Galfry Gatacre

Rear Admiral Galfry George Ormond Gatacre, (né Gataker; 11 June 1907 – 12 August 1983) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), who also played first-class cricket. His naval career began in 1921 and lasted until his retirement in 1964, during which time he spent a number of years on secondment to the Royal Navy. He 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. He also played first-class cricket in England for the Royal Navy Cricket Club. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1960 and, after retirement from the navy, he became a businessman.

Early life and naval career The son of Reginald Henry Winchcombe Gataker, an English-born farmer, and his Scottish-born wife, Christian Esson (née Gordon), Galfry George Ormond Gataker was born at Wooroolin, Queensland, on 11 June 1907. He was home schooled, before attending the Church of England Grammar School in Brisbane, and subsequently the Brisbane Boys' College. from which he graduated in 1924 as one of only two chief cadet captains in his final year. Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed by Reginald Fulljames in both innings, for scores of 12 and 7, while with the ball he took a single wicket in the Royal Air Force first-innings, when he dismissed their captain Charles Blount. A noted spin bowler, Gataker came to the attention of state cricket coaches in Australia, but never pursued the opportunity to play at a higher level.

Gatacre was promoted to the rank of commander in December 1941, before returning to Australia in April 1942. In August 1944, he was posted to a shore position in Melbourne, tasked with post-war planning. at which point he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff at the Naval Office.

Gatacre was sent to the United States in July 1953, where he served for two years as the Australian naval attaché in Washington, before being appointed commanding officer of the newly commissioned in October 1955. He 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. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 New Year Honours. In January 1960, he was sent to Washington as head of the Australian Joint Services Staff, a position he held for two years. Returning in 1962, he became the second member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board and was appointed Flag Officer-in-Charge, East Australia Area in July 1962. In February 1964, units under his command were involved in the rescue of survivors of the Melbourne–Voyager collision.

Gatacre retired from active service in July 1964, beginning a career in business with the RSL Permanent Building Society and Elliott-Automation. He died at Eastwood, New South Wales, on 12 August 1983 and was survived by his son.