RANCA NSW
Extracts and headlines from Corvette starting 1986
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Meeting of RANCA (NSW) at Gosford with following dinner, overnight stay and coach tour
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Meeting of HMAS Junee association at Geelong with dinner, watching VFL match, sightseeing and Dawn Parade.
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RANCA (SA) AGM
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RANCA (WA) AGM
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A request was issued for members ex Warrnambool to join together and form a Warrnambool association.
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Whyalla Council proposes Maritime Museum (on dry land) with HMAS WHYALLA as centerpiece
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The RANCA (NSW) Ladies auxiliary was launched
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75th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy with 27 ships from 7 nations in Sydney Harbour
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HMAS Lismore re-union at Beenleigh
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Victorian National re-union of Corvette Sailors
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HMAS Strahan association was established. Three day re-union at the town of Strahan, Tasmania.
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HMAS Whyalla was finally established as the centre piece of the Maritime tourist complex.
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RANCA (NSW) AGM
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National re-union of Corvette sailors in Brisbane 14 September 1988. In Anzac square Brisbane about 1,000 excited corvette people milled around looking for shipmates of earlier years. Following the service special trains carried them to the entertainment centre at Boondall. The catering and service were faultless and everyone was sorry to embark in the trains for their return to Brisbane.
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On Friday 15 September more than 1000 ex-Corvette men and partners assembled in Newstead Park at the fine memorial to our ships and those of our shipmates who have died. Following the service everybody moved to a barbeque area and assembled mostly in ship’s groups. Again everything proceeded without a hitch, but the most important thing was the joy of meeting again with our comrades of our days at sea.
The following is an article of the then editor Cliff Stevens
THE GREAT QUEENSLAND CRINGE
This writer loves Australia, the people with whom he grew up, those with whom he served his children and his grandchildren. His dearest wish was that our grandchildren would inherit this wonderful land, as we did. He only contempt for those greedy and uncaring people who, for their own selfish short-term advantage are disposing of their land, its resources and enterprises to overseas interests, using as spurious excuses the express “progress”, “development’, “balance of trade”, etc. and so, bequeathing to future generations depleted assets and greater debts as profits commence to flow out of this country.
Your editor recently returned from Queensland elated by the comradeship of the magnificent National re-union functions, yet depressed having seen how the people of that state cringe for the Japanese yen. So many of the large hotels, motels, tourist resorts, enterprises, resources are now owned or controlled by Japan. Even though the rate of further acquisition is frightening, it is still encouraged by Governments and big business generally. The streets in major Qld cities and town are named in both English and Japanese, menus in hotels and restaurants and directions in public places (in Japanese, not in any other languages)
What has happened to us? Australians were once a proud people.
1989
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RANCA (NSW) following the very successful regional meeting at Gosford it was decided to have the next meeting at Ballina with dinner dance and sightseeing tour.
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The RANCA (NSW) Memorial Appeal Committee (now dispersed) group which raised the funds for the installation of the memorial window in Garden Island dockyard chapel, arranged the service for its dedication and the magnificent re-union in No. 2 Shed Woolloomooloo the previous evening, who convened the first meeting of the RANCA, had a most enjoyable dinner at the Food School Technical College on 15 August. It was good to see this committee together again after 8 years.
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The Corvettes Annual Church Service at Garden Island on 21 October was attended by 140 ex-sailors and family members and guests of Honour.
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HMAS Deloraine’s destruction for the Japanese submarine on 21 Jan 1941 was remembered at a recent ceremony at HMAS Watson.
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HMAS Bundaberg Association was seeking information as to members of ship’s company who have changed address or just gone drunk and adrift and news of any newly located shipmates, in order that they can arrange a get-together soon.
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Notice of trying to locate thousands of corvette sailors who have not been traced as yet.
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HMAS Burnie sailors. Proposal that the Tasmanian town of Burnie be elevated to the classification as a city. For the city’s records the Council seeks to list names, addresses and ranks/ratings of all who at any time served in this ship. Including names and addresses of widows of those who have died.
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Don Lawson ex HMAS Armidale wrote shortly before he died, expressing pleasure that Frank Walker intends to write the story of Armidale.
