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Rear Admiral Andrew Robertson Crosses the Bar
Naval Officers Club member Rear Admiral Andrew John Robertson AO DSC RAN – Navy’s most accomplished Gunnery Officer – has died at age 95 in North West New South Wales. Andrew has been an ardent supporter of the Club and he will be sorely missed at future Club functions, at which he and Pat were regular attendees. He had an incredible ability to remember people’s names and to make people feel at ease.
During more than 40 years of service to Navy, Rear Admiral Robertson’s career was full of extraordinary achievements, the highlight of which was receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for his frequent displays of gunnery skill during active service in the Korean War.
Long before this conflict, just before the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Andrew joined the Australian Navy as a 13 year old Cadet Midshipman and despite his young age, excelled in every aspect of training.
He received numerous awards for academic achievement, seamanship and sport, culminating with the prestigious King’s Medal as the Cadet Midshipmen who displayed the most exemplary conduct, performance of duty and leadership among peers.
After graduating in 1942, at the age of 17, Andrew served in HMAS Australia and HMAS Warramunga, conducting patrols and convoy escort duties in the Coral Sea, around New Guinea and off the east coast of Australia.
In 1944, then Midshipman Robertson went to England for his Sub Lieutenant’s course where true to form, he received seven first class certificates in seamanship, navigation, gunnery, torpedoes, signals, air operations and anti-submarine warfare.
The Royal Navy – wanting to use Andrew’s natural maritime skills – posted him to HMS Kimberley in the Aegean Sea, where the destroyer played a leading role in enforcing the surrender of German forces in the Dodecanese Islands in May 1945.
Returning to Australia later that year, Lieutenant Robertson joined the destroyer HMAS Bataan which was later deployed to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. During this time he walked over the nuclear bomb site at Hiroshima, shortly after the bomb was dropped.
In August 1947, Andrew joined HMAS Swan which was leading the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla and conducting mine clearance operations in Australia and New Guinea. Minesweeping was long, arduous and dangerous work as demonstrated by the loss of HMAS Warrnambool with four men killed in September 1947.
The following year, Lieutenant Robertson undertook the long gunnery course at HMS Excellent Whale Island in England and once again, graduated top of his class.
Not surprisingly, on return to Australia, Andrew was posted to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria as an instructor at the Gunnery School. However, he was not to remain there for long as his unique skills were needed on the newly commissioned destroyer HMAS Anzac, which only three months later, would form part of the United Nations response to the invasion of South Korea.
Immediately on arrival in the waters off South Korea in August 1951, Anzac was put to work and saw active service while conducting aircraft carrier escort duties and fired 1000 rounds of 4.5-inch ammunition at North Korean targets ashore. Anzac returned to Australia for a refit in October that year, but was back in action in Korea the following year, where the ship again saw active service in providing naval gunfire support.
Among numerous engagements with enemy forces, the most legendary fight occurred on 16 November 1952. Anzac was at anchor protecting the garrison on Cho Do when fired on by four 76mm guns hidden in caves over 10 kilometres away. According to naval historian Vice Admiral Peter Jones, soon rounds from the mountain guns were falling around Anzac. “In this perilous situation Anzac quickly slipped her cable leaving a buoy marking the anchor. Due to the nearby shoals Anzac was prevented from making a quick seaward escape,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“Fortunately, in a spirited fight Anzac’s guns found the caves’ entrances and the smoke and dust partly obscured the destroyer from the artillery. A running duel ensued for 23 minutes with Anzac firing 174 rounds with 50 from the enemy falling near the ship.” As Anzac’s Gunnery Officer, Lieutenant Robertson was an indispensable part of the ships many engagements with enemy forces, and for his service, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. According to the citation for his DSC, written in a typically understated style; ‘His calmness and disregard of personal danger when most effectively controlling the armament in a relatively prolonged action against an enemy coastal battery of four guns which hotly and accurately engaged HMAS Anzac on 16 November 1952 was most notable’.
Following the Korean War, Andrew was appointed the Australian Naval Liaison Officer in London, while simultaneously completing the Royal Navy Staff Course, and subsequently promoted to Commander in 1957.
After returning home, Commander Robertson undertook a wide range of senior appointments including Commanding Officer of HMA Ships Quickmatch and Yarra, Fleet Operations Officer, and Commander of First Frigate Squadron consisting of four River class vessels.
Rapid promotions followed, as did his level of responsibility for the quickly expanding Australian Navy including command of the fast troop transport HMAS Sydney, Commander First Australian Transport Squadron, and Commanding Officer HMAS Albatross, the Naval Air Station at Nowra New South Wales.
It was during this time that Commodore Robertson helped facilitate from Albatross the evacuation of more than 350 local residents who had been trapped in their homes after floods inundated the Nowra area. The lessons learnt from providing this disaster relief were called on four months later, when Albatross aircraft were used in the mass transit of supplies into, and people out, of Darwin following the devastation of cyclone Tracy in December 1974.
