Edward Thorne (naval officer)

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.

Edward Thorne
Born(1923-10-29)29 October 1923
Seatoun, New Zealand
Died23 October 2013(2013-10-23) (aged 89)
Auckland, New Zealand
AllegianceNew Zealand
Service/branchRoyal New Zealand Navy
Years of service1942–75
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldChief of Naval Staff
HMNZS Waikato
HMNZS Otago
HMNZS Pukaki
HMNZS Irirangi
Battles/warsSecond World War
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Other workCommissioner of the New Zealand Fire Service

Biography

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

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
  1. "Rear-Admiral Ted Thorne". The Telegraph. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
  3. "Edward (ted) Thorne obituary". New Zealand Herald. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  4. "Coronation Medal" (PDF). Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette. No. 37. 3 July 1953. pp. 1021–1035. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. "No. 45556". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1971. p. 41.
  6. "No. 46595". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1975. p. 7408.
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