SUCCESS!

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 484, 13 October 1928, Page 26

SUCCESS!

REAR-ADMIRAL HYDE. COMMANDING AUSTRALIAN FLEET SERVED FOUR YEARS ON WIND-JAMMERS NOW A.D.C. TO KING (Written for THE SUN by C. TV VEXXELL.)

EAMEN who have risen from “cabin-boy to ad miral” are sometimes met in the pages of boyish fiction, but few

have achieved anything approaching such promotion in real life. Rear-Admiral George Francis Hyde, R.A.N., who flies his flag in H.M.A.S. Australia, which visited Wellington this week, is a notable exception. From an apprentice of 16, in the sailing ship Mount Stewart, to admiral

commanding tli e Australian Fleet, and naval aide - de - camp to the King is a far call. After four years in windj a miners, a rare exp e r ience for a modern naval officer, A p p r entice Hyde a b andone d sail and, after serving in steamships for a 'few years, was

Rear-Admiral Hyde made a midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve. The reservist’s usual 12 months” service with the fleet was extended in his case to five years, his outstanding seamanlike qualities coming under the notice of the late Lord Charles Beresford, who was then commanding the Channel Fleet. Admiral Beresford thought so highly of Midshipman Hyde that he recommended him for a per manent commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy.. This was granted in 1902 by a special Order-in-Council of King Edward VII. The Australian Navy, as constituted to-day, was formed in 1910 and officered, with few exceptions, from the Royal Navy. As Lieutenant-Comman-der Hyde the present admiral “turned over” to the R.A.N. and, in due course, received well-earned promotions, first to commander in 1911, and then to captain six years later. Rear-Admiral Hyde has commanded various ships of the Australian Navy, including the Adelaide and Brisbane, and in addition H.M.S. Vindictive, thus having the distinction of being the first R.A.N. officer to command a ship of the Imperial Navy. Eleven years of service as a captain saw him promoted to commodore firstclass, and holding the responsible office of Second Naval Member of the Naval Board—the Australian equivalent of the Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty. Early this year Commodore Hyde sailed from Sydney in H.M.A.S. Melbourne for England to take over the recently-completed Australia. On the voyage Home he received notice of his promotion to rear-admiral. In addition to being made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, and of the Order of the British Empire for his jvur services,- Admiral Hyde has been further honoured. In January of this year he was made a, naval aide-de-camp to the King, and is the first Australian naval officer selected for that distinction, which is usually held by the ten senior captains of the Royal Navy.