Read Admiral Harold Bruce FARNCOMB
CB DSO MVO MiD** US Navy Cross, US Legion of Merit

Harold Bruce Farncomb (1899-1971), naval officer and lawyer, was born on 28 February 1899 in North Sydney, second child of Frank Farncomb, a timber surveyor from England, and his Victorian-born wife Helen Louisa, née Sampson.  He was educated at Gordon Public and Sydney Boys' High schools.  In 1913, Harold was among the first intake at the Royal Australian Naval College, Osborne House, Geelong, Victoria.  He did well academically, gained colours for cricket and topped his final year. 

Promoted Midshipman in January 1917, Farncomb was immediately sent to Britain for training with the Royal Navy.  His first appointment was to the battleship, HMS Royal Sovereign in the Grand Fleet based at Scarpa Flow.  He served aboard the vessel for the remainder of the war, remaining with the ship until shortly after the Armistice in late 1918. 

His performance during this period set the stage for his promotion to Sub-Lieutenant, after which he attended further specialist courses at HMS Excellent (Whale Island).  In 1920 he was awarded the maximum of five first-class certificates for his Lieutenant's courses.

Back home, in 1921-22 he was Gunnery Officer in the destroyer, HMAS Stalwart.  While serving on Commodore (Sir) Percy Addison's staff in the flagship, Melbourne, Farncomb was commended for intelligence work during the fleet's northern cruise in 1922.  Next year he sailed for England and in 1924 graduated from the R.N. Staff College, Greenwich.  Returning to Australia in 1925, he performed staff duties at sea. 

On 31 March 1927 at Trinity Congregational Church, Strathfield, Sydney, he married Jean Ross Nott; they were to remain childless.  Jean provided staunch support throughout the vicissitudes of her husband's career.

Promoted Lieutenant Commander in 1927, Farncomb attended the Imperial Defence College, London, at the unusually young age of 31.  While posted to Navy Office, Melbourne, he was promoted Commander on 30 June 1932.  He joined the heavy cruiser, HMAS Australia, as Executive Officer in April 1933.  Strict but fair, he fostered high morale in the ship.  With her Midshipmen, he was curt yet considerate, usually addressing them as 'Mr Bloody . . . '; they nicknamed him 'Uncle Hal'.  The Commanding Officer, Captain W.S.F. Macleod, RN, was impressed by his ability and recommended him for accelerated promotion.  In December 1934 the Duke of Gloucester embarked in Australia on his voyage to England, following which Farncomb was appointed MVO in 1935.

From August 1935 he was attached to the Naval Intelligence Division at the Admiralty.  By 1937 he thought that war with Germany was inevitable, and took leave to visit that country and improve his knowledge of the language.  On 30 June 1937 Farncomb was the first RANC graduate to be promoted Captain.  Home again, he commanded the sloop, HMAS Yarra (October 1937 to November 1938), then went back to England to commission the cruiser, HMAS Perth in June 1939.

The ship was in the western Atlantic en route to Australia at the outbreak of war in September.  She interrupted her voyage, and for six months patrolled Caribbean and nearby waters.  It was probably at this time that Farncomb acquired the nickname 'Fearless Frank'.  Signalling instructions to a convoy in the event of an attack, he is reported to have said:

'My intention is to engage the enemy with my main armament and close him until I am in torpedo firing range.  If gun-fire and torpedoes are not sufficient in disabling the raider, I intend to ram the enemy ship'.

In June 1940 Farncomb transferred to the heavy cruiser, Canberra, which spent most of the next eighteen months in the Indian Ocean escorting convoys and hunting German raiders, among them the pocket-battleship, Admiral Scheer.  On 4 March 1941, south-east of the Seychelles Islands, Canberra encountered two ships, reported by her aircraft to be an armed raider and a tanker.  The supposed raider ignored warnings.  Canberra opened fire from about 21,000 yards (19.2 km).  Farncomb manoeuvred Canberra to keep the range beyond 19,000 yards (17.4 km) in case his adversary carried torpedoes; firing ceased when the merchant ship was seen to be burning.

