ISSUE 76 : May/Jun - 1989 - Australian Defence Force Journal

',4 DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL No. 76 May/June 89some of the privileged few who have done both.This is a very witty and personal history of theSpecial Boat Section (SBS) of the Army Commandos.SBS was composed of and led mostlyby a larrikin element who successfully replacedconventional wisdom with sheer commonsense. As a tribute to Roger Courtney, theunit's founder and author's brother, and in itsaccuracy, the book stands alone as a reliablesource on the SBS.Jumbo Courtney's description of submarinesoldiering is at once instructional, humorousand interesting. The detachment of canoesoldiers to submarines effectively increased theability of submarine captains to extend their influenceinto shallow water and ashore. Thislesson has not been lost on other countries andits application in the Australian SubmarineSquadron can only enhance its effectiveness.Historically, it seems, common sense has solvedproblems more effectively than equipment. Oneexception to this was an infra red signallingdevice called a monocular which is not yet onissue in Australia.The author has been very kind to Australiansin this book and if a self-confessed 'sleazy,charming pommie' is prepared to declare us ingeniousand humorous then 1, for one, am notprepared to differ. The prospect of future workby Jumbo Courtney on Australian specialoperations is pleasing, particularly if he continueshis style, depth of research and humour.1 strongly recommend this book and look forwardto more of Courtney's work. MAUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENCE: COL­ONY TO RELUCTANT KINGDOM. By W.J.Hudson and M.P. Sharp. Melbourne UniversityPress, 1988. 153pp.Reviewed by Lieutenant R.M.O. Hawke,RANTHIS book deals with a subject which, surprisingly,most Australians have littleknowledge, and when prompted for an opinion,either express ignorance or completemisunderstanding. The central argument of theauthors, both members of the Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade, is that independencecame to Australia with the passingof the Statute of Westminster in December1931.Although 1901 saw Federation and the Constitutionbrought into being, Australia was stilldependent upon the United Kingdom. Whilstthis dependence had a definite legal status,Australian political leaders were content to ignorethis legal status and rely upon more tangible,and, to their mind, realistic bases for continuingdependence. Quite simply, Australialooked to the United Kingdom for economicprosperity and defence. Independence wasneither wanted nor needed.It was supposedly always a future goal forour early leaders that Australia would becomeindependent. Nevertheless, it was never activelysought and was indeed thrust upon us. Independencewas given in three phases between1917 and 1931; with the United Kingdom surrenderingcontrol over dominion diplomacy,their executive governments and finallylegislative control. The authors show that it wasa combination of the efforts of three "radical"dominions, Canada, South Africa and the IrishFree State, which gave independence to alldominions, including a reluctant Australia.Together with this examination of the processof independence, the book also focuses uponthe role of numerous Australian politicalfigures and their efforts to stem, or at least slowdown the process.In retrospect, it is hard to understand whythis subject has not received closer attention inthe past. Be that as it may, this work fills anoticeable gap in Australian historical and legalstudy, and does it well.U