Demotion 'destroys' officer

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 2

Demotion 'destroys ' officer

PA Auckland “In one hour I was totally destroyed — relieved of the command of the largest naval establishment in New Zealand, and ’ demoted.” These were the words yesterday, of Captain lan Bradley, whose 27-year career as a Navy officer ended yesterday. Captain Bradley, the second most senior naval officer in Auckland at the .time, resigned three months ago. ,In spite of repeated requests, he has still not been told in precise terms what the Navy held against him.

He acknowledges that his personal “style” was not always well regarded by his seniors and fellow officers.

“After getting the letter from my Admiral (Rear Admiral K. M. Sauli) there was no choice but to resign. Jt was the only honourable way.” Captain Bradley said the worst part about the letter was the reservations expressed about his standing as a senior officer. It cited: “Unreliability, a lack of appreciation of the conduct to be expected from a senior officer, and a general lack of discretion.”

The letter said Captain Bradley’s career performance over the last five years had given rise to reservations about his suitability for promotion. Recent events had added “emphasis to these reservations.”

I Yet, at the age of 39, three years ago, Captain Bradley was promoted as one of the youngest captains in R.N.Z.N. history. When ordered last May to step down from his position of captain of H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel, he had just finished a restructuring of the Auckland command. The Nayy had expressed complete satisfaction with the job.

Captain Bradley says that in the three months in which he has waited for final discharge, he has sought persistently, but in vain, for a definition of the faults of which he was accused.

He says he intends to take an option left to him —

Navy regulations allow for a senior officer whose reputation has been impugned to make an official complaint. This is taken up by the Defence Council, and can eventually go to the Gover-nor-General.

Captain Bradley has had many job offers since resigning, and also a flood of sympathisers’ mail, much of it from the men he commanded. He will soon start work with a manufacturing company.

He will leave the Navy with the rank of captain restored. Service regulations require that an officer honourably discharged leaves with the highest rank he held during his career.