Re: Defence procurement bungles and wins
Reply #109 –
What branch was your cousin in?
My grandfather was an engineering officer on the Sydney that was sunk! He drafted off before that tragedy, fortunately, and took up a post on the Australia (I think, might have been Hobart).
My uncle served on the Sydney during the Korean War. One of my earliest memories is the Sydney docking in Melbourne after hostilities ended. My uncle was a CPO who specialised in aircraft maintenance but was also a master mariner and was the skipper of the Victorian research vessel Delphinus after his navy service.
His son was also a CPO who served with distinction in the Gulf War. I’m not sure what branch he was in but he was responsible for anti-aircraft defence. He was court martialled for refusing to pass two female sailors who were unable to pull back the cocking handle of a .50 cal MG. Basically, the captain ordered him to pass them and he refused.
My late brother, a Wing Commander in the RAAF, defended him and won the case. Of course, my cousin’s career was stuffed and he left the navy. He’s now a dog handler who works across a range of enforcement/corrections roles.