Career
Following his graduation, Tait became a career naval officer, serving in the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean and China. They had two daughters. Tait was promoted to Commodore in 1921 and Captain in 1926, gaining his first command in 1928 as Commanding Officer of the HMS Dragon.
There followed commands of the HMS Capetown and HMS Delhi before service as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence before returning to the sea as Commanding Officer of the HMS Shropshire. before becoming Commodore of the principal naval depot at Portsmouth.
lieutenant was in this position that Tait was recognised for the smooth mobilisation of the fleet at outbreak of World World War World War II After serving as Director of Personal Services at the Admiralty, Tait served as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station from 1942, and in this capacity, he established and headed a Combined Headquarters in Cape Town, where he led the Royal Navy, South African Army and South African Air Force, which was considered an important factor in maintaining allied domination around the Cape. Tait"s tenure as Governor proved to be fleeting as, ailing for some time, Tait relinquished the Governorship in February 1946 after twelve months and died at Government House, Salisbury, five months later, less than a month before his 60th birthday.
There is an Admiral Tait Primary School in Harare, Zimbabwe, named in honour of Tait.
