Edward Thorne (naval officer)
Edward Thorne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 October 1923 Seatoun, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 October 2013 (aged 89) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service | Royal New Zealand Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–75 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands | Chief of Naval Staff HMNZS Waikato HMNZS Otago HMNZS Pukaki HMNZS Irirangi |
| Battles / wars | Second World War Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Other work | Commissioner of the New Zealand Fire Service |
Rear Admiral Edward Courtney "Ted" Thorne, CB, CBE (29 October 1923 – 23 October 2013) was a senior Royal New Zealand Navy officer. He rose to be Chief of Naval Staff and later served as the Commissioner of the New Zealand Fire Service.
Biography
[edit]Thorne was born in Seatoun, Wellington, on 29 October 1923[1] and was educated at Rongotai College from 1935 to 1938, followed by Nelson College from 1938 to 1941.[2] After leaving school, he travelled to England, becoming a cadet at Dartmouth. His training included time in the cruiser Hawkins and during the war he served in vessels including the heavy cruiser Devonshire and the destroyer Lamerton.[1]
Following the Second World War, Thorne spent time with the Royal Navy 2nd Minesweeping Squadron and returning to New Zealand he served in Taupo, Bellona and Kaniere. He was in command of the naval radio station at Waiouru on Christmas Eve 1953 when news of the nearby Tangiwai disaster came through, and he led naval personnel in the ensuing recovery operation. In 1972 he was promoted to rear admiral and was appointed New Zealand's Chief of Naval Staff. Following his retirement from the navy, he was appointed the first commissioner of the New Zealand Fire Service.[1]
He died in Auckland on 23 October 2013.[3]
Honours and decorations
[edit]In 1953, Thorne was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[4] In the 1972 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[5] Thorne was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Rear-Admiral Ted Thorne". The Telegraph. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
- ^ "Edward (ted) Thorne obituary". New Zealand Herald. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "Coronation Medal" (PDF). Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette. No. 37. 3 July 1953. pp. 1021–1035. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "No. 45556". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1971. p. 41.
- ^ "No. 46595". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1975. p. 7408.
External links
[edit]- 1923 births
- 2013 deaths
- New Zealand Companions of the Order of the Bath
- New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- New Zealand military personnel of World War II
- People educated at Nelson College
- Royal New Zealand Navy admirals
- Military personnel from Wellington City
- People educated at Rongotai College