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Vice Admiral Sir Richard Innes Peek (30 July 1914 – 28 August 2010) 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. ==Naval career== Peek joined the Royal Australian Navy College in 1928 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 Whale Island, Portsmouth.〔(Richard Peek interviewed by Suzanne Lunney (sound recording) ), National Library of Australia, June 1977, accessed 7 September 2010〕 He was consolidating his training as a gunnery officer, serving in , at the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1941 he returned to Australia and served as a lieutenant gunnery officer in (''Leander'' class light cruiser) at the Battle of the Coral Sea,〔(Speech (4.37) ), The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH, Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, 5 May 1992, Hansard of Parliament of New South Wales, accessed 7 September 2010〕 and later (''County'' class cruiser) until 1944. While serving in HMAS ''Australia'', Peek was injured during the kamikaze attack at the Battle of Leyte Gulf—that took the lives of Captain Emile Dechaineux and thirty others—and for his efforts immediately after was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his "Skill, determination and courage" during the battle. Peek was additionally decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross for "Gallantry and skill" during assault operations on the Lingayan Gulf. Lieutenant Commander Peek was posted to England after the war to undertake the Staff Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and also led the RAN contingent at the London victory celebrations on 8 June 1946, then the following year he attended the Joint Services Staff College.〔(Sea dog survived first kamikaze strike ), Geoffrey Evans and Roger de Lisle, 8 September 2010, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', accessed 8 September 2010〕 After return to Australia Peek served in various positions before his promotion to commander. From 1951 he served as commanding officer of (River class frigate) and commander of the First Frigate Squadron, before going on to command . During the Korean War, he commanded the destroyer and for his service was awarded the United States' Legion of Merit. From 1954 he served as Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel. After promotion to captain he again commanded HMAS Tobruk from 1956 to 1958 and was also Captain (Destroyers) of the 10th Destroyer Squadron. The ship was part of the Malayan Emergency response.〔(Malaya sailors still fighting for recognition 40 years after naval action ), ''The 7.30 Report'', 27 April 1999, accessed 7 September 2010〕 He was again posted to the Admiralty, and he also completed the 1961 course at the Imperial Defence College. From 1962 he commanded the aircraft carrier , and then the aircraft carrier and RAN flagship .〔 In 1964 he was promoted to rear admiral and appointed as the Fourth Naval Member and Chief of Supply of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board. From 1965 to 1967, he was Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, 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 against North Vietnam, beginning with . In 1968, Peek was appointed as Second Naval Member and Chief of Personnel. Peek was promoted to vice admiral in 1970 on appointment as First Naval Member.〔 On 1 January 1971, he was appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He was further honoured, on 1 January 1972, when he was knighted via appointment as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. During his three-year tenure, 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 into the Department of Defence.〔 Plans were well advanced for an Australian light destroyer (designated "DDL") and an RAN replenishment ship. The Australian government changed in 1972 and, due to the new Whitlam government's opposition to the planned DDL project, in August 1973 Peek advised the Government to not proceed. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Richard Peek (admiral)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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