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On 10 February 1964, the HMAS Melbourne collided with the HMAS Voyager, resulting in the greatest loss of life in Australian peacetime history. While an initial Royal Commission found the incident inexplicable, lingering rumours suggested a state-orchestrated cover-up. Lieutenant Commander Peter Cabban, the Voyager’s former second-in-command, held the key to the truth.
Having resigned just weeks before the disaster, Cabban possessed damning knowledge regarding the erratic behaviour and alcoholism of the Voyager’s captain, Duncan Stevens. This gripping memoir chronicles Cabban’s harrowing journey from naval officer to the central witness in a second, ground-breaking Royal Commission. Breaking Ranks is an extraordinary account of personal integrity, revealing the duplicity and corruption lurking within the highest levels of the Australian government and Navy. Written with journalist David Salter, this definitive narrative exposes the scandal that rocked a nation. It is a powerful story of the immense courage required to blow the whistle and break ranks after a lifetime of service. This is an essential read for those interested in military history, institutional accountability, and the true cost of seeking justice against a powerful establishment.
Used (good, see images, some yellowing and some cover wear) Softcover ISBN 1740513150
