Warramunga formed part of Australia's contribution to the United Nations forces engaged in the Korean War; Otto Becher was promoted to captain and awarded the Distinguished Service Order while carrying out operations in Korean waters.
16 Facts About Otto Becher
1.
2.
Otto Becher retired from the RAN in 1966, and died in 1977 at the age of 68.
3.
Otto Becher was born in Harvey, Western Australia, on 13 September 1908, to Francis Joseph Becher, an orchardist, and Antonia Amalie.
4.
Otto Becher was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant in September 1928; the rank was made substantive the following March.
5.
On 7 January 1935, Otto Becher married Valerie Chisholm Baird at St Michael's Anglican Church in Vaucluse, New South Wales; the couple had three sons.
6.
Otto Becher returned to Australia in early 1942, and from 17 May was appointed officer-in-charge of the gunnery school at HMAS Cerberus.
7.
Otto Becher was promoted to commander on 31 December 1944, and the following month Quickmatch was transferred to the recently established British Pacific Fleet.
8.
Otto Becher decided to sail up a channel of the Taedong River known as Short Cut, which according to his charts should have allowed him five to ten feet of clearance.
9.
Later, Otto Becher brought Warramunga alongside Bataan and entreated the latter's commander, via megaphone, to keep quiet about the incident.
10.
On 17 July 1951, it was announced that Otto Becher had been appointed as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Governor-General of Australia for a period of three years.
11.
In 1956, Otto Becher embarked for the United Kingdom to attend the Imperial Defence College.
12.
Otto Becher remained with Melbourne until December 1958, at which time he returned to the Navy Office at HMAS Lonsdale to resume his role as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
13.
Otto Becher was promoted to acting rear admiral on 3 January 1959, the rank being made substantive twelve months later.
14.
Otto Becher stated to the commission that Melbourne should have questioned Voyagers final movements; his evidence is alleged to have influenced the Royal Commissioner, Sir John Spicer, to place a degree of blame on Robertson.
15.
In 1965, Otto Becher assumed his final command as Flag Officer-in-Charge East Australia Area, before retiring from the Royal Australian Navy on 6 March 1966.
16.
On 15 June 1977, aged 68, Otto Becher died from a myocardial infarction at Sydney Hospital.