NEW FIRST SEA LORD

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1930, Page 2

NEW FIRST SEA LORD

Admiral Sir Frederick Laurence Field, First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, was born in April 1871. and joined the Navy at the age of thirteen. By 1893 he had reached the rank of lieutenant, His first active service was in China in 1900 ap an officer of the naval contingent whio'i took part in the international expedition to Pekin to defend the Legations against the anti-foreign movement known as the Boxer Rebellion, In the' sharp fighting which took place at Tientsin on the way from the coast to the capital he was wounded. For his services lie was mentioned in dispatches. In 1902 he was promoted commander and five years later received his captaincy. Shortly after the outbreak of the world war he was given command of the battleship King George V., and in her took a prominent part in the battle of Jutland in May, 1910, being mentioned in dispatches and awarded the C.B. For the last two years of the war he was chief of staff to the admiral second in command of the Grand Fleet, and at its conclusion was promoted rearadmiral and received the C.M.G. After serving from 1920 to 1923 at the Admiralty as Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy he went to sea again in command of the BattleCruiser Squadron. A few months later he was knighted 1K.C.8,), promoted vice-admiral and given command of a special squadron which made a cruise round the world to “show the flag.” At its dose he was made a K’.C.M.G. Appointed Deputy-Chief of the Naval Staff, he held that post till 1928, when he took over the (Mediterranean Fleet. At Christmas, 1929, he was called home to discuss naval questions with the First Lord in preparation for the Disarmament Conference. In March, 1930, it was announced that on July 1 he would succeed Admiral Sir C. Madden as First Sea Lord (Chief of the Navel Staff), Throughout his career Admiral Field was one of the mrfst popular officers in tho service. Known as “Tam Field” he enjoyed both personal affection and professional respect from all ranks. In addition to having a keen sense of humour, he was an exceptionally clever conjuror, and was always ready to display this gift for the enjoyment of his fellow-sailors.