ROBERTSON SHOWS R.A.N. LETTERS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 17

ROBERTSON SHOWS R.A.N. LETTERS

Shore Post Determined His Resignation (N.Z, Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 29. Captain John Robertson, the former commander of the aircraft carrier H.M.A.S. Melbourne, today released correspondence leading up to his resignation from the Royal Australian Navy’. At a press conference at his Sydney home he also accused the Navy Board of letting him down over the Voyager Royal Commission. “There were two admirals in the witness box — they didn’t exactly back me up,” he said.

He also accused the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies of not being “quite fair” in his statement to the House of Representatives after the Navy Board report. He would not elaborate on this remark.

Captain Robertson was commander of the Melbourne on the night of February 10, when it was involved in a collision with the destroyer, H.M.A.S. Voyager.- The Voyager, sliced in two, sank with the loss of 82 lives.

Captain Robertson distributed copies of letters written by himself to the naval board, and the board’s replies. The correspondence revealed that it was the transfer from H.M.A.S. Melbourne to a shore-based job that decided Captain Robertson to resign his commission. The letter which caused him to take this step was written by the Chief of the Naval Staff, . Vice-Admiral W. H. Harrington, two days after the Voyager Royal Commissioner’s report was tabled in the Federal Parliament Shore Post

Dated August 23, it briefly informed Captain Robertson that his next appointment was to H.M.A.S. Watson—a shore-based radar and antisubmarine training school at South Head.

The last paragraph of ViceAdmiral Harrington’s letter read:—“l am aware that this appointment will not be very pleasing to you and I can only say how sorry I am that your Melbourne appointment

was not entirely fortunate.” Captain Robertson immediately wrote back informing the admiral that as a matter of principle, he would have to resign his commission.

The letter read:—“Dear Admiral Harrington: Thank you for your letter which reached me here this morning (August 27). It was kind of you to let me know in advance.

“I fully understand the reasons which have prompted you to make this decision and I do not quarrel with it. “I only wish I were capable of explaining to you the harm that you are doing to the R.A.N. in general. “You must, of course, realise that, as a matter of principle, I shall have to resign my commission. How and when I shall do this I have not yet decided. Thought To Pension

“In the meantime it would be helpful if some thought could be given to my pension entitlement, in view of the special circumstances of the case.” Later in another letter Captain Robertson acknowledged his appointment to H.M.A.S. Watson, then claimed that the transfer, in effect, dismissed him from H.M.A.S. Melbourne “with all the con-

sequences that necessarily follow.” Captain Robertson's letter continued: "This sir, as you will realise, places me in an intolerable position. “No charges have been preferred against me nor have I been requested or instructed to explain any circumstances which might possibly be thought to warrant my removal from the command of one of Her Majesty’s Australian vessels. “In the circumstances, therefore, I request that I may be permitted to resign my commission as an officer in Her Majesty’s fleet.” Loyalty In Service

Asked to explain what he meant when he told ViceAdmiral Sir Hastings Harrington that he wished he could explain to him the harm he was doing the R.A.N. in general, Captain Robertson replied that loyalty was important in any service. “I don’t think Admiral Harrington’s treatment of me showed loyalty. Young naval officers, having seen me dumped by the Naval Board and let down in the witness box by some admirals, are thinking: ‘lf this can happen to a senior captain what will happen to me, a young lieutenant, if I am in trouble’.”