It transpired that Canberra had attacked the enemy supply-ship, Coburg; the accompanying tanker was the Ketty Brovig.  Both were scuttled by their crews and sank.  Having interrogated his German prisoners, Farncomb warned the Admiralty of the Admiral Scheer's projected movements.  Papers which later circulated in Navy Office criticised him for being 'over cautious' in the action: had he approached nearer to Coburg, he could have saved ammunition.  The adverse reaction to Farncomb's prudent conduct may have influenced the subsequent behaviour of Captain Joseph Burnett in HMAS Sydney.  His decision in November to close with the disguised raider, Kormoran, resulted in the loss of his ship and all on board.

On 24 December 1941 Farncomb joined Australia as Commanding Officer and Chief Staff Officer to Rear Admiral (Sir) John Crace.  At sea on 12 March 1942, a stoker John Riley was stabbed.  Before he died the following day, he named fellow stokers Albert Gordon and Edward Elias who, he claimed, attacked him after he had threatened to report their homosexual activities.  The men were charged with murder.  It was Farncomb's unwanted duty to prosecute at their court martial, convened on 15 April at Noumea.  He studied available law books and, after a 'masterly' performance, secured convictions.  Gordon and Elias were sentenced to death.  Reverting to the role of Commanding Officer, Farncomb then submitted an eloquent appeal for their lives; the sentences were subsequently commuted to imprisonment.

Farncomb's tactical brilliance was primarily displayed on 7 May 1942, when Australia and the rest of the Task Force were sent without air cover to block the Jomard Passage and intercept the Japanese Port Moresby invasion force.  When 12 Japanese land-based torpedo bombers attacked, Farncomb handled the 10,000-ton Australia "as though his heavy cruiser was a destroyer".  He threw the ship into violent, high-speed turns to evade incoming threats.

During a strike by twin-engined bombers, Farncomb executed a turn so sharp and timely that enemy torpedoes were seen running harmlessly down both sides of the ship simultaneously.  Following the standard anti-aircraft doctrine of the time, the crew moved the ships to face the incoming bombers directly, which reduced the target area presented to the enemy and allowed for more concentrated anti-aircraft fire.

Later that afternoon, 19 high-level bombers targeted the flagship in a coordinated "pattern bombing" run.  Roughly twenty 500-pound bombs were dropped in a tight pattern around the ship.  The resulting water spouts were so immense they rose above the masts, completely engulfing the vessel in spray and drenching officers on the bridge, including Farncomb, who was 50 feet above the waterline.  Observers on other ships, including Hobart, believed the Australia had been sunk.  When she emerged from the spray entirely undamaged, the crew and Allied fleet dubbed her the "Ghost Ship".

Farncomb's tactical composure was further tested minutes after the Japanese attacks when three US Army Air Force B-17 bombers mistook the Task Force for Japanese ships and narrowly missed them with high-level bombs.  Despite the lack of air support and the confusion of multi-national operations, Farncomb maintained discipline and kept his ship on station until the Japanese invasion fleet was confirmed to have turned back.

Rear Admiral (Sir) Victor Crutchley replaced Crace in June.  He and Farncomb joined officers of the United States Navy in planning the invasion of Guadalcanal.  Embarked in Australia, Crutchley commanded the force that screened the transports.  The landings took place on 7 August.  Dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers harried the allied ships.  On the night of 8-9 August Crutchley placed five of his heavy cruisers around Savo Island, before being summoned in the Flagship to attend a conference off Lunga Point.  At about 01:40 a Japanese force of seven cruisers and a destroyer caught the defenders by surprise.  In the ensuing battle the Allies lost four heavy cruisers, including Canberra, and the Japanese none.  Had Australia—with Farncomb and his experienced crew—been at Savo Island, the tragedy might have been averted.