While commanding Albatross, Andrew initiated the establishment of the Australian Naval Aviation Museum, now the Fleet Air Arm Museum, which continued to benefit from his generosity and enthusiasm after his retirement. Not only did Andrew, in retirement, take an active role in procuring many of its unique exhibits, but he was also Chairman of the Committee to raise funds for and rebuild the Museum, raising with others many millions of dollars in cash and in-kind donations without which it would not have become Australia’s leading aviation museum.
L-R CAPT John Da Costa, VADM Sir James Willis, CMDR Peter Wright, RADM Andrew Robertson in a familiar mess dinner pose.
Andrew’s final promotion, to Rear Admiral, occurred in 1980 when he became Head Australian Defence Staff in the Australian High Commission in London, followed by Flag Officer Naval Support Command in Sydney. Naval Support Command was an extensive responsibility that oversaw the command and management of the majority of the RAN’s training and support bases, the Navy Supply Centre at Zetland, Sydney and the maintenance and upgrade program of all ships, submarines, aircraft and armaments. It was during this time that he was made a Freeman of the City of Sydney for enhancing the bond between Navy and the City.
Rear Admiral Robertson was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 1980 for service to the Royal Australian Navy and the Defence Force, particularly as Head Australian Defence Staff London.
Andrew retired from the RAN in early 1982 after 43 years of service. Maintaining a devotion to public service, he became Vice President of the Navy League of Australia, Councillor Order of Australia Association and Chairman of Old Sydney Town Pty Ltd amongst other activities.
Rear Admiral Robertson was also the driving force behind the conception and creation of the Australian National Maritime Museum and was named the Inaugural Honorary Fellow in 2016. Andrew was also awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for distinguished service to business and commerce.
At age 91, Andrew was the key instigator behind the Windjammer Sailors statue in Darling Harbour and at the time of his death, was a member of 18 organisations or associations, including as Patron of the HMAS Sydney Association and Training Ship Sydney for naval cadets.
Chief of Navy Australia Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO RAN, described Rear Admiral Robertson as a role model for what Navy officers can achieve in the most demanding of circumstances. “Rear Admiral Robertson always sought to fight through obstacles, and rose to all challenges both in war and peace,” Vice Admiral Noonan said. “One of our most admired leaders, his courage under pressure and calm demeanour in the face of adversity has set the benchmark for our Navy leaders now, and for generations to come.”
Rear Admiral Andrew Robertson is survived by his wife Patricia (Pat) and children Angus, Jane, Julia and Bruce.
At NSW Parliament House Lunch in December 2019. L-R Staff Lowe, Pat Robertson, Ralph Derbidge, Andrew Robertson
Australian National Maritime Museum Recognition of Rear Admiral Andrew Robertson’s Contribution.
The museum mourns the passing of one of its earliest champions
RADM Andrew Robertson was Deputy Convenor of the Advisory Committee for the Australian National Maritime Museum in 1985 and Deputy Chairman of the Interim Council from 1985 to 1988. He had profound input into the establishment and shaping of the museum. He drafted a proposed charter and influenced all aspects of the museum’s physical and museological planning. He was a generous donor and remained a strong supporter.
RADM Robertson was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the museum in 1991 and appointed as the museum’s first Honorary Fellow (the museum’s highest level of recognition) in 2016. The Director’s recommendation in support of this honour reads ‘His impact on the founding of the museum was profound and is enduring. Over and above RADM Robertson’s contribution to the museum, he is a person of the highest distinction and the museum would be well served by association with him. His achievements in his naval career and his honorary work for the Navy League of Australia and the HMAS Sydney Association are strongly aligned with the mission of the Australian National Maritime Museum.’
Kevin Sumption, Director and CEO, stated, ‘The Council and staff of the museum are saddened by the loss of our great friend RADM Robertson. He was one of our earliest champions and we bear daily witness to his legacy in the work we do here. The Windjammers Sailors statue, in the museum’s forecourt, was donated by RADM Robertson and is much loved by our visitors. Andrew and I would have lunch regularly at the Museum to discuss the Museum’s future. Andrew’s passion and enthusiasm was electrifying and his greatest interest was always in ensuring the next generation were better informed about our nation’s unique maritime history. Personally, Andrew was a wonderful inspiration to me and I feel blessed to have been considered a friend and will greatly miss his warmth, wit and incredible intellect. Our deepest condolences go to his family.’
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Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall Laid to Rest
Ian MacDougall being laid to rest at Marrawah in NW Tasmania alongside his wife who passed away in 2011
Australia’s most senior submariner and former Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC AFSM RAN, passed away on 1 July at age 82 in Tasmania.
