer Commanding the Coastal Area. Lady Clark Hall, who was married in 1919, was Miss Lilliaa Lockhart, daughter of Colonel R. Elliott Lockhart, Lockerbie. Sir Robert and Lady Clark Hall and their child* ren will go first to Christchurch.