Harold Farncomb was born in North Sydney, New South Wales on 28 February 1899, the second child of Frank Farncomb and Helen Louisa Farncomb, née Sampson. The family lived in Gordon on the north shore of Sydney. He attended Gordon Public School and Sydney Boys' High School before entering the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) at age 13 in the RANC's first intake. Farncomb excelled academically at the RANC, graduating with very impressive scores and topped his final year (1916).[1][2] On completing his studies at the RANC he was promoted to midshipman on 1 January 1917 and left immediately on the steamer Naldera for training with the Royal Navy. Farncomb was stationed on board the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign in April 1917.[1]
Naval careerEdit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2008)
Farncomb served on Royal Sovereign until shortly after the end of World War I. On leaving 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 the Firth of Forth. He then received his first posting in Australia; 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).[1] 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.
commander of the flagship HMAS Australia, chief staff officer to Rear Admiral (Sir) John Crace
1942
Rear Admiral (Sir) Victor Crutchley replaced Crace
1943
made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Citation: "For skill, resolution and coolness during operations in the Solomon Islands whilst commanding HMAS Australia"
head of the Australian Joint Services Staff in Washington
1951
retired from Navy
Post-military lifeEdit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2009)
Farncomb left the service in 1951 and learned Latin to enable him to study for the Barristers' Admission Board examinations. Admitted to the Bar on 6 June 1958, he developed a reasonably busy practice in Sydney and subsequently joined the solicitors, Alfred Rofe & Sons.[2] A street in the town of Narooma is named in Farncomb's honour.[3]
Heart disease eventually led to his retirement.
Personal lifeEdit
On 31 March 1927 at Trinity Congregational Church, Strathfield, Sydney, he married Jean Ross Nott; they were to remain childless. "Jean provided staunch support throughout the vicissitudes of her husband's career".[2]
Retirement and deathEdit
Survived by his wife, Farncomb died of heart failure on 12 February 1971 in St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, and was cremated with Anglican rites. His ashes were scattered at sea on 2 March from the flight deck of his last flagship, HMAS Sydney, off the coast of Western Australia.[4]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcDavid Stevens, ed. 1996. The Royal Australian Navy in World War II. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN1-74114-184-2 pp. 234–235
^Australia's Argonauts: The remarkable story of the first class to enter the Royal Australian Naval College, Echo Books, Canberra, 2016, p.580
^Lind, Lew (1986). The Royal Australian Navy: Historic Naval Events Year by Year (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Reed Books. p. 281. ISBN0-7301-0071-5. OCLC 16922225.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harold Farncomb.
Rear Admiral John Eccles as Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet
Preceded by
Captain Charles Nichols
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron 1944–1945
Succeeded by
Commodore John Collins
August 29, 2023
harold, farncomb, rear, admiral, harold, bruce, farncomb, february, 1899, february, 1971, senior, officer, royal, australian, navy, served, first, second, world, wars, lawyer, first, australian, born, officer, reach, flag, rank, citation, needed, collins, clas. Rear Admiral Harold Bruce Farncomb CB DSO MVO 28 February 1899 12 February 1971 was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy RAN who served in the First and Second World Wars and as a lawyer He was the first Australian born RAN officer to reach a flag rank in the RAN citation needed The Collins class submarine HMAS Farncomb is named in his honour Harold Bruce FarncombCommodore Harold Farncomb on the bridge of HMAS Shropshire July 1945Nickname s Uncle Hal Fearless FrankBorn 1899 02 28 28 February 1899North Sydney New South WalesDied12 February 1971 1971 02 12 aged 71 Darlinghurst New South WalesAllegianceAustraliaService wbr branchRoyal Australian NavyYears of service1912 1951RankRear AdmiralCommands heldHM Australian Squadron 1944 45 1946 49 HMS Attacker 1944 HMAS Australia 1941 44 HMAS Canberra 1940 41 HMAS Perth 1939 40 HMAS Yarra 1937 38 Battles warsFirst World WarSecond World War Battle of the Atlantic Battle of the Mediterranean Battle of the Coral Sea Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of the Eastern Solomons Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Luzon Invasion of Lingayen GulfAwardsCompanion of the Order of the BathDistinguished Service OrderMember of the Royal Victorian OrderMentioned in Despatches 3 Navy Cross United States Commander of the Legion of Merit United States Other workBarrister and solicitor Contents 1 Early life 2 Naval career 2 1 Naval career summary 3 Post military life 4 Personal life 5 Retirement and death 