9 . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁appointed ▁a ▁Comp an ion ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁Bath ▁( mil it ary ▁division ) ▁on ▁ 2 ▁June ▁ 1 8 6 9 . ▁ ▁Senior ▁command ▁ ▁Prom oted ▁to ▁comm odore , ▁second ▁class ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 8 7 1 , ▁Com mer ell ▁became ▁Commander - in - Ch ief ▁Cape ▁of ▁Good ▁Hope ▁and ▁West ▁Coast ▁of ▁Africa ▁Station , ▁with ▁his ▁broad ▁p enn ant ▁in ▁the ▁cor v ette ▁HMS ▁R att les nake . ▁However , ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 8 7 3 , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁undert aking ▁a ▁reconna issance ▁up ▁the ▁Pra ▁River ▁at ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁Third ▁Ang lo - A sh anti ▁War , ▁he ▁was ▁wounded ▁in ▁the ▁lung , ▁and ▁had ▁to ▁res ign ▁his ▁command . ▁Advanced ▁to ▁Knight ▁Commander ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁Bath ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁March ▁ 1 8 7 4 , ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁Gro om ▁in ▁Wait ing ▁to ▁the ▁Queen ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁May ▁ 1 8 7 4 . ▁ ▁Prom oted ▁to ▁rear ▁adm iral ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁November ▁ 1 8 7 6 , ▁Com mer ell ▁became ▁second - in - command ▁of ▁the ▁Mediter rane an ▁Fle et , ▁with ▁his ▁flag ▁in ▁the ▁arm oured ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Ag inc ourt , ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 8 7 7 . ▁This ▁was ▁a ▁time ▁of ▁great ▁t ension ▁in ▁the