Harold Farncomb

Infobox Military Person
name= Harold Bruce Farncomb
born= birth date|1899|2|28
died= Death date and age|1971|2|12|1899|2|28|df=yes
placeofbirth= North Sydney, New South Wales
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= Commander (later Rear Admiral) Harold Farmcomb on the bridge of HMAS "Shropshire"
nickname=
allegiance= Australia
branch= Royal Australian Navy
serviceyears= 1912-1951
rank= Rear Admiral
commands=
unit=
battles=World War I World War II
awards= Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Member of the Royal Victorian Order Mentioned in Dispatches (3) Navy Cross (United States) Legion of Merit (United States)
laterwork=
Rear Admiral Harold Bruce Farncomb CB, DSO, MVO (28 February 1899 - 12 February 1971) was an Australian Rear Admiral who served in both World War I and World War II and the first Australian to reach a flag rank. HMAS "Farncomb" is named in his honor.

Early life

Harold Farncomb was born in North Sydney, New South Wales on 28 February 1899 to Frank and Helen Farncomb. Farncomb and his family lived in Gordon on the edge of Sydney. He attended Gordon State School and Sydney High School before entering the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) at the 13 in the first intake. Farncomb excelled academically at the RANC graduating with very impressive scores. [Stevens pg. 234] . On completing his studies at the RANC he was promoted to midshipman on 1 January 1917 and left immediately on the steamer "Naldera". Farncomb was stationed on board the battleship HMS "Royal Sovereign" in April 1917. [Stevens pg. 234]

Naval career

Farncomb served on the "Royal Sovereign" until shortly after the end of World War I. On leaving the "Royal Sovereign" Farncomb was promoted to sub-lieutenant and sent to HMS "Excellent" on Whale Island for course training. After completing training at Whale Island Farncomb was transferred to "Woolsher" a small craft attached to the destroyer force at Forth. He then received his first posting in Australia, he was stationed on board HMAS "Stalwart" for a year as a gunnery officer, this posting was followed by a year on the staff of Commodore Percy Addison, Commodore Commanding the Australia Squadron (CCAS). [Stevens pg. 234-35] In May 1925 after a 10 month war staff course in the United Kingdom he took a posting as a staff officer (operations) with the CCAS.

Notes

References

* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140148b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography]
*David Stevens, ed. 1996. "The Royal Australian Navy in World War II". Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1741141842