After the American Revolution, transportation of criminals from the overcrowded prisons in Britain to North America was no longer an option, so the Crown turned to Australia for those who didn’t quite merit capital punishment, but weren’t fit to serve in Her Majesty’s fleet.
The Australian navy plans to recruit up to 1,000 Royal Navy sailors facing redundancy under the Government’s defence cuts.
The Royal Australian Navy has sent a delegation to Britain to investigate the plan, which would look to recruit some of the 5,000 Royal Navy personnel due to lose their jobs over the next four years…
The Royal Navy is cutting up to 5,000 jobs reducing personnel numbers to just 30,000 as part of a plan to slash the defence budget.
No word as of yet whether Oz is considering offering the same opportunity to the nearly 17,000 British Army sojers being cut free.
How bout throwing in some cold iron too…..
In my time in RVN there was a former British turned Aussie Army officer serving with the AATTV…an odd duck at best … I got a quick lesson on what ” Pommy Bastard ” meant…clearly no love lost there…
…that said I think its fair to say that the Commonwealth Countries have historically served as an escape valve for excess/RIF’d British military personal. Best
nah pommy bastard is a term of endearment, the RN and RAN have a lot in common but not as much as they used to. It makes sense to grab as many of these guys as we can. Its certaintly not the first time, I think 1946 was the last time we took on a mass of RN sailors. and I know our state police forces have been recruiting pom coppers. with the right attitude they will fit in and flourish.
and for the guy who thought there might be a language problem, Australia ISNT the country to the south east of Germany
Wonder if any other RIF’ed sailors from (allegedly) ENglish speaking nations would have a chance? Many AMericans dream of emigrating to Oz, and on our present course, that may become even more appealing…
An RN of 30,000? Good God, what are they thinking? Just because they don’t want another major war in the future doesn’t mean it won’t come. I expectit to happen sometime in the next 15-20 years, when China decides to put the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere back in business. How short sighted and foolish. But reading Police Inspector Blog every day tells me that the only part of the UK govenment that is to recive funding is the welfare part. I shall miss the UK.
This reminds me of the best way to annoy an Australian Customs and Immigration officer. When he asks if you have ever been convicted of a felony, tell him something like, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that was still required!”
That’s just beautiful.
Seems like the whole goddammed British military is currently in yard sale mode-
USMC got their Harriers. China got their carrier…
and now for some reason Argentina wnats to contest the Falklands again.
*It’s a mystery really*
i wonder how they are going to handle teaching them the new language?
redc1c4:
Don’t know that it will be a problem. An Australian girl singer I met on a cruise ship a few years ago sang in American, but spoke Australian. With the proper motivation you would be surprised how fast a sailor can learn a new lingo.
Paul
The Aussies also need other skilled artisans at the moment, including car mechanics, joiners, sheet metal workers, chefs…..and if you happen to be a plumber they’ll even send you the bloody airline ticket…..I expect Jolly Jack tar will shake their hand off, but the cost of living down their has skied of late.
Do you think they would be interested in any former submariners?
- Former East Coast Submariner
YES!!!!
They certaintly will, if your slightly? crazy (all submariners are mad)and want to work in a non nuke
I know we are having a hard time getting sailors mad enough to crew our subs, so your odds are good, not sure who you would have to talk to tho to get the ball rolling.