SHIP’S OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 59, 3 December 1941, Page 8

SHIP’S OFFICERS

Captain Burnett Very Popular DETAILS OF CAREERS (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 2. Captain Joseph Burnett was one of the most popular officers in the Royal Australian Navy. He was one of the earliest graduates of the Royal Australian Naval College and, like the famous Captain Collins, his predecessor in coinmand of the Sydney, saw service in the last war as a tnidshipman. He was born at Singleton, He entered the Naval College in 1912 and went to sea four years later. During the last war he served in the old Sydney. He was promoted LieutenantCommander in 1928 and Commander in 1932. He was executive officer in the flagship Canberra during the term of the late Rear-Admiral Lane-Poole as Rear-Admiral commanding the Royal Australian Naval Squadron. Promoted to captain in 1938, he became deputy chief of the navy staff at -the Navy Office, Melbourne, shortly after the outbreak of war and held that position till lie assumed command of the Sydney last May. Mrs. Burnett and three children, two boys and a girl, survive Captain Burnett. The eldest son hopes to enter the Naval College this year. Details of the careers of the senior officers as supplied by the Prime Minister’s Department are:— Commander Edmund Wybergh Thruston, D.S.C., R.N., was commander of the Sydney. He came to Australia on exchange duty from the Royal Navy as lieutenant-commander in 1935. He joined the Sydney in 1937 and was promoted commander last June.

Lieutenant - Commander Michael Morgan Singer, D.S.C., R.N., was the Sydney’s gunnery officer. He was also on exchange from the Royal Navy, and Was promoted to lieutenant-commander in August, 1940. Lieutenant-Commander Jack Cawston Bacon, R.N., was naval air observer on board. He was on exchange and had been with the Sydney since April, 1938. Lieutenant-Commander C. A. C. Montgomery. R.N., was the Sydney’s navigator. He was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy for two years in June, 1939. Commander Lionel Sydney Dalton, D. 5.0., R.A.N., was the Sydney’s senior engineering officer. A native of Melbourne, he joined the R.A.N. in 1916. He had extensive service in a variety of ships of the R.A.N. as well as in engineering establishments and ships of the Royal Navy. Lieutenant-Commander Alexander Mackay Wilkinson, R.A.N., joined the

Sydney last July after carrying out staff duties in Sydney, Netv South ■Wales. A native of Queenscliff, Victoria, he joined the R.A.N. in 1920. Surgeon-Commander John Reid Hasker, R.A.N., was the senior medical officer on board. A native of Ballarat, Victoria