DEATH OF SIR JOHN DE ROBECK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 12

DEATH OF SIR JOHN DE ROBECK.

DARDANELLES MEMORIES. BRILLIANT CAREER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 25. The name of Sir John de Robed;, who died suddenly on January 20, will be well remembered by those who fought at Gallipoli, Early in 1915, when the Dardanelles expedition was decided upon. Rear-admiral de Robeck was appointed as second in command. With his flag in the Vengeance he took part in the bombardment of the forts on February 19, 1915, and on subsequent days, and Vice-admiral Carden rer ported to the Admiralty the “ splendid work done by Rear-admiral J. M. de Robeck, and the great assistance I have received from him. On March 17, owing to ill-health, Vice-admiral Carden was obliged to relinquish command of the Allied Meet off the straits, and Rear-ad-miral de Robeck, with acting rank as vice-admiral, succeeded him. The new commander conducted the grand naval attack on the forts at the Narrows on March 18, when the mine menace, which caused the loss of the Ocean, Irresistible, and Bouvet, prevented the accomplishment of the fleet’s task. The coolness ana judgment of the vice-admiral in this arduous undertaking were shown by subsequent events to have been of the greatest value. Sir lan Hamilton, commanding the troops, refers in his diary to certain officers of the younger school who were convinced that, when the old trawlers of March 18 had been replaced by destroyers with disciplined crews, the forcing of the straits had become easy, but " upon these (ire-eaters de Robeck has hitherto thrown cold water.” On March 22. Admiral Robeck informed the general that the help of the whole army had become necessary. It was, however, over a month later before the troops could land, with the sequel which is well known. Admiral de Robeck remained in command of the Allied fleet until after the final withdrawal in January, 1916. . How much the military chiefs appreciated his worth was indicated by Sir lan Hamilton, who wrote in his first despatch :—“Throughout the events I have chronicled, the Royal Navy has been father and mother to the army. Not one of us but realises how much he owes to Vice-admiral de Robeck ; to the warships, French and British ; to the destroyers, mine-sweepers, picket boats, and to all their dauntless crews, who took no thought of themselves, but risked everything to give their soldier comrades a fair run in at the enemy.” Leaving the Mediterranean in July, 1926, he returned to England to take command of the 3rd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet, and subsequently the 2nd Battle Squadron, with which he remained until March. 1919. Admiral de Robeck, as a commander, was one of the pioneers of the destroyer service. He was a dashing rider in the hunting field, and his leadership of a Destroyer Division was equally daring. Ijt was largely due to him that *he fine esprit do corps of our destroyers, manifested so admirably at the Battle of Jutland, was originally established. As a captain, his preference was'for “ cruiser commands,” which gave his natural abilities greater scope. Every ship which he commanded was a “ happy ship.” Fearless of responsibility, ho always backed up his officers through thick and thin. Firm, but just and generous, the men of the lower deck knew exactly whore they stood with him, and that they would receive strict justice at his hands, always, however, tempered with kindness. Added to those qualities were also those of a diplomat. These ha showed to a high degree when Commandcr-in-CLief of the Mediterranean Fleet and High Commissioner at Constantinople from July, 1919, until 1022. That he was a match for the wily Turk speaks volumes. For his services in the Great War Sir John received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, was created a baronet, and granted the sum of £IO,OOO. He was also created a G.C.M.G. and G. 0.8. In 1925 was promoted Admiral of the Fleet. Ho was an Irishman of Swedish descent, His father was the fourth baronet do Robeck, the only British subject balding a Swedish title of nobility. Sir John (it may bo recalled) was more than once mentioned as a likely successor to Lord Jellicoc at Government House, New Zealand. | Admiral de Robeck married in 1922 the widow of Colonel Sir Simon Macdonald Lockhart,