Alister Beal


Alister Francis Beal CB CMG DSO was a Royal Navy officer who became Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Division.

Naval career

Beal joined the Royal Navy as a 13 year old on 15 July 1888. He was commissioned as a midshipman in 1894 and served in World War I becoming Commanding Officer of the cruiser HMS Weymouth in February 1918 and being awarded the DSO for his services at the bombardment of Durazzo in October 1918. He went on to Command HMS Chatham in July 1923 before becoming Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Division in August 1923 until he retired in 1926. He was appointed CB in the 1926 Birthday Honours and promoted to Vice-Admiral while on the retired list.
Beal was appointed as an Officer of the French Legion of Honour while serving on HMS Weymouth. He was awarded the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor for operations at Durazzo on 2 October 1918.

Family

He was married to Mabel Constance Annie Youl.