VICE-ADMIRAL SIR JOHN MICHAEL de ROBECK, K.C.B., received his Naval education on board the "Britannia," and entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1875. He became a Lieutenant on September 30th, 1885, a Commander on the June 22nd, 1897, and a Captain on January 1st, 1902.

From February 15th, 1911, to December 21st of the same year he was Inspecting Captain of Boys' Training Establishments. On December 1st, 1911, he became a Rear-Admiral. From April 8th, 1912, to May 1st, 1914, he was Admiral of Patrols, being the first occupant of that post.

On the outbreak of war he commanded a Cruiser Force, and on the retirement through illness of Vice-Admiral Carden in 1915 he was appointed acting Vice-Admiral in Command of the British Eastern Mediterranean Squadron at the Dardanelles, March 17th, and directed the Naval operations carried out in March and April of that year. It was during this period that the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was landed and firmly established on the Gallipoli Peninsula. In his despatch published in the "London Gazette," July 6th, 1915, General Sir Ian Hamilton said, "Throughout the events I have chronicled, the Royal Navy has been father and mother to the Army. Not one of us realises how much he owes to Vice-Admiral de Robeck." Later in the year Sir Ian Hamilton wrote: "The sheet-anchor on which hung the whole of these elaborate schemes was the Navy. One tiny flaw in the mutual trust and confidence animating the two services would have wrecked the whole enterprise. Experts at a distance may have guessed as much: it was self-evident to the rawest private on the spot. But with men like Vice-Admiral de Robeck, Commodore Roger Keyes, Rear-Admiral Christian, and Captain F. H. Mitchell at our backs, we soldiers were secured against any such risk, and it will be seen how perfect was the precision the sailors put into their job."

Vice-Admiral de Robeck also commanded the Naval Forces which took part in the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula between November 20th, 1915, and January 9th, 1916.

He was appointed a K.C.B. on January 1st, 1916, in recognition of the services he had rendered during the war.

He is a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, and holds the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure (First Class), and the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy.