Galfry Gatacre saw action in both the Second World War and the Korean War, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Order.
18 Facts About Galfry Gatacre
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Galfry Gatacre played first-class cricket in England for the Royal Navy Cricket Club.
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Galfry Gatacre was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1960 and, after retirement from the navy, he became a businessman.
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The son of Reginald Henry Winchcombe Gataker, an English-born farmer, and his Scottish-born wife, Christian Esson, Galfry George Ormond Gataker was born at Wooroolin, Queensland, on 11 June 1907.
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Galfry Gatacre was inspired to the join the Royal Australian Navy after completing his education by his godfather, Admiral Sir Reginald Tupper.
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Galfry Gatacre entered into the Royal Australian Naval College as a cadet midshipman in 1921, from which he graduated in 1924 as one of only two chief cadet captains in his final year.
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Galfry Gatacre was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in January 1930, while in May 1931 he was made the flag lieutenant to Leonard Holbrook, the commodore commanding the Australian Squadron.
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Galfry Gatacre changed the spelling of his surname to Gatacre by deed poll in 1930.
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Galfry Gatacre married Winifred May Palmer at the Presbyterian Church in Mosman in January 1933.
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Galfry Gatacre was the navigator aboard HMS Rodney and was involved in the hunt for and sinking of the German battleship Bismarck.
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Galfry Gatacre was promoted to the rank of commander in December 1941, before returning to Australia in April 1942.
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Galfry Gatacre was promoted to the rank of captain in June 1948, at which point he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff at the Naval Office.
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Galfry Gatacre saw action during the Korean War, patrolling off the east and west coasts of Korea, with HMAS Anzac spending more time in the combat zone than any other Commonwealth warship.
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Galfry Gatacre was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in May 1953 for his service in Korean waters.
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Galfry Gatacre again held the position of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in January 1957, owing to a lack of experienced senior officers in the RAN at the time, before being promoted to the rank of rear admiral in June 1958, and being made the Flag Officer Commanding HM's Australian Fleet in January 1959, the most senior seagoing post in the RAN.
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Galfry Gatacre was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 New Year Honours.
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Galfry Gatacre retired from active service in July 1964, beginning a career in business with the RSL Permanent Building Society and Elliott-Automation.
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Galfry Gatacre died at Eastwood, New South Wales, on 12 August 1983 and was survived by his son.