Richard Innes Peek KBE CB DSC (1914 - 2010)

Born 30 Jul 1914 in West Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Margaret Seinor (Kendall) Peek — married 1943 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 28 Aug 2010 at age 96 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

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Biography

Richard Peek KBE CB DSC is Notable.

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek KBE CB DSC was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, who served as First Naval Member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1970 to 1973.

Richard Peek KBE CB DSC was born in New South Wales, Australia

Richard Innes Peek was born in 1914 in West Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, the younger son of James Peek and Kate Doughty. ^[1]

a distinguished naval career

Richard Peek KBE CB DSC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Navy 1928-1973
retired as the First Naval Member, with the rank of Vice Admiral

VADM Sir Richard Peek KBE CB DSC was wounded during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Philippines during the Second World War.

Richard enrolled in the Royal Australian Navy College in 1928 ^[2] as a cadet midshipman and graduated with maximum honours. His specialist gunnery training followed, with the Royal Navy as was typical of the era, at Portsmouth, England. He was consolidating his training as a gunnery officer, serving on the battleship HMS Revenge, at the outbreak of the Second World War.

In 1941 he returned to Australia and served as a lieutenant gunnery officer on HMAS Hobart at the Battle of the Coral Sea, and later HMAS Australia until 1944. While serving aboard Australia, Richard was wounded during the kamikaze attack at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and for his efforts immediately after was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his 'skill, determination and courage' during the battle. ^[2][3] Peek was additionally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for 'gallantry and skill' during assault operations on the Lingayan Gulf. ^[2][4]

Richard married Margaret Kendall in 1943 in Sydney, New South Wales. ^[5]

Following the war, and by then a Lieutenant Commander, Richard was posted to England to undertake the Staff Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Joint Services Staff College. Whilst in England, he led the RAN contingent at the London victory celebrations on 8th June 1946. After his return to Australia, Richard was promoted to Commander. From 1951 he served as commanding officer of HMAS Shoalhaven and commander of the First Frigate Squadron, before going on to command HMAS Bataan. During the Korean War, August 1951-February 1952, he commanded the destroyer HMAS Tobruk for which service he was appointed Officer of the United States' Legion of Merit. ^[6][7][8]

Following Margaret's untimely death, Richard married a second time, to Catherine.

From 1954 Richard served as Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel. After promotion to Captain in 1956 he again commanded HMAS Tobruk and was also Captain (Destroyers) of the 10th Destroyer Squadron. The ship was part of the Malayan Emergency response. He completed the 1961 course at the Imperial Defence College, following which he was given command of the RANs two aircraft carriers, firstly, HMAS Sydney and then RAN flagship HMAS Melbourne. In 1964 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and from 1967 was Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet, which included oversight of the British Commonwealth's Far East Strategic Reserve. During this period the RAN first participated in naval bombardment operations in the Vietnam War. In 1968, he was appointed Second Naval Member and Chief of Personnel.

Richard was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1970. On 1st January 1971, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). ^[9] He was further honoured, in the New Year Honours 1972, when he was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). ^[10] During his tenure as First Naval Member (Chief of Naval Staff), the RAN's involvement in the Vietnam War ended, and he was heavily involved in restructuring the Navy as a result of the decision by the Whitlam Government to combine the separate departments of the Navy, Army, and Air Force into the Department of Defence.

what happens to old sailors?

Richard retired from the RAN on 28th July 1974, ^[2] following a stellar career spanning six decades, and became a pastoralist in the Monaro district of southern New South Wales, near Cooma. He maintained an active involvement and interest in naval and military affairs, and campaigned forthrightly for the welfare of veterans. His many activities included:

• member of the Advisory Council of the Navy League of Australia.
• championing the Far East Strategic Reserve Association.
• patron of A Just Australia, a lobby group for just policies and programmes for refugees and asylum seekers.
• gave evidence, in 2002 aged 87, at the Senate inquiry into the Children Overboard affair, vigorously defending Commander Norm Banks and the crew of HMAS Adelaide.
• provided expert advice to the Commonwealth Parliament regarding the 2009 Defence White Paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030.

Aged years and having been widowed twice, Richard passed away on 28th August 2010 in Canberra. ^[11] He was survived by his son Matthew, daughters Jane and Rachel, and their families.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #33156/1914
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Department of Veterans' Affairs Second World War nominal roll: Vice Admiral Richard Innes Peek; accessed 12 Jul 2023
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: OBE; accessed 12 Jul 2023
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): DSC; accessed 12 Jul 2023
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #14047/1943
6. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs Korean War nominal roll: Commander Innes Peek; accessed 12 Jul 2023
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): Legion of Merit; accessed 12 Jul 2023
8. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Legion of Merit; accessed 12 Jul 2023
9. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: CB; accessed 12 Jul 2023
10. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: KBE; accessed 12 Jul 2023
11. ↑ Australian War Memorial: 0914 Vice Admiral Richard Innes Peek; accessed 12 Jul 2023

See also

• Royal Australian Navy: Vice Admiral Sir Richard Innes Peek; accessed 12 Jul 2023.
• Wikipedia: Richard Peek; accessed 12 Jul 2023.