[...] One man in particular, Commander [sic] Montgomery Lake, held a personal grudge, believing that Guoi was responsible for the death of his fiancee (this was never confirmed).

The British government gave Lake command of three Vengeance-class aerial gunboats, a vessel new to the British Navy. His mission: to find Guoi and destroy his fleet. Andre, however, had no intention of falling prey to Colonel [sic] Lake. [...]

-- From Above and Below, Challenge Magazine 37

Note that his rank is stated once as Commander, then Colonel. Maybe he was promoted after a successfull mission?