Obituary: Denis O'Donoghue

* Denis O'Donoghue, naval commodore. Died age 79.

Naval Commodore Denis O'Donoghue, who began his career during World War II as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, has died at age 79.

He served in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean and spent time in convoy ships to Russia.

After the war he moved to Auckland and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a lieutenant. He was posted to HMNZS Kaniere, which was part of the New Zealand presence during the Korean War.

As Director of Defence Plans, he was a member of the delegation to the United Nations Law of the Sea conferences in Venezuela in 1974. In 1979, he was appointed Commanding Officer, HMNZS Tamaki, the Navy's training base in Auckland, serving until his retirement in 1981.