SENIOR OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1941, Page 10

SENIOR OFFICERS

CAREERS OUTLINED

CAPTAIN AM AUSTRALIAN

SYDNEY, December 2. Captain Joseph Burnett, of the Sydney, 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 J. A. Collins, his predecessor in command of the Sydney, saw service in the last war as a midshipman. He was born at Singleton, New South Wales, and entered the Royal Australian Naval 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 Naval Staff at the Navy Office, Melbourne, shortly after the outbreak of war, and held that position till he assumed command of the Sydney last .May. He leaves a widow and three children, two boys and a girl. The eldest son . hopes to enter the Naval College this year. OTHER OFFICERS. 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 arid 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. He was a son of the late Admiral Sir Morgan and Lady Singer, his mother being a daughter of the late General Desborough, of Devonshire, England, Mr. H. Desborough. of Khandallah, is a cousin.

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 twb 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 Mack ay Wilkinson R.A.N.. joined the Sydney last July after carrying out staff duties 'in Sydney, New South Wales. A native of Queensclirl, Victoria, he joined the R.A.N in 1920. Surgeon-Commander John Reid Hasker, R.A.N., was the senior medical officer on board. He was a native of Ballarat, Victoria.