Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 9, 2020 11:45:44 GMT 12
ISLANDS COMMAND
SIR R. CLARK-HALL
NOTABLE AIR RECORD
The appointment of Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark-Hall, K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., as Air Officer Commanding No. 1 (Islands) Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force, was announced today by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones). He will replace Air Commodore M. W. Buckley, M.B.E., who is returning for duty in New Zealand. ,
Sir Robert Clark-Hall began his career in the Royal Navy, serving on the training ship Britannia. He was appointed a sub-lieutenant in 1902, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1903. His flying experience dates from the earliest days of development in the air. He learned to fly in a Bristol biplane on Salisbury Plain, and his Royal Aero Club certificate, No. 127, is dated August 2, 1911.
He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in October, 1911, and two years later was attached to the Royal Naval Air Service for armament duties. From the following July he took charge of experimental work with naval aircraft armament. Sir Robert Clark-Hall was, in fact, largely concerned with the early development or the aeroplane as a fighting machine, and his experiments in 1913-14 with a two-pounder gun in the nose of a short pusher float biplane off Calshot have been described as about the most dangerous and gallant exploits in pre-war flying.
EARLY ARK ROYAL.
On the outbreak of war in 1914, Sir Robert Clark-Hall was appointed Squadron Leader, Royal Naval Air Service. In February, 1915, he sailed for the Dardanelles in command of H.M.S. Ark Royal, a 7450-ton steamer converted for use as an aircraft-carrier. In December, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of commander, R.N., and wing commander, R.N.A.S. He returned from the Dardanelles in 1916, and next year was appointed to command the No. 1 Wing in France being promoted wing captain. R.N., in December, 1917. On the formation of the Royal-Air Force he was given the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Later in 1918 the Board of Admiralty, expressing appreciation of the valuable services given by Sir Robert Clark-Hall, stated:—
"He has twice declined promotion to brigadier-general, R.A.F., because he considered that higher rank would impair his usefulness to the fleet. Throughout his time on the staff of the Admiral Commanding Aircraft he has worked with absolute, singleness of purpose for the advancement of naval flying." After the war Sir Robert Clark-Hall held a number of important posts. On August 1, 1919, his name was removed from the Navy List on appointment to a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force; with the rank of wing commander. On August 5, 1919, he was promoted to group captain and appointed to a command in Scotland On the formation of the Royal Air Force Staff College at Andover in 1922 he was appointed to the staff, and in January, 1922, he was promoted to air commodore.
MIDDLE EAST SERVICE.
In May, 1924, he was posted to the Middle East to command the Egyptian Group, and in the following December he was appointed Chief Staff Officer to the Middle East Command. In November, 1925, he was appointed to command the Royal Air Force in the Mediterranean. In March, 1929, he was appointed Director of Equipment at the Air Ministry, and in July, 1931, promoted to Air Vice-Marshal. In October, 1931, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area and he was promoted to Air Marshal in July, 1933.
He was placed on the retired list at his own request on August 11, 1934. and left for New Zealand with his wife and family. In April, 1940 he agreed to assist the R.N.Z.A.F. and was appointed to the command of a South Island station, taking the rank of wing commander, subsequently becoming Air Officer Commanding, Southern Group, of the R.N.Z.A.F. with the rank of Air Commodore. One son serving overseas in the R.N.Z.A.F. was recently killed on active service, and his other son is serving in the R.N.Z.V.R. in English waters. His daughter is a member of the W.A.A.F. in New.Zealand.
EVENING POST, 16 OCTOBER 1944
SIR R. CLARK-HALL
NOTABLE AIR RECORD
The appointment of Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark-Hall, K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., as Air Officer Commanding No. 1 (Islands) Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force, was announced today by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones). He will replace Air Commodore M. W. Buckley, M.B.E., who is returning for duty in New Zealand. ,
Sir Robert Clark-Hall began his career in the Royal Navy, serving on the training ship Britannia. He was appointed a sub-lieutenant in 1902, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1903. His flying experience dates from the earliest days of development in the air. He learned to fly in a Bristol biplane on Salisbury Plain, and his Royal Aero Club certificate, No. 127, is dated August 2, 1911.
He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in October, 1911, and two years later was attached to the Royal Naval Air Service for armament duties. From the following July he took charge of experimental work with naval aircraft armament. Sir Robert Clark-Hall was, in fact, largely concerned with the early development or the aeroplane as a fighting machine, and his experiments in 1913-14 with a two-pounder gun in the nose of a short pusher float biplane off Calshot have been described as about the most dangerous and gallant exploits in pre-war flying.
EARLY ARK ROYAL.
On the outbreak of war in 1914, Sir Robert Clark-Hall was appointed Squadron Leader, Royal Naval Air Service. In February, 1915, he sailed for the Dardanelles in command of H.M.S. Ark Royal, a 7450-ton steamer converted for use as an aircraft-carrier. In December, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of commander, R.N., and wing commander, R.N.A.S. He returned from the Dardanelles in 1916, and next year was appointed to command the No. 1 Wing in France being promoted wing captain. R.N., in December, 1917. On the formation of the Royal-Air Force he was given the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Later in 1918 the Board of Admiralty, expressing appreciation of the valuable services given by Sir Robert Clark-Hall, stated:—
"He has twice declined promotion to brigadier-general, R.A.F., because he considered that higher rank would impair his usefulness to the fleet. Throughout his time on the staff of the Admiral Commanding Aircraft he has worked with absolute, singleness of purpose for the advancement of naval flying." After the war Sir Robert Clark-Hall held a number of important posts. On August 1, 1919, his name was removed from the Navy List on appointment to a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force; with the rank of wing commander. On August 5, 1919, he was promoted to group captain and appointed to a command in Scotland On the formation of the Royal Air Force Staff College at Andover in 1922 he was appointed to the staff, and in January, 1922, he was promoted to air commodore.
MIDDLE EAST SERVICE.
In May, 1924, he was posted to the Middle East to command the Egyptian Group, and in the following December he was appointed Chief Staff Officer to the Middle East Command. In November, 1925, he was appointed to command the Royal Air Force in the Mediterranean. In March, 1929, he was appointed Director of Equipment at the Air Ministry, and in July, 1931, promoted to Air Vice-Marshal. In October, 1931, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area and he was promoted to Air Marshal in July, 1933.
He was placed on the retired list at his own request on August 11, 1934. and left for New Zealand with his wife and family. In April, 1940 he agreed to assist the R.N.Z.A.F. and was appointed to the command of a South Island station, taking the rank of wing commander, subsequently becoming Air Officer Commanding, Southern Group, of the R.N.Z.A.F. with the rank of Air Commodore. One son serving overseas in the R.N.Z.A.F. was recently killed on active service, and his other son is serving in the R.N.Z.V.R. in English waters. His daughter is a member of the W.A.A.F. in New.Zealand.
EVENING POST, 16 OCTOBER 1944
