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Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Peek, former Chief of Naval Staff, Royal Australian Navy, describes his family background; Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, 1928; Flinders Naval Depot; experiences as midshipman; life on the "Canberra"; Mediterranean fleet; Australian & Britsih sailors; study in England; gunnery course, Whale Island; RN attitudes to RAN; navy pay cuts, 1930s; transfer to Albatross, 1938; transfer of Bank of England gold to Canada, WW2; naval watches; serving on "Revenge"; first radar; training officers at FND, WW2; appointment to "Hobart"; air raid Port Tewfik; Captain Harry Howden; Singapore, Java operations; Coral Sea battle; Solomons; battle of Savo Island; Sugar George Radar; joining "Australia"; Wilfred Harrington; Hal Farncomb; EFV Dechaineux; Philippines operations; kamikaze attacks; Director of Training and Staff Development, Navy Office; WRANS; leading victory contingent to London; Staff Officer, Operations and Intelligence; 50th Anniversary of Commonwealth.
Peek discusses the Korean War command of "Tobruk"; personnel matters; RAN loans; atomic tests Eniwetok, Bikini Atolls; exchange with British Admiralty; British nuclear submarines; Rosyth base; appointment as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff; equipment funding; Navy Fleet Arm; position as Flag Officer Commanding the Fleet; assessing captains; Naval ensign; Second Naval Officer; group pay; Chief of Naval Staff appointment, 1970; DDL destroyers; defence administration; army size; Sir Arthur Tange; Defence Dept. interference; choosing his successor.
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