The heavy cruiser HMAS Australia in late August 1942

For the remainder of the month Australia operated in the South Pacific and escorted U.S. aircraft-carriers which fought in the battle of the Eastern Solomons.  Farncomb was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (1942) for his services in the Solomon Islands.  He saw little action in 1943 until December when he directed the ship's bombardment that supported the landings at Cape Gloucester, New Britain.

Crutchley was less impressed with Farncomb than Crace had been.  In early 1944 the Federal government decided that Captain (Sir) John Collins would be the first Royal Australian Navy College trained officer to command the Australian Squadron and that Farncomb would succeed him.  Farncomb left Australia in March, took short courses in England and was given command of the escort-carrier, HMS Attacker, in May.

Under Farncomb, Attacker was senior ship of a group of escort-carriers.  On 12 August 1944 she sailed from Malta to support the invasion of the south of France.  Allied troops landed on the 15th and Attacker's aircraft smashed railways, roads and bridges to block the enemy's escape.  In October the ship was involved in operations to clear the Germans from the Aegean Sea and to liberate Greece.  Farncomb was twice mentioned in dispatches for his work in Attacker.  His immediate superior, Rear Admiral (Sir) Thomas Troubridge, thought highly of him, but observed his 'tendency to fortify himself with liquor' before important social occasions in harbour.

A view of HMS Attacker and other assault carriers in the naval task force
from HMS Pursuer which took part in the landings in the south of France.

In October 1944 Collins was wounded in action.  Farncomb flew from the Mediterranean to Manus Island and, on 9 December, assumed command of the Australian Squadron as Commodore first class.  The invasion of Luzon, Philippines, was imminent.  HMS ships Australia, Shropshire, Warramunga and Arunta -- under Farncomb in Australia -- were to be part of Vice Admiral J. B. Oldendorf's Bombardment and Fire Support Group of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.  Farncomb quickly grasped 'the voluminous operation orders that emanated from the American command' and executed them flawlessly.

Off Luzon and in the Lingayen Gulf, between 5 and 9 January 1945 Australia was successively hit by five kamikaze aircraft.  Casualties and damage were severe.

The Five-Day Ordeal (5–9 January 1945)

5 January:  While approaching the gulf, the Australia was struck for the first time in this operation.  A single kamikazi attack caused significant damage and the casualties were:  killed 25 and wounded 30.  Yet Farncomb maintained his position in the formation.

6 January:  The ship was hit again during the preliminary bombardment of the landing beaches. This attack resulted in 14 deaths and 26 wounded.

8 January:  Two separate kamikazes attacked in quick succession.  The first (a twin-engine bomber) skidded across the water and struck the ship's port side.  The second was shot down just before impact, but its bomb exploded against the hull, tearing a 14-by-8-foot hole and causing a 5-degree list.

9 January:  A final aircraft struck a mast strut and the forward exhaust funnel before falling overboard. This disabled two boilers and damaged the ship's radar and wireless systems.

Australia in January 1945 showing accumulated damage from kamikaze attacks

Despite the mounting damage and being personally wounded during the actions, Farncomb refused to withdraw. 
He insisted that Australia complete all its scheduled fire support missions for the landing troops before finally being ordered to retire on 9 January.

Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf (USN) described the ship’s performance as "inspirational" and noted that Farncomb’s leadership "imbued his command with confidence".  For his "extraordinary heroism" and "professional skill" during these five days, the United States awarded him the US Navy Cross.  He was also appointed Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) in 1945.

On 22 January he hoisted his broad pendant in Shropshire and next month witnessed the bombardment and occupation of Corregidor Island.  In May, June and July the Australian Squadron supported landings at Wewak, New Guinea, and at Labuan Island and Balikpapan, Borneo.  Farncomb was relieved by Collins on 22 July in Manila and flew to Sydney.

