Instruments and Observations (continued)

Cornish describes how he incurred Warren's wrath when he expressed doubts about the wisdom of acquiring the naval radars. The Bureau's experience with the radars was to justify the doubts of Cornish but Warren's judgement was also correct because radar wind-finders were badly needed and it would be some considerable time before such instruments became commercially available.

Cornish (1996) tells how he sought other employment opportunities after his difference of opinion with Warren and how he accepted a position with the Research Laboratory of the PMG's Department. This was a serious loss to the Bureau. George Elston, a member of Cornish's staff, temporarily became head of the Instrument Section but being a member of the wartime staff, was demobilised. The responsibility of taking control was given to my friend and colleague of the 1940 training course H. W. A. N. (Bill) Brann.

Before joining the Bureau's forecasters' training course in 1940 Bill Brann was science master at Ballarat High School. He had a B.Sc. degree from the University of Melbourne with majors in chemistry, physics and pure mathematics. I remember Bill well from our 1940 training course. Contrasting with the exuberance of those like Bryan Rofe and Jim Williams, Bill was reserved, serious and studious. Most of us on the course were in our early 20s and unmarried. Bill, Harry Ashton and W. J. (Greenie) Greenfield were older and married. Bill was 29.

On completion of the forecasters' course in September 1940 Bill worked as a forecaster at Western Junction, Essendon and Sydney before donning RAAF uniform as a commissioned officer of the RAAF Meteorological Service. He then saw service as a forecaster with the RAAF at Mount Gambier.

With the expansion of the Instrument Section, Bill was placed in charge of a workshop and laboratory in Shepherd House in Melbourne in 1944–45. He had the rank of flight lieutenant and a staff of RAAF instrument makers and technicians.

Bureau of Meteorology