NAVAL COMMANDERIN-CHIEF

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 10

NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

Sir Charles Forbes’ Career The rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy is equivalent to that of Field Marshal in the Army. Under a rule adopted in July, 1914, officers retire from this rank on the active list of the Royal Navy after live years from the ditto of appointment, except that no Admiral of the Fleet is retired under tile age of G 5. Lord Chatfield was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on May 8, 1935, and has thus completed his live years’ term. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Morton Forbes, K.C.8., D. 5.0., is Com-inander-in-Chief of the British naval forces. He succeeded the late Admiral Sir Roger Backhouse, G.C.8., G.C.V.0., C.M.G., on April ' 12, 1938, when flic latter became First Sea Lord. There was ti remarkable parallel in tile naval career of these officers, Admiral Forbes having succeeded Admiral Backhouse in numerous appointments during the last 25 years.

In November, 1913, both ranked as commanders, the latter being executive officer of 11.M.5. Excellent, the gunnery school at Portsmouth, in which the former was serving for experimental and War Staff duties. When the Great War started, Commander Backhouse was flag-commander to Admiral Sir George Callaghan, and acted in a similar capacity to Lord Jellicoe when he succeeded the former on appointment as Commander-iu-Chief of the Grand Fleet. •

Commander Forbes was appointed executive officer of 11.M.5. Queen Elizabeth when she was first commissioned and served in her at the Dardanelles in 1915. On her return to England he succeeded Commander Backhouse as flag-commander to Lord Jellicoe in 11.M.5. Iron Duke, and was present in that ship at the Battle of .Jutland. When Lord Jellicoe became First Sea Lord at the end of 1916, Commander Forbes served as flag-com-mander to Aifmiral Sir Charles Madden (Lord Jellicoc’s brother-in-law), sec-ond-in-command of the Grand Fleet in 11.M.5. Revenge. After his promotion to captain in June, 1917, be commanded the light cruiser Galatea till 1919.

Captain Forbes commanded 11.M.5. Queen Elizabeth from 1923 lo 1924 as as flag-captain to the late Admiral Sir John de Robeck, Commandef-in-Chief of the Home Fleet. He. was Director of Naval Ordnance tit the Admiralty from 1925 to 1928, and in the latter year was awarded a good service pension. For the next two years Captain Forbes commanded 11.M.5. Iron Duke as flag-captain to Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Watson ' in the Mediterranean Fleet. Promoted rear-admiral in October, 1925, his next appointment was the command of the destroyer flotillas in the Mediterranean, which he held for two years. In 1932 he succeeded Sir Roger Backhouse at the Admiralty as Third Sea Lord, and in 1934 he again followed that officer as viceadmiral, second-in-command of the Mediterranean Fleet. Just over 17 month ago, Admiral Forbes succeeded Admiral Backhouse in the command of the Home Fleet, in which be flies his flag in 11.M.5. Nelson. Sir Charles Forbes married in 1999 Miss Agnes Millicent Ewen, a sister of Mr. D. A. Ewen, of Wellington. She died in 1915, leaving a son. In 1921 Sir Charles married Marie Louise, a daughter of the late Mr. Axel Berndtson, of Stockholm, Sweden. There is a daughter of this marriage.

Admiral Sir Dudley North, K.C.V.0., C. 8., C.S.T., C.M.G., A.D.C.. has been in command of lI.JI. yacht Victoria and Albert since December 15, 1931. He is Naval Aide-do-Camp ' and Extra Equerry to-the King. As a lieutenantcommander and commander Sir Dudley North served in 11.M.5. New Zealand from the time she was first commissioned until well on in the Great War. As naval A.D.C., he accompanied the Prince of Wales on his Empire tours and to Japan.