Following a stint (August to September 1945) as Flag Officer-in-Charge, New South Wales, Farncomb became Commodore Superintendent of training at Flinders Naval Depot, Westernport, Victoria.  Next year he was appointed Commander of the U.S. Legion of Merit for his services with the Seventh Fleet in 1944-45.  He went back to sea in November 1946, initially as Commodore commanding, then as Flag Officer Commanding HMA Squadron (Fleet).  On 8 January 1947 he had been promoted Rear Admiral.  He ensured that the fleet met its commitments in the postwar period which saw reductions in personnel and ships.

By 1949 Farncomb was frustrated, bored with continual official entertainment and drinking more than was wise.  Appointed head of the Australian Joint Services Staff in Washington in January 1950, he seemed unable to curb his drinking and was recalled in November.  He was transferred to the Retired List of Officers on 7 April 1951.

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek later criticised the Naval Board for...

...the destruction of Farncomb's career.  The burdens and strains of nearly six years of uninterrupted command at sea and of increasingly responsible posts in wartime had been severe.  The Naval Board could have rested him after the war but chose not to do so.

Farncomb gave up alcohol completely.  He learned Latin to enable him to study for the Barristers' Admission Board examinations.  Admitted to the Bar on 6 June 1958, he developed a reasonably busy practice in Sydney and subsequently joined the solicitors, Alfred Rofe & Sons.  As a lawyer, he showed the same penetrating and analytical mind and the industry and ability which had characterised his years in the Navy.  Heart disease eventually led to his retirement. 

Honours and Awards
Farncomb received numerous high-level decorations for his leadership and gallantry including:

Awarded on:		Honour
28 March 1935		Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
03 November 1942		Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD)
09 February 1942		Distinguished Service Order (DSO) For his skill and resolution during operations in the Solomon Islands.
23 March 1945		Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD) "For distinguished services & gallantry in Southern France."
01 May 1945		Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB, Military Division) "For most distinguished services in assault landing at Lingayen Gulf."
14 August 1945		Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD)
15 May 1947		United States Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)
02 January 1948		United States Navy Cross "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commodore Harold Bruce Farncomb, Royal Australian Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as Commander, Royal Australian Squadron, during the capture of Lingayen Gulf and the landing on Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 6 January to 9 January, 1945. During this period, in which HMAS AUSTRALIA was hit four times by enemy planes and HMAS ARUNTA seriously damaged, Commodore Farncomb displayed a high degree of courage, determination and professional skill."

A Collins class submarine was later to be named after him and in 1998 HMAS Farncomb was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy.  The motto for HMAS Farncomb, ‘With Skill and Resolve’, is derived from the citation for the Distinguished Service Order awarded to him as Commanding Officer HMAS Australia at Guadalcanal in August 1942.

Survived by his wife, Farncomb died on 12 February 1971 in St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, and was cremated.  His ashes were scattered at sea from his last flagship, HMAS Sydney.

Admiral Sir Louis Hamilton, Chief of Naval Staff in 1945-48, had regarded Farncomb as 'the best senior officer' in the R.A.N., an opinion shared by others.  Aloof and reserved, Farncomb never sought popularity, although the young Trevor Rapke was one who experienced the charm, humour and 'rich culture' of the private man.  Sailors respected 'Fearless' for his fair play, justice and courage, and many who served under him in World War II called themselves 'Farncomb men'.

In conclusion, Vice Admiral Peek commented on Farncomb's qualities to explain his success as both a ship and staff officer:

Farncomb's success as a naval officer stemmed from his willingness to delegate and trust, from the knowledge that he was very capable and wise and from the fact that the buck stopped with him.  Not that he accepted sloppiness from his team.  On the contrary, he could be savage but accepted blame from higher authority himself.  He was well supported by his wife Jean.  'Hal' had the best brain (of all the officers known to me), not only from the point of view of intelligence, but because of decisiveness.

-o-o-O-o-o-

Sources:
U.S. Naval Institute
Australian War Memorial
War History Online
Australian Dictionary of Biography
World War II Database
Anzac Portal
Wikipedia

Compiled by Laurie Pegler