Robert Clark-Hall

Born in London, England, in 1883, Robert Hamilton Clark-Hall was appointed a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1902. He subsequently trained as a pilot, gaining his 'wings' in 1911. ==First World War==

Commanded the first seaplane carrier 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. ==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. ==Notes==