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A member ex HMAS Tamworth sent a donation to prevent “Corvette going down the drain”.
He continues: I look forward to my copy of Corvette and I read every word and search for names that I associate with ships I served in. My first reading usually takes two bottle of home brew, then the following afternoon I study it again .... another bottle or two”. Comment from the then editor: your committee, Fred, is not sure how to take that. Is Corvette an excuse for a beer or two, or does it, like medicine, need something to wash it down?
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HMAS Goulburn – members trying to form an association und are looking for further sailors.
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Advertisement for “The Mystery of X-5 by Frank Walker
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HMAS Armidale – Frank Walker is looking for material, diaries, letters etc. and information as to the ship and those who sailed in her.
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HMAS Bendigo association get together was a very successful event with 95 members and guests.
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HMAS Ipswich association held their ships re-union at Tennans Hotel, Brisbane. It too was a grand occasion, made immeasurably better by the attendance of several shipmates whom we had not seen for 43 years.
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ANZAC DAY 1989 Sydney. Besides all necessary information the editor of Corvette added the following: Let us all march proudly – let us show all who see that we, unlike many, are proud of our country, our heritage and the men and the service with whom we served. Last year the standard of marching was good. This year can we do even better? Please pay attention to the following details:
The Ensign – erect and its bearers drill-perfect
The Banner – erect and taut. Its bearers drill-perfect
The Spacing – Unit Commander – 4 paces behind unit in front
Banner (with Ensign on right) 3 paces behind Commander
Leading section of five – 2 ½ paces behind banner.
March discipline:
Keep in step, despite conflicting bands
Maintain spacing and dressing
March by the right, except when wheeling left
MARCH PROUDLY
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At the Regional meeting at Ballina a very important issue was raised by a member ex HMAS Burnie and HMAS Cessnock, who now lived at Grafton. He believed that RANCA should URGENTLY adopt a firm policy in opposition of the sale of Australia’s assets industries and Real Estate to foreign owners. He presented the following facts:
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That Japan has acquired 43% interest in Gilbertson’s Meat Works which control 35 plants around Australia.
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That ten billion dollars’ worth of real estate has, within the past year, passed to foreign ownership
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That the Japanese are setting up large supermarkets to be staffed by young Japanese to cater for tourists from their country
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That Japanese have purchased, outright, five abattoirs licensed to export and that a new $ 35,000,000 abattoir is to be built in the Riverina to process Japanese owned cattle for export to Japan.
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And, as well know, Japanese interest already own a number of huge grazing properties in Australia’s north.
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This matter will be debated at the AGM on 9 May 1989
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HMAS Goulburn newly formed association is expanding rapidly
*** RECENT EVENTS. ***
THE BICENTENNIAL NAVAL SALUTE programme is now history - the like of which will not recur in our lifetime .
From the Major Fleet Entry on 26 September 1988, the Battleship and Aircraft Carrier Entry on 27 September, the Major Naval march on 29th, the dozens of official and social occasions to the magnificent International Naval Review on 1 October, the Navy again lived up to our highest expectations and confirmed our pride in the Service whose uniform we once wore.
Sydney Harbour - 1 October 1988. A perfect Spring Day. Just enough breeze to sparkle the waters.
In and around the harbour at their appointed berths or anchorages were 53 warships of 16 nations.
It seemed that every small craft from many miles around Sydney which was even capable of floating was in Port Jackson, crowded with passengers and jockeying for the best viewing position.
Every vantage point overlooking the harbour, every building, all foreshores, parks, wharves, etc. were crowded with people eager to see the finest Naval Review in Australia's history.
At the commencement HMS COOK, with Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York on board and flying the Royal. Standard, lay between Benelong Point and Kirribilli as the First Flag Line of seven major ships led by HMAS HOBART, steamed past with ships companies 'cheering ship ''. COOK then proceeded to Bradleys Head, reviewing ships at anchor en route. There, the ten vessels of the Small Ships Line steamed past "cheering ship” as they came abeam.
