 He was married in that year, to Mary Broughton, a trainee nurse based on Thursday Island, in Brisbane, in a glittering affair keenly reported in the local newspapers, which featured Rankin's naval officer friends – who called him 'Oscar' – forming an "arch of swords", for their friend and his bride to walk under as they entered the reception.On 30 March 1938 he was posted to Britain, to join HMS "Gleaner", a minesweeper, for surveying duties.Gaining a step in his survey career as Assistant Surveyor 2nd Class in July 1938, Rankin remained with "Gleaner" until 11 September 1939, when he was posted to the shore training establishment of HMS "Dryad", for a navigating course.