Lieutenant Commander Richard Peek

Portrait depicting Lieutenant Commander Richard Innes Peek, OBE, DSC, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) member of Australian Victory Contingent, 1946.

Richard Innes Peek (1914-2010) joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1928. Following the completion of his initial training he spent a period in the United Kingdom completing further training with the Royal Navy. He served aboard the HMAS Canberra and British ship HMS Royal Sovereign prior to the Second World War and at the outbreak of the Second World War Peek continued to serve with the Royal Navy until 1941, when he returned to Australia. He subsequently saw action in the Mediterranean and Far East theatres. In 1945, during the campaign to liberate the Philippines, Peek was on the bridge of the HMAS Australia when it was struck by a Kamikaze Japanese aircraft. He was standing close to Captain Emile Dechaineux when he was killed, with Peek himself suffering burns. For his actions during the attack he was awarded the Order of the British Empire. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for involvement in the amphibious assault at Lingayen Gulf.
Following the Japanese surrender Peek was a part of a contingent of service personnel representing Australian at the victory celebrations in London. It was during this time that Geoffrey Mainwaring painted Peek’s portrait.
Peek again saw operational service during the Korean War, while in command of the HMAS Tobruk. For his service his was awarded the US Legion of Merit.
After being selected to a series of senior positions with the RAN, Peek was appointed to the Chief of Navy in 1970. He retired from service in 1973.