IN HIS DAY: CDRE Burnside, who led an active life in the RAN, before his sad passing.

By John Perryman – Senior Naval Historical Officer

Volume 49, No. 5, April 6, 2006

Commodore Ian Burnside OBE RAN Retd, recently passed away in Canberra.
CDRE Burnside joined the RAN as a Cadet Midshipman at the age of 13 on January 1, 1939 and undertook his initial training at the RAN College located at Flinders Naval Depot (HMAS Cerberus).

Between September 1942 and February 1944 he served at sea in the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and the Tribal Class destroyer HMAS Arunta seeing service in the Coral Sea, Solomon Islands and Papua and New Guinea areas as part of Allied Task Force (TF) 44 and later TF74.

Promoted Acting Sub-Lieutenant in February 1944 he travelled to the United Kingdom for further training, and on completion was loaned to the Royal Navy (RN) where he saw service in the Mediterranean as the Navigating Officer in the Hunt Class destroyer HMS Liddesdale. He returned to Australia in the British cruiser HMS Berwick in December 1945.

Having specialised in navigation, Burnside enjoyed an active post-war seagoing career in the RAN. His many postings included service in HMA Ships Shropshire, Shoalhaven, GPV 957, Barcoo, Quadrant, Vengeance and HMS Duchess whilst on loan to the RN.

In October 1958 he volunteered for hydrographic service in the Antarctic seeing service in the MV Thala Dan which surveyed much of Macquarie Island. He returned to the RAN fleet in late 1959 and saw further service as the Fleet Navigating Officer in HMAS Melbourne. Promoted Commander in December 1961 he was appointed in command of HMAS Duchess which had now been transferred to the RAN.

Further service saw him promoted to Acting Captain where he held the position as the Australian Defence Representative to the High Commission in Singapore. On returning to Australia he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Fleet Commander before taking command of the guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth. He saw active service in Vietnamese waters.
He was promoted to CDRE in 1977 and paid off in June 1979.