 Becher was promoted to acting sub @-@ lieutenant in September 1928 ; the rank was made substantive the following March . He returned to Australia in January 1930 and was raised to lieutenant , gaining further seafaring experience over the next two years on HMAS Australia and HMAS Canberra . Deciding to specialise in gunnery , he attended an advanced course at the Royal Navy 's gunnery school at HMS Excellent in England from 1932 until 1934 . Returning to Australia after completing the course , on 7 January 1935 , Becher married Valerie Chisholm Baird at St Michael 's Anglican Church in Vaucluse , New South Wales ; the couple would have three sons . 
