NAVAL PROMOTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24251, 17 April 1942, Page 4

NAVAL PROMOTION

AUCKLANDER'S DISTINCTION An Aucklander, Commander. M. Somerset Thomas, DS.O., R.N., has been advanced to the rank of captain, according to advice received by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. W. E. Somerset Thomas, of Beckham Place, Grafton. What is a rare distinction for a New Zealander has followed war service of outstanding value. Captain Thomas has been serving for a considerable period in the Mediterranean, and was in command of a destroyer flotilla which sank three Italian submarines in two days within 10 days of Italy's entry into the war. He was later appointed to the command of the escort vessel Auckland, which was recently lost as the result of enemy action.

The explosion of one of the bombs which struck tho Auckland hurled Captain Thomas into the water, and without regard for his own safety he sgent a considerable time assisting others into life-jackets. After the loss of the Auckland Captain Thomas was asked to command a large rest camp in the Middle East, but it is understood that he is now afloat again. Captain Thomas has served commissions in New Zealand waters since he passed out of Dartmouth Naval College in 1917. He was an officer in both H.M.S. Chatham and H.M.S. Dunedin, but a large proportion of his service has been in destroyers.