Alastair Mars
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Commander Alastair Campbell Gillespie Mars, DSO
, DSC
and Bar (1 January 1915-12 March 1985) was a Royal Navy
World War II
submarine commander. In 1952 he was court martialled and dismissed from the service under controversial circumstances and pursued a career as an author.
in 1932, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Norfolk
. Promoted to midshipman
in 1933 he was further promoted to acting sub-lieutenant
in January 1936. In December he was appointed to the submarine HMS Grampus
which was then building, and in April 1937 to HMS Swordfish
. He was promoted to lieutenant on his assignment to HMS Medway, the submarine depot ship of the China Station
. In April 1938 we has appointed to HMS Regulus
.
, in November 1941 he was appointed as commanding officer of HMS Unbroken
, which he served on until June 1943 on operations in the Mediterranean. From August 1943 until December 1943 he was a staff officer at HMS Dolphin
submarine base in Portsmouth. In December he was placed in command of HMS Thule
in the Far East, remaining there until November 1945.
, where Mars' pay of $39 per week as a lieutenant commander proved inadequate to support him, his wife and his two children. The Royal Navy spent four years arguing over an extra living allowance before it was paid. With a sick wife, he was then assigned to Hong Kong
where he was unable to afford even the single hotel room he rented. Becoming ill himself and heavily in debt, he returned to the United Kingdom and hospital. On his discharge he requested leave to try to put his finances in order but this was refused. He was ordered to report to Portsmouth but he wrote from his home in London to the Navy refusing to do so and requesting his retirement. He commented in his letter that "I do not wish to plague My Lords with a mass of detail mainly repugnant to them, It should be sufficient to say that I have lost faith in the present governmental hierarchy and all that goes with it".
He was arrested and court martialled for insubordination and absence without leave
, which resulted in his dismissal from the navy in June 1952. The controversy over his dismissal was the subject of a parliamentary question the following month, when the future prime minister James Callaghan
asked the then First Lord of the Admiralty whether Mars would receive his pension.
in 1985.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
and Bar (1 January 1915-12 March 1985) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
submarine commander. In 1952 he was court martialled and dismissed from the service under controversial circumstances and pursued a career as an author.
Early career
Mars joined the Royal Navy as a cadetCadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in 1932, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Norfolk
HMS Norfolk (78)
HMS Norfolk was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy; along with her sister ship , she was part of a planned four-ship subclass.She served throughout the Second World War....
. Promoted to midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1933 he was further promoted to acting sub-lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
in January 1936. In December he was appointed to the submarine HMS Grampus
HMS Grampus (N56)
HMS Grampus was the lead ship of her class of mine-laying submarine of the Royal Navy. She was built at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 25 February 1936. She served in the Second World War off China before moving to the Mediterranean Sea. She was sunk with all hands by the Regia Marina on 16 June...
which was then building, and in April 1937 to HMS Swordfish
HMS Swordfish (61S)
HMS Swordfish was a group one British S class submarine that was sunk on a combat patrol in the English Channel in November 1940 during the Second World War....
. He was promoted to lieutenant on his assignment to HMS Medway, the submarine depot ship of the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
. In April 1938 we has appointed to HMS Regulus
HMS Regulus (N88)
HMS Regulus was a Royal Navy Rainbow-class submarine built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness. Launched in 1930, the submarine was lost with its entire crew on 6 December 1940 during World War II whilst on patrol off Taranto, Italy. It was probably mined....
.
World War II
After spending a short period on HMS H44HMS H44
HMS H44 was an H-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was built by Armstrong Whitworth and launched on 17 February 1919. She served in the Second World War.She was sold in 1944 and was broken up at Troon in February 1945....
, in November 1941 he was appointed as commanding officer of HMS Unbroken
HMS Unbroken (P42)
HMS Unbroken was a Royal Navy U-class submarine built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, and part of the third group of that class. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Unbroken.-Career:...
, which he served on until June 1943 on operations in the Mediterranean. From August 1943 until December 1943 he was a staff officer at HMS Dolphin
HMS Dolphin shore-establishment
The seventeenth Royal Navy 'ship' to be named HMS Dolphin was the RN shore establishment sited at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport. Dolphin was the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service from 1904 to 1999, and location of the Royal Navy Submarine School....
submarine base in Portsmouth. In December he was placed in command of HMS Thule
HMS Thule (P325)
HMS Thule was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P325 at Devonport Dockyard, and launched on 22 October 1942...
in the Far East, remaining there until November 1945.
Postwar
After the war he was posted 1946 to HMS Dolphin but as eventually assigned to a post in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where Mars' pay of $39 per week as a lieutenant commander proved inadequate to support him, his wife and his two children. The Royal Navy spent four years arguing over an extra living allowance before it was paid. With a sick wife, he was then assigned to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
where he was unable to afford even the single hotel room he rented. Becoming ill himself and heavily in debt, he returned to the United Kingdom and hospital. On his discharge he requested leave to try to put his finances in order but this was refused. He was ordered to report to Portsmouth but he wrote from his home in London to the Navy refusing to do so and requesting his retirement. He commented in his letter that "I do not wish to plague My Lords with a mass of detail mainly repugnant to them, It should be sufficient to say that I have lost faith in the present governmental hierarchy and all that goes with it".
He was arrested and court martialled for insubordination and absence without leave
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
, which resulted in his dismissal from the navy in June 1952. The controversy over his dismissal was the subject of a parliamentary question the following month, when the future prime minister James Callaghan
James Callaghan
Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980...
asked the then First Lord of the Admiralty whether Mars would receive his pension.
Author
Following his dismissal he became a successful author, publishing several autobiographical works and novels. He died in IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
in 1985.