Complex sentence: He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1955 New Year Honours, and became Flag Officer of the Australian Fleet in February with the acting rank of rear admiral; this was made substantive in July.
Split into simpler sentences: He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1955 New Year Honours. In February he became Flag Officer of the Australian Fleet, with the acting rank of rear admiral; this was made substantive in July.