SPORTING ADMIRAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 25, 30 January 1934, Page 3

SPORTING ADMIRAL

AUSTRALIAN COMMAND. LONDON, Jan. 17. Rear-Admiral W. T. R. Ford, who lias been appointed to succeed RearAdmiral R. C. Dalglish in command of the Australian Naval Squadron, is a typical naval man, six feet one inch in height. He has a rugged personality and is of a silent disposition. He says that if he is expected to make speeches people will be utterly disappointed. “I am jolly glad to be going out to Australia. ’’ he said, “it is a ni<»■ station. I got to know crowds of Australians when L was a lieutenant on the Pioneer. L like them immensely and I really do like their efficient navy from top to bottom. I have told my fellows that they are going out to a decidedly smart outfit.” Rear-Admiral Ford saw many Australians as commander of the Swiftsure at the Anzae and Suvla landings and during both evacuations. Subsequently. Rear-Admiral Ford was raider-hunting in the Atlantic. Then he commanded Che “hush-hush” ship Glorious. He was often in Heligoland Bight, “where we had some really decent little scraps.” After the war his «erviees included the directorship of physical training in London. He was captain of Shortley shore station, training 2000 boys, and afterwards made the famous Royal Oak one of the happiest ships in the service. Australians will take Admiral Ford to their hearts as a sporting admiral. He was middle-weight boxing champion of the Navy and Army in 1904. and played Rugby until he was 42. He plays golf well, and was quite recently a scratch man. Now he has a four handicap. Admiral Ford will sail on January 25 by the Ceramic. He will stay three weeks in Capetown visiting friends, and will then continue his voyage by the Andrises, arriving in Sydney on April 6. He will be accompanied by his wife and two boys, aged 5 and 3 years, respectively, whose great ambition is to become bronzed surfers. Admiral Ford in his early career tutored the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York at Dartmouth. He nearly revisited Australia as A.D.C. when his cousin, Lord Tennyson, was GovernorGeneral.