Vice Admiral MacDougall joined the Royal Australian Navy a month before his 16th birthday when he commenced Midshipman training at the Royal Australian Naval College in 1954. Demonstrating a natural aptitude for leadership and seamanship, Midshipman MacDougall completed his Phase III training in the United Kingdom at the Royal Naval College in August 1957, before returning to Australia and joining the Battle Class Destroyer HMAS Anzac.
His natural abilities led to a series of rapid promotions over the next several years, as well as highly sought after postings to some of Navy’s most prestigious ships, including HMAS Vampire and aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne.
Initially specialising in the Supply Branch, his naval career took a dramatic turn in 1963 when he volunteered to be part of the first group of Australians to undertake submarine training to support the establishment of an RAN submarine service.
Writing the foreword to Michael White’s Australian Submarines: A History, he said that when volunteers were called to join the new submarine arm, “I jumped at the chance. The opportunity to enter a new and challenging area of the Navy was very attractive.”
Following almost three years of arduous but successful training in the United Kingdom on several Oberon Class Submarines, he was appointed in January 1966 as Executive Officer of the newly launched HMAS Oxley, the first Oberon Class Submarine built for the RAN.
By now, his exceptional submariner skills had been widely recognised and the newly promoted Lieutenant Commander was sent back to the United Kingdom in December 1968 to attend the Commanding Officers’ Qualification Course. His Teacher was Commander – later Admiral – Sir Sandy Woodward. After graduating, the Royal Navy, recognising his exceptional skills, offered a two year exchange which included service in HMS Neptune, becoming a Submarine Attack Teacher at the Faslane submarine base, and assuming command of HMS Otter.
Departing Ovens as Commander Submarine Squadron
Having learnt a great deal from the Royal Navy, Ian returned to Australia to command the submarine HMAS Onslow. Under his command, Onslow predominantly remained in Australian waters, and undertook a deployment to South East Asia attached to ANZUK Force in late 1972.
His XO in Onslow, Peter Horobin, said “In my experience many bosses say they like their subordinates to be accountable, but very few have the courage to let the person be fully accountable. For the submarine community, Ian was unique in that he always encouraged us to be accountable.”
Two years later, it was time for Ian to pass on his skills a new generation of home grown submariners, leading to promotion as Commander and service at HMAS Platypus and HMAS Watson as the Officer-in-Charge of the Submarine Command Team Trainer.
Following attendance at the US Naval War College, he was promoted to Captain and in January 1982 commenced three years as Director of Submarine Policy, before being appointed as the Commander Australian Submarine Squadron, the first Australian born naval officer to do so.
Selected for promotion to flag rank, Rear Admiral MacDougall assumed command of the Fleet in 1989 when he was appointed as Maritime Commander Australia. Shortly after completing this role in October 1990, the Minister for Defence announced that Rear Admiral MacDougall would succeed the long serving Vice Admiral Michael Hudson as Chief of Naval Staff.
Rear Admiral MacDougall was made an Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in the 1991 Australia Day Honours List in recognition of his service as Maritime Commander. Promoted to Vice Admiral in 1991, Ian served as Chief of Naval Staff for the next three years thereby becoming the first Submariner and the first Supply Officer to command the RAN.
Among many reforms initiated during his leadership, Vice Admiral MacDougall was a strong proponent of women serving at sea, including in submarines and put in place many of the reforms needed to make this workforce change a success. To Vice Admiral MacDougall, making Navy a diverse, equal and tolerant workplace wasn’t just the right thing to do. It would also make the RAN more innovative and resource efficient.
Vice Admiral MacDougall’s 40 years of service to the RAN was further honoured in 1993, when Ian was appointed as a Companion in the Military Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service and exceptional performance of duty, particularly as Chief of Naval Staff.
Wanting to maintain his commitment to public service, he accepted the role as the Commissioner New South Wales Fire Brigades in 1994, a post Ian retained until 2003, when he was decorated for his services with the Australian Fire Service Medal.
Vice Admiral MacDougall was also the Patron of the Australian Submarine Association and took a great interest in the welfare of former submariners.
Commander Submarine Force Captain Doug Theobald said that Vice Admiral MacDougall’s contribution to the development of Navy’s submarine capability could not be overstated. “Vice Admiral MacDougall will be greatly missed by the Navy community, especially by submariners past and present.” “We will never forget the essential role he played in the development of our submarine fleet and Australia’s reputation for having one of the world’s most formidable underwater naval capabilities,” said CAPT Theobald.
Chief of Navy Australia Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN also paid tribute to Vice Admiral MacDougall. “He was a modern naval officer, with the imagination to see things afresh and the courage to make changes. Australia’s Navy and its people are better and stronger for his service,” said Vice Admiral Noonan.
Vice Admiral MacDougall is survived by sons Hamish and Fergus and step sons Gideon and Daniel.
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