How to join the Australian Merchant Navy

[Doc Vernon]

Jimmy
I know that your first choice is the Merchant Navy,however have you thought at all about the RAF ? Just wondering as that too is a fine career for a Young Man! Also can of course go into the Communications Branch ,and work with Radio etc!
As said just wondering!
Cheers

I landed up doing Ground to Air Communication in Aden for a stint .
Did my Basic Training at Bridgnorth,the on to Compton Basset for the Wireless Operators Course,and finally to Innsworth where we awaited Shipment to Aden.

[Jimmy Shaw]

Actually, I used to want to join the RAAF as a pilot, but for a while now I've been enticed by the sea! I still like aviation, but want to go to sea for while first. You see, I did a fair bit of flying, but usually got airsick, but the sea doesn't seem to affect me so much. It will always be on my list, as a possibility.
Thanks for the options.

Cheers,
Jim

[j.sabourn]

Biggles was all the rage 70 years ago. I had read all his books by then. Flying officer Bigglesworth with his staunch allies ginger and snowy or were they Dic Barton’s special friends. Have never sighted any publications in latter years so if you have the originals are probably collectors items. JS

[j.sabourn]

#38... Vernon the last recollection Ihave of a radio operator with his Morse code was in 1982 whilst working with the Navy. On 1982 I was issued with a restricted licence to operate a radiotelephone station and a ship earth station under a licence by the Secretary of State.
Later in 1991 was issued with a general cert. in Radiotelephony which replacedthe former.
Then in 1999 with the general operator certificate for GMDSS. Others may have acquired these long before me, as Served a lot of time on old tonnage However it. Goes back a lot of years since Morse was used at Sea for practical purposes. Cheers JWS.

[robpage]

I have fond memories of the sparky , you would tune in your shortwave radio , ignoring Radio Moscow and Voice of America to get BBC World Service always the weakest signal , the news would start then the sparks would dot dot dash all over everything else

[j.sabourn]

The Merchant Navy Program was worth sometimes listening to as well Rob. JWS.

[John Arton]

Morse is not entirely dead at sea as it is still part of the signals part of O.O.W. certificate but is only used on the signalling lamp. Wireless Morse disappeared in 99 with the introduction of GMDSS.
Rgds
J.A.