Commodore Richard Thomas Hale OBE RNZN

Richard Hale was educated in New Zealand before joining HMS Conway. He joined the RNR in 1939. He served in the Norwegian Campaign in HMS Delight and was serving in her when she was sunk off Portland having sailed in daylight contrary to local orders on 29 July 1940. He then served in the AMC HMS Hector. He transferred to the RNZNR in 1942 and served in HMNZS Leander at the Battle of Kolombangara . He was in the Director when the ship was torpedoed. When Leander went to the USA for repairs he transferred with her ships company to HMNZS Achilles Transferring to the RNZN in 1946 he commanded the minesweeper HMNZS Hautapu and was Executive Officer of HMNZS Taupo. He commanded the frigates HMNZS Hawea and Pukaki. The latter during Operation Grapple the Nuclear tests at Christmas Island. In the 1960’s he was XO of HMNZS Royalist and then commanded HMNZS Otago as Captain F 11. He was Commodore Auckland, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel). He retired in 1974 to Omokoroa in the Bay of Plenty and grew Avocado’s. He was a keen Photographer and his photographs of RNZN ships and personnel are a valuable record. A well regarded Captain he was a great supporter of Ships Company Reunions.

I first meet him when he was as Commodore Auckland, President of the Officer Selection Board. Noting the Public School I was attending he asked what I thought of three of the Prep Schools, naming each of them, that were feeder schools. After my comments he asked which I thought was the best. I replied the one you have not asked about, Huntly. He asked why I thought it was the best. After giving my reasons he looked hard at me and said “I do not know if you have inside information young man but I am a Huntly old boy”  I did not.