COOK then proceeded on review of more ships at anchor taking up position between Bradleys Head and Point Piper, to accept the salute from the Second Flag Line (six major ships)as they steamed past. Following which COOK completed the review of the static ships in the southern part of Port Jackson. What an impressive ceremony it was.
The Corvettes Association obtained the UTA ferry, LADY STREET, for the occasion and so all of us had a close-up view of the entire proceedings and were able to inspect all the warships at their anchorages. It was an exciting day.
VISIT TO U.S.S. NEW JERSEY. At rather short notice our Association received an invitation for thirty of us to visit this ship. We who were so fortunate as to accept this offer were very impressed.
THE ORGANISER WHINGES
The luncheon on 21 August in the Junior Sailors Mess, HMAS KUTTABUL, was a very pleasant occasion and excellent value. Your Committee, in good faith, accepted bookings without demanding cash in advance. TWENTY FOUR failed to attend. FAIR GO!! Shipmates. We had to pay for your food. It would be nice if those who overlooked the matter contacted our worthy treasurer.
HMAS LISMORE Association - Thanks to their newsletter writer for his help to expand and update our National Register with four new names.
HMAS ROCKHAMPTON Personnel - Why not form your own ship association? Contact Ron Audet who is willing to help. Please get in touch with Ron ASAP.
HMAS GOULBURN - 30 ex Goulburn men are forming an association and have already been invited by the Mayor of Goulburn and president of RSL Goulburn to play a prominent role in the Anzac march.
HMAS WAGGA Association reports that their re-union at Wagga last Anzac Day was a very memoriable weekend, with a memorial plaque was unveiled during the service at Victory Memorial Gardens
POSITIONS VACANT
Commercial Artist - Ticket writers
Salaries - The gratitude of your shipmates
Duties - to design and produce promotional material for the
upcoming 7th National Re-Union of Corvette Sailors October 1990
HMAS MILDURA Association - Re-Union 24/25 and 26 April
HMAS ECHUCA Association – the 4th National Re-union at Echuca 21 to 25th April
HMAS GOULBURN Association – 24th to 26th April at Goulburn Soldiers Club
HMAS GAWLER Association – 24th to 26th April also at Goulburn
HMAS SHEPPARTON Association – 24th to 26th April at Shepparton
MISSING SHIPMATES
There are thousands of them.
The National Register of ex-corvette personnel at present lists less than 5,000. A pretty good guess would lead us to believe that there are more than 10,000 still living which we have not traced.
PLEASE HELP YOUR COMMITTEE TO SEEK THESE SHIPMATES.
Who do you know we have not listed? Please look around. Inquire at your clubs, perhaps a notice on the notice board? What about retirement villages, letters to your local newspapers etc.?
Corvette magazine April 1989
THE ITEM THE EDITOR DID NOT WANT TO PRINT
Our worthy Editor and Organiser, Cliff Stevens, was awarded a well-earned and justly deserved ORDER OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL IN THE LAST New Year Honours List.
President Jack Thompson and his fellow committee members extend their sincere congratulations. They know their sentiments will be shared by all members of the Association and recipients of this newsletter.
POSITIONS VACANT
Tax free Salaries
Journalist - or one with a flair for interesting prose, to assist in the preparation of “releases” and feature articles for press and radio.
Helpers - We need two or three with planning ability to take over critical areas of the lead-up to and conduct, of the National re-Union. Men with own business ability or experience should be ideal.
General - Most important. Shipmates who are willing to help wherever and whenever needed.
Commercial Artist
Ticket writers
PLEASE SHIPMATES – CONTACT THE ORGANISER WITHOUT DELAY
Corvette Magazine October 1989
THEY ASK US - "WHY DID THE CORVETTE ASSOCIATION COME INTO BEING?"
Australia was at war, our shipping in peril. There was the threat of invasion, the loss of our freedom, the destruction of our cities and our loved ones
Young men, mere boys in age, yet giants in courage, dedication and patriotism, flocked to the aid of the thinly spread professional servicemen who faced a challenge immeasurably too great for their meagre numbers.
