in 1926, along with 11 other royal navy senior sailors, choules travelled to australia on loan as an instructor at flinders naval depot. he travelled in on a six-week voyage from london to melbourne, and it was on this voyage that he met his future wife ethel wildgoose who was travelling to australia to carry out work for the victoria league. choules decided to transfer permanently to the royal australian navy (ran) after sampling and agreeing with the australian way of life.