- Author
- Zammitt, Alan
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Australia II
- Publication
- June 1989 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
I feel I can assure you very confidently that Captain Armstrong would be acceptable to all sections and parties in this State, and that he possesses all those qualities which are so necessary in a candidate for appointment as Governor.
Finally, I submit for your earnest consideration that the people of New South Wales would gratefully appreciate the appointment of Captain Armstrong as a very gracious gesture of recognition on the part of His Majesty of the services rendered by the armed forces of Australia to the Allied cause.”
I shall be obliged if you will kindly transmit the above reply to Lord Addison by telegram.
Yours sincerely,
William McKell
Premier
Lord Cranborne and later Lord Addison of the Dominion Office in London wanted to appoint a person born in the United Kingdom and ruled Captain Armstrong out on account of his lack of seniority in the service. The only Australian of the seven names submitted acceptable to the Dominion Office was Lieutenant General Northcott.
In January 1946 Premier McKell received this cable from Lord Addison of the Dominion Office:
“Thank you very much for your message. I am sorry I have taken so long to reply to it, but matter is obviously one which has called for fullest consideration and many enquiries as you will understand. I was obliged to you for letting me have further names and I have considered each one of them very carefully.
The view I have reached is that of all these names including Captain Armstrong’s, Lieutenant-General Northcott is the most suitable candidate for appointment which we have in mind and would be indeed the only one of them whom on my present information I should feel confident to put to His Majesty.
Unfortunately however it is clear that on further enquiry General Northcott’s impending appointment to be Commander British Commonwealth Force which is to form part Garrison Japan would preclude possibility of his being available for some time to come.
In these circumstances I am glad to be able to let you know that a suggestion has been made to me with the King’s approval that in consideration special position New South Wales as premier State of Australia His Majesty would be prepared to make available for this appointment the Queen’s brother the Honourable Michael Bowes-Lyon. He is second surviving son of the late Earl of Strathmore and is aged fifty-three. I have personally gone into this suggestion very fully and have discussed it in an entirely provisional way with Mr Bowes-Lyon himself.
I can assure you with complete confidence that as a result I have formed the opinion that Mr Bowes-Lyon would be an exceptionally fortunate choice… I am certain Mr Bowes-Lyon would recognise obligations of Governor to all sections of the community and would act in most harmonious co-operation with Premier and State Government.
I am assured on all sides that his wife is in every way qualified to uphold duties and responsibilities falling to the wife of Governor of a State.
I am very happy to think that this solution has presented itself and sincerely hope the honour of having the Queen’s brother as Governor of State is one that would greatly appeal to you and your colleagues. I should be grateful for an early reply. Ends.”
Premier McKell saw Prime Minister Chifley and Lieutenant General Northcott and as a result Lieutenant General Northcott’s appointment as Governor was announced on 1st April 1946.
Interestingly two officers serving in “Australia” under Captain Armstrong when Premier McKell took passage in the ship were Lieut. Cdr. James Ramsay, RAN, who became the Governor of Queensland, and Lieut. Brian Murray, RAN who was to become Governor of Victoria.
In 1946 Naval Medical Officers classified Captain Armstrong unfit for sea service and this ended his chance of becoming an Admiral. During the postwar years he held important Naval appointments in Australia including 2nd Naval Member with the rank of Commodore and overseas posts in London and Washington.
Just as Vice-Admiral Sir John Collins, K.B.E., C.B., will always be linked with the cruiser “Sydney”, Rear-Admiral Farncomb, CB, DSO, MVO, Captain Dechaineaux and Captain Armstrong will always be linked with “Australia”. Captain Armstrong was the most popular captain I ever served with. The ‘Aussie’ was a very happy and efficient ship under his command. In harbour he would walk around the upper deck and come up and talk with the crew. At functions and reunions he was always happy to be photographed with the sailors and their wives or girl friends. They called him ‘Black Jack’ but looked upon him as a white man.
Vice-Admiral M.W. Hudson, A.C., RAN, the Chief of Naval Staff, wrote:
‘Jamie Armstrong was a very colourful naval identity who was a great advocate for the RAN. He will be missed. Senior Officers like him enjoyed a varied career ashore and at sea and gained a depth of experience that we envy in today’s Navy. Only a very professional officer such as Jamie could take command of a battered heavy cruiser like ‘Australia’, which was also mourning the loss of a very popular Captain in Emile Dechaineaux, and ensure the ship continued to function as a front-line combatant.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Assistance was gratefully received from Professor Armstrong, John Bastock, A.B. Kevin Bristow, Mr David Hopkins, Captain L.M. Hincliffe, D.S.C., RAN (Rtd), Mr Lew Lind, M.B.E., Lieut. Keith McCarron, P.O. Peter Simpson, Mrs M. Tydeman, Commander Alan Walsh, RAN, Lt. Commander Nev. Wyatt, RAN, Commander H.C. Wright, D.S.C. (Rtd), and Betty Wright.
Bibliography
C.P.P. J.J. Atkinson By Skill and Valour