PROMOTION OF NAVAL OFFICER ANNOUNCED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 1 April 1931, Page 2

PROMOTION OF NAVAL OFFICER ANNOUNCED.

(Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, March 31. The Admiralty announces that Commodore Geoffrey Blake, commanding his Majesty’s ships of the New Zealand station, has been promoted to be Rear-Admiral, promotion to date from March 31. The Hon J. G. Cobbe stated to-night that Rear-Admiral Blake’s present appointment is not due to terminate until 1932. He will, at the request of the New Zealand Government, retain command of the New Zealand naval station until then.

Commodore Geoffrey Blake, D. 5.0., R.N., is forty-eight years old. He entered the Royal Navy in 1897, and was promoted lieutenant in 1904. He reach-

ed the rank of commander in 1914, just before the outbreak of war, and was one of the youngest commanders in the service. He was Commander (Gunnery) in Admiral Jellicoe’s flagship, the Iron Duke, in August, 1914, and served in her at the Battle of Jutland, receiving the Distinguished Service Order. In 1917 he was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth, Admiral Beatty’s flagship. He was promoted captain in 1918, and the following year was appointed naval attache at the British Embassy at Washington, remaining in the United States for two years. He was in command of H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, then flagship of the Atlantic Fleet, from 1921 to 1923. His next appointment was to the staff of the Royal Naval War College. He was Director of the Royal Naval Staff College from January, 1926, to December, 1927, when he was again given a sea appointment, this time as Chief of Staff to Admiral the Hon Sir Hubert Brand, commanding the Atlantic Fleet, in 11.M.5. Nelson. Commodore Blake was detached from this service for his appointment to New Zealand.