Robert Clark-Hall

Sir Robert Clark-Hall
Sir Robert Clark-Hall
Born	21 June 1883
Died	8 March 1964 (aged 80)
Allegiance	United Kingdom; New Zealand
Service/branch	Royal Navy (1897–18); Royal Air Force (1918–34); Royal New Zealand Air Force (1940–45)
Years of service	1897–1934; 1940–1945
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	No. 1 Islands Group (1944–45); Southern (Training) Group (1943–44); RNZAF Harewood (1940–43); RAF Coastal Area (1931–34); RAF Mediterranean (1925–26); Egyptian Group (1924); No. 29 Group (1919); No. 1 Wing (1917–18); No. 3 Squadron (1915); HMS Ark Royal (1914–15)
Battles/wars	Boxer Rebellion; First World War; Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George; Distinguished Service Order; Mentioned in Despatches; Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France)

Air Marshal Sir Robert Hamilton Clark-Hall KBE, CMG, DSO (21 June 1883 – 8 March 1964) was a squadron and wing commander in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War and a senior Royal Air Force commander in the 1920s and early 1930s. Clark-Hall returned to service during the Second World War after volunteering to serve with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

First World War

Commanded the first seaplane carrier HMS Ark Royal at Gallipoli. He then commanded No. 1 Wing Royal Naval Air Service conducting surveillance and attacks on enemy shipping from St Pol-sur-Mer, Dunkirk between September 1916 and November 1918, and was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour for his services to the war in February 1919.[1]

Second World War

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Clark-Hall was in his late-50s, retired and living in New Zealand. He volunteered to serve with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and was granted a commission as a wing commander. In May 1940 Clark-Hall was appointed the Officer Commanding RNZAF Harewood. After receiving a promotion to group captain, in 1943 Clark-Hall was promoted again to air commodore and appointed Air Officer Commanding Southern (Training) Group. In October 1944, he became Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Islands Group in the Pacific Ocean. He retired from the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 12 September 1945.

References

Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Robert Clark-Hall

Notes

M. Brewer, 'New Zealand and the Legion d'honneur: Officiers, Commandeurs and Dignites', The Volunteers: The Journal of the New Zealand Military Historical Society, 35(3), March 2010, pp.131–147.

Military offices
Preceded by Charles Lambe	Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area 1931–1934	Succeeded by Napier Gill Temporary appointment followed by Arthur Longmore

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[1] M. Brewer, 'New Zealand and the Legion d'honneur: Officiers, Commandeurs and Dignites', The Volunteers: The Journal of the New Zealand Military Historical Society, 35(3), March 2010, pp.131–147.