Submarines
Association
Australia
Vale
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The Submarines Association of Australia is saddened to advise of the passing of member Robert "Jock" Wilson.
Jock was born in Gourock, Scotland, in October 1936, just eight kilometres from where six Australian submarines would ultimately be built. He grew up on the Clyde during the Second World War, when the area was under regular attack from the Luftwaffe and was also a major shipbuilding and repair centre. In the mid-1950s, Jock emigrated from Scotland to Australia on his own, travelling on the SS Esperance Bay under a sponsorship arrangement with his aunt. He initially worked in farming, including dairying in the Hunter Valley, NSW. His first experience of military life came as a National Serviceman in the Army. Australia's 1951 National Service Act required 18-year-old men to register for 176 days of compulsory military training. Navy recruits completed this by undertaking 98 days of continuous full-time basic training within the Australian Regular Army, followed by 78 days of part-time training spread across three years with the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). Having had a brief taste of military life, Jock enlisted in the RAN in July 1959 at HMAS Rushcutter on a nine-year engagement. On enlistment, he was credited with his 98 days served as a National Serviceman towards his first Good Conduct Badge. He was rated as a Recruit Mechanic Engineering (ME) and, after six months of training at HMAS Cerberus, joined his first ship, the survey ship HMAS Barcoo. Barcoo was a World War Two vintage converted frigate that had only recently been reactivated from Reserve and was still being outfitted for survey duties when Jock joined. He served on Barcoo throughout 1960, during which time the aging ship conducted surveys of Lord Howe Island and the Mid-North Coast of NSW, spending extensive periods operating out of Coffs Harbour, where he would retire decades later. He completed his ME2 examinations in August 1960, one of eight sailors who passed on that day. While serving on Barcoo, he was rated as an ME 2nd Class (Ordinary Seaman).His next ship was the light fleet aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, where he served for two years. It was a busy period, with the ship participating in multiple exercises as well as deploying as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve. Jock was rated as an ME1 (Able Seaman) in March 1961 and as an Acting LME in November 1962. He was confirmed in rank twelve months later while serving in HMAS Waterhen. He returned to Melbourne in early 1964 and was serving onboard the carrier at the time of her disastrous collision with the Daring Class Destroyer HMAS Voyager, an event that affected him greatly. At the end of 1964, he was promoted to Acting POME and selected for Mechanician Training at HMAS Nirimba.
Mechanician Training was a highly selective opportunity for Marine Engineering sailors to obtain full trade qualifications and cross over to the Artificer Branch. It meant that sailors could progress to taking charge of an engine room and ultimately to becoming a Chief Mechanician, the equivalent of a Chief Engine Room Artificer (CERA). Whilst on course at Nirimba, he married his wife, Marjorie. Marjorie was a fellow Scot, from the same region of Scotland as Jock. He successfully completed his Mechanician training at HMAS Nirimba in late 1966 and was rated as an Acting Mechanician 2nd Class. He completed his mechanician training on the tanker HMAS Supply in August 1967, when he was awarded his Engine Room Watchkeeping Certificate. It was around this time that Jock volunteered for service in submarines.
In late 1967, Jock travelled to the UK, where he undertook submarine training at HMS Dolphin in Gosport, England. This was followed by a period at sea on the Porpoise Class submarine HMS Sealion from March to December 1968, where he qualified as a submariner and was awarded his Dolphins. In February 1968, while under training at Dolphin, he was advanced to Mechanician (Diesel) 1st Class (Chief Petty Officer). He returned to Australia in early 1969 and, after Foreign Service leave, joined HMAS Oxley, where he served for over two years. Whilst posted to Oxley, he completed his CERA's Qualifying Course in May 1971 and, with the new rating system, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer Marine Technician Propulsion Grade 4 Submarines (CPOMTP4SM). Now an experienced submariner, Jock returned to the United Kingdom on the Achille Lauro in August 1971 to serve on the Staff of Flag Officer Submarines at HMS Dolphin for two years. His job was as the conventional (Diesel) Submarine Desk Chief, responsible for the oversight of maintenance documentation and technical investigations for the entire Royal Navy's fleet of 21 Porpoise and Oberon submarines. This was a challenging and rewarding posting for any senior rating, and it was supposed to be followed by a posting as the Commissioning CERA of HMAS Orion, building at Scott Lithgow Dockyard just down the road from where he was born. Because of delays in Orion and HMAS Otama's construction, he remained at Dolphin, making regular visits to Scotts to conduct tests and trials. He eventually moved to Scotland full time, where he became responsible for both HMAS Orion and Otama.
The family returned to Australia in late 1975, where Jock served ashore in HMAS Platypus before posting to HMAS Otway in 1976 as her CERA — the second in charge of her Marine Engineering Department. This posting was followed by a posting to the Directorate of Submarine Maintenance and Repair in Navy Office in Canberra, initially as a CPOMTP4SM and later as a Warrant Officer. Jock returned to Platypus in 1978, before he retired in 1979. He purchased a farm near Bonville on the NSW Mid-North Coast, where he grew Kiwi Fruit and Tahitian Limes, whilst working in the irrigation industry primarily within the burgeoning blueberry industry. On retirement, Jock and Marjorie moved to Victoria to be closer to their children and grandchildren, before returning to the Mid-North Coast to live at Boambee, just outside of Coffs Harbour in Northern NSW.
Warrant Officer Robert "Jock" Wilson passed away in Coffs Harbour on the 3rd of October 2026 after a long battle with illness. At the time of his death he was probably the oldest SAA member who had started his career in the RAN. The SAA extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife Marjorie, his sons Andrew and Bill, his three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and his wider family and friends. He was predeceased by his son David.Funeral details will be advised when known.
Complied by
Tony Vine
National Secretary –
Submarines Association of Australia
5 October 2026
