Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Kathe Marion and Edward Kendall CRACE

Australian Navy Vice Admiral. He is remembered for commanding the Australian-United States Support Force, Task Force 44, at the Battle of the Coral Sea, Pacific Ocean, in 1942. Educated at The Kings School in Parramatta, Australia, he relocated to England and finished his education in October 1899. He then enlisted in the British Royal Navy and his first posting was with the training ship "HMS Britannia", in May 1902. After being trained as a torpedo officer, he served on the battlecruiser "HMAS Australia" throughout World War I. Between the wars, he served in a series of sea and shore positions before being assigned command of the Australian Squadron in September 1939. After the onset of World War II, he was appointed commander of the Allied Naval Squadron, ANZAC Force. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, he narrowly escaped a Japanese air raid while patrolling south of New Guinea. In June 1942 he returned to England as a vice admiral, commanding the Chatham Dockyard. He was placed on the retired list in 1945 but remained in command at Chatham until July 1946. In 1941 he was appointed Companion of the Order of Bath and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1947. He died at the age of 81.

The suburb of Crace, Australian Capital Territory is named after Crace's father, Edward Kendall Crace.