They surrendered the safety, comfort and financial gains of wartime civilian life, the company of their wives, families and friends. They endured, without complaint, the crowded conditions, sea sickness, ever-present danger.
They stood their night watches, often soaked to the skin, bearing the agony of extreme cold for full four hours or more. The engine room and boiler room crews in tropics were sweating in temperatures of 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit - tools and wheel spanners too hot for the naked hand.
There was the tenseness of look-out duty knowing that, to survive, they must sight the enemy ship or plane before it saw them. The Asdic operator in his little cabinet seeking an echo from the enemy submarine lest the first indication of its presence be a torpedo explosion; And the monotony of the cruising gun's crew standing by its weapon in all weathers awaiting the dreaded alarm which, at least, would relieve their boredom.
During the night, the clamour of the alarm bells! Scrambling into clothing, anti-flash gear, Mae Wests, scared, excited, adrenalin pumping, rushing to action stations, yet, at their quarters, disciplined, icy-calm, efficient.
In the magazine, deep in the bowels of the ship, the crewmen experienced the claustrophobic anxiety - not knowing what was happening - as they felt the shock of their ship 's guns and the sledgehammer blows on the hull as depth charges and near-miss bombs exploded.
The Captain and the Officer of the Watch must always be conscious that the survival of ship, ship's company and convoy depended too upon their efficiency and correct reaction to emergency. Always there was the knowledge that the life of every man depended upon the competence, care and unselfishness of every one of his shipmates.
On rare occasions, these men would go ashore together to enjoy brief taste of relaxation and life's pleasures. Maybe some would get into trouble, but never would they let down ship or shipmate. Yes, it was inevitable that one day we would come together again to renew this comradeship. And so has developed this Corvettes Association.
No one who has not shared the experiences of a sailor, not even his loved ones, would ever be able to quite understand - or be part of this comradeship of shared trust, hardship and danger.
Corvette Magazine November 1989
Chain of Command from George Woods
ADMIRAL Leaps tall buildings with a single bound
Is more powerful than a locomotive
Is faster than a speeding bullet
Gives policy to God
CAPTAIN Leaps short buildings with a single bound
Is more powerful than a switch engine
Is just as fast as a speeding bullet
Walks on water if sea is calm.
Talks with God
COMMANDER Leaps short building with a running start and favourable winds
Is almost as powerful as a switch engine
Is faster than a speeding BB
Walks on water in indoor swimming pools
Talks with God if special request chit is approved
LIEUTENANT Barely clears Quonset huts
COMMANDER Loses tup of war with locomotive
Swims well
Is occasionally addressed by God
LIEUTENANT Makes high marks when trying to leap building
Is run over by locomotives
Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self-injury
Dog paddles
Talks to animals
SUB LIEUTENANT Runs into buildings
Recognises locomotives two out of three times
Is not issued ammunition
Can stay afloat if properly instructed in the Mae West
Talks to walls
MIDSHIPMAN Falls over doorsteps when trying to enter buildings
Says: “Look at the Choo Choo”
Plays in mud puddles
Mumbles to himself
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER Lifts buildings and walks under them
Kicks locomotives off the tracks
Catches speeding bullets in his teeth and eats them
Freezes water with a single glance
HE IS GOD
Extract from Corvette Magazine January 1990
QUEENSLAND STATE REUNION LUNCHEON
Attention Northern NSW members
We understand that they will admit invaders from the PREMIER STATE.
Lennons Hotel, Sunday 18 February
Contact Hon Secretary RANCA Mt. Gravatt QLD
SEND OUT THE SMALL SHIPS
The shipyards all are sleeping now,
gone is the sound of riving;
The moss and sedge are creeping now,
around barren slipways clinging.
The sea birds preen and strut at ease
o'er the empty dry dock basin
whence ships built for the Seven Seas
were sent to their wartime station.
And Captains, our ghostly Captains,
muster again their phantom crews
to sail once more the racked sea lanes,
ears tuned to drumming spectral screws.
There was time at Corvette launching
for cheers and a Benediction;
fifty years on …. and I'm paunching!
Have I time for Valediction?
'Send out a small ship
She can play THIS game!
One of our corvettes!