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditHarold Farncomb was born in North Sydney New South Wales on 28 February 1899 the second child of Frank Farncomb and Helen Louisa Farncomb nee Sampson The family lived in Gordon on the north shore of Sydney He attended Gordon Public School and Sydney Boys High School before entering the Royal Australian Naval College RANC at age 13 in the RANC s first intake Farncomb excelled academically at the RANC graduating with very impressive scores and topped his final year 1916 1 2 On completing his studies at the RANC he was promoted to midshipman on 1 January 1917 and left immediately on the steamer Naldera for training with the Royal Navy Farncomb was stationed on board the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign in April 1917 1 Naval career EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it May 2008 Farncomb served on Royal Sovereign until shortly after the end of World War I On leaving 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 the Firth of Forth He then received his first posting in Australia 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 1 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 Naval career summary Edit 1913 Royal Australian Naval College Osborne House Geelong Victoria1917 promoted midshipmanHMS Royal Sovereign in UK 1918 promoted sub lieutenantHMS Excellent Whale Island Hampshire 1920 promoted lieutenant awarded the maximum of five first class certificates for his lieutenant s courses1921 gunnery officer HMAS Stalwart in Australia 1922 intelligence officer Commodore Sir Percy Addison s staff on the flagship HMAS Melbourne1923 Royal Naval College Greenwich1925 staff officer operations to CCAS Commodore Commanding the Australia Squadron 1927 promoted lieutenant commander1932 promoted commander1933 executive officer HMAS Australia1934 made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order MVO 1935 Naval Intelligence Division at the Admiralty1937 first RANC graduate to be promoted captaincommander HMAS Yarra1939 as commander commissioned HMAS Perth1940 commander HMAS Canberra1941 commander of the flagship HMAS Australia chief staff officer to Rear Admiral Sir John Crace1942 Rear Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley replaced Crace1943 made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order DSO Citation For skill resolution and coolness during operations in the Solomon Islands whilst commanding HMAS Australia 1944 commander HMS Attacker in the Mediterranean assumed command of the Australian Squadron as commodore first classcommodore commanding H M A Squadron Fleet 1945 flag officer in charge New South Walescommodore superintendent of training at Flinders Naval Depot Westernport Victoriamade a Companion of the Order of the Bath CB and awarded the Navy Cross and made a Commander of the Legion of Merit by the United States1946 commodore commanding H M A Squadron Fleet 1947 promoted rear admiralflag officer commanding H M A Squadron Fleet 1950 head of the Australian Joint Services Staff in Washington1951 retired from NavyPost military life EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it April 2009 Farncomb left the service in 1951 and learned Latin to enable him to study for the Barristers Admission Board examinations Admitted to the Bar on 6 June 1958 he developed a reasonably busy practice in Sydney and subsequently joined the solicitors Alfred Rofe amp Sons 2 A street in the town of Narooma is named in Farncomb s honour 3 Heart disease eventually led to his retirement Personal life EditOn 31 March 1927 at Trinity Congregational Church Strathfield Sydney he married Jean Ross Nott they were to remain childless Jean provided staunch support throughout the vicissitudes of her husband s career 2 Retirement and death EditSurvived by his wife Farncomb died of heart failure on 12 February 1971 in St Vincent s Hospital Darlinghurst and was cremated with Anglican rites His ashes were scattered at sea on 2 March from the flight deck of his last flagship HMAS Sydney off the coast of Western Australia 4 References Edit a b c David Stevens ed 1996 The Royal Australian Navy in World War II Sydney Allen amp Unwin ISBN 1 74114 184 2 pp 234 235 a b c Alan Zammit Farncomb Harold Bruce 1899 1971 Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 14 Melbourne University Press 1996 pp 139 141 Australia s Argonauts The remarkable story of the first class to enter the Royal Australian Naval College Echo Books Canberra 2016 p 580 Lind Lew 1986 The Royal Australian Navy Historic Naval Events Year by Year 2nd ed Frenchs Forest NSW Reed Books p 281 ISBN 0 7301 0071 5 OCLC 16922225 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harold Farncomb 1956 portrait of RAdm Farncomb by Harold AbbottMilitary officesPreceded byCommodore John Collins Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron1946 1949 Succeeded byRear Admiral John Ecclesas Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian FleetPreceded byCaptain Charles Nichols Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron1944 1945 Succeeded byCommodore John Collins Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold Farncomb amp oldid 958215653, wikipedia, 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