COURT-MARTIALLED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 717, 18 December 1933, Page 2

COURT-MARTIALLED

("Post" Special Correspondent.)

OFFICER OF R.N. AIRCRAFT ' CARRIER DISMISSED HIS SHIP.

London, November 3. Lt.-Cmdr. G. F. Dixon, navigating officer in the aircraft-carrier H.M.S. Courageous, was sentenced at a courtmartial at Portsmouth yesterday to be ' -dismissed his ship and severely reprimanded. The C'ourageous, it was alleged, went aground off Great Yarmouth on Septemher 24, and was refloated by her own engines running astern. The charges against the officer were that: He negligently, or hy default, stranded the ship: he negligently, or by default, hazarded the ship. The president of the cuort, which consisted of three captains and two commanders, was Capt. C. E. Hotham. Capt. O. H. Dawson prosecuted and Lt.-Cmdr. J. H. Hallett defended. Lt.-Cmdr. Dixon pleaded not guilty. The circumstantial letter outlining th'e case for the prosecution was read by the Deputy Judge Advocate (Paymaster Captaip J. Siddalls). The President of the court, which 'from the Firth of Forth to Portsmouth. After passing the Farne Is/lands the course was so set that it was estimated the ship would pass fiv-e miles eastward of Smith's Knoll 'Lightship. She grounded at 6.23 p.m., and at 7.35 was refloated. Her speed when she struck was thirteen knots. No damage was done. Giving evidence, the accused officer said that the ship was on a dangerous course. If she had been stopped or her speed reduced, she might have drif.ted across the shoal. Capt. Egerton, captain of the Courageous, described the accused officer as a "capable-, experienced, loyal and painstaking officer and a reliahle pilot." ' The findings of the court w-ere, af'ter an hour's consideration, that the charges of negligently or by default •stranding and hazarding were proved in that such srtanding and hazarding were due to the accused omitting to 'make th'e best use of his sights, and 'also that the accused had omitted to use the largest scale chart.