Send out what’s-it-name?'
Asdic rating's set is pinging –
Nippon submarine down below.
'ACTION STATIONS! ' Telegraph ringing.
'Full ahead both! Steer 0 - 9 - 0!'
Over the gyro the Captain is bent:
'Four inch and light guns closed up, Sir!'
Depth charge crew waits, grimly intent,
For ‘FIRE ONE!' from their Officer.
The Sick Berth Tiffy's standing by –
the munition party's ready;
a young 0/D blinks, wipes his eye -
Cox swain grins, says: 'Now lad! STEADY!'
The charges dropped…... sank deep below
and the shock and the blast were cruel,
finding their mark on lurking foe….
DEATH came with a bubbling of fuel.
'Send out the small ship…
they won't sink a ‘blue’!
We bagged out first sub.
January ‘forty-two!
The Top Brass in their Melbourne dome
poured across their Admiralty charts,
as Navy boys farewelled their home,
to leave behind lamenting hearts;
for some would fall from shot and shell
in battle, there's no denying!
Whose names and glory (who could tell?)
would in ocean depths be lying?
For in the first twelve months of war
incredible though it may seem,
seven hundred allied ships and more
were lost to the German regime
And the call went out, loud and clear,
'Swing those slipways into action!
And, young man, won't you volunteer
to help your beleaguered nation?’.
Send out the small ships –
Let them earn their pay
Four hours watch-about
On five bob a day!
Oh, those were days! The fearful dread of warfare ever pervading ….
yet, in recall, it must be said
the good times are slower-fading.
But there was work which must be done
though the final cost would be high -
clearing seas 'neath out tropic sun....
and hostile planes from Darwin’s sky.
Many a small ship felt the crash
of the enemy fire and flame;
Armidale drew the bombers' lash –
died: yet…. immortal is her name!
In that Valhalla, too, there stands
a young gunner in smoke and pall,
strapped in his gun with leather bands –
who for mates had sacrificed all.
'Send out a small ship
into man-made Hell!
She 'll acquit with pride….
history books will tell'.
Your boys went out with our Navy -
mere youngsters were they…. teenagers –
in all respects ready for sea
in traditions most courageous.
Grim days! Grim years! Shadows ... long past! Staunch ship mates found and 'runs ashore'; back on board. - cop The Jimmy's blast!
Swearing off grog. (For evermore??)
The years of war dragged slowly by,
long days and nights without endings,
now - greyed our hair - our years just fly,
our ships (long 'Finished with Engines ')
but wraiths beyond the Rubicon!
We'd bring them back, if we had power,
for in glory brief, on them shone
the sun of Freedom's Crowning Hour!
Pay off the corvettes -
they’ve sailed their last trips!
If life was encored
we'd sail again small ships!
12th August 1989
H. D. Chris Andrews ex HMAS HORSHAM
Corvette Magazine April 1990
TEDDY Sheean - A breakthrough
The fifth of the six Types 461 submarines to be guilt at Adelaide will be name HMAS SHEEAN. Readers will remember, as HMAS Armidale was sinking, this heroic young man, although already twice wounded, ignored the order to “abandon ship”, returned to his after Oerlikon, strapped himself in, shot down one of the Japanese planes which were then machine gunning his shipmates in the water and continued firing as his ship went down.
The six “boats” will be described as the Collins class, being named HMAS COLLINS, HMAS FARNCOMBE, HMAS WALLER, HMAS DECHAINEUX, HMAS SHEEAN AND HMAS RANKIN.
As completed these ships will progressively replace the six OBERON-class submarines now in service.
It is possible that a further two “boats” may be built.
Corvette Magazine July 1990
AMENDED PROGRAMME
SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER 1990
NATIONAL REUNION AT STATE SPORTS CENTRE, HOMEBUSH
It will be a magnificent occasion
1230 The Naval Support Command Band (WHAT A PERFORMANCE!) on the grassed slopes adjoining the Centre
Pre-luncheon drinks will be served
1300 A spectacular Naval Field Gun display
1330 "Cooks to the Galley" Band will march into the arena followed by ex-corvette people
1400 "