Former Nato Chief of Allied Staff based in Malta dies

Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Ashmore, a former Nato Chief of Allied Staff who was based in Malta during a critical period in the early 1970s, has died. He was 81.

The Daily Telegraph describes his stint in Malta at that time as one of the greatest administrative challenges of Ashmore's distinguished career, particularly after former prime minister Dom Mintoff ordered Nato to leave the island.

"Shortly after Dom Mintoff, the island's socialist leader, became prime minister, Ashmore was told to prepare to move his headquarters to Italy.

"But Mintoff took exception to the Italian Admiral Roselli Lorenzini, who had been a Fascist, and the Italians were only too pleased to precipitate a move of the Allied headquarters to Naples.

"Left to sort out the resulting mess, Ashmore refused to move until proper arrangements were made for non-Italian members of the staff. Later, he arranged important exercises between the US 6th Fleet and Nato forces, which helped to restore confidence between the Allies," the Daily Telegraph said in its obituary.

Ashmore was no stranger to Malta. Back in 1942, he was a junior officer on board the destroyer Kipling - one of six ships in the 5th destroyer flotilla led by Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten - which had played a major role in ensuring that convoys reached the island.

"In March, 1942, Kipling took part in the second Battle of Sirte when Admiral Vian's force of cruisers and destroyers, escorting convoys into Malta, brilliantly outmanoeuvred the Italian battleship Littorio and her accompanying forces.

"At one stage, Kipling and her consorts closed, under a smokescreen, to 6,000 yards to fire torpedoes and force Littorio to sheer away from the convoy they were protecting. It was a classic example of the weaker force, handled with skill and determination, parrying a far stronger enemy.

"However, less than two months later Kipling, accompanied by the destroyers Jackal and Lively, was overwhelmed by a force of 31 Junker 88 dive-bombers. Ashmore was one of the 630 survivors brought back to Alexandria," the Daily Telegraph said.

After completing his naval career, Ashmore became Master of the Queen's Household. He was responsible for all the Royal palaces, and accompanied the Queen on visits to Australia, New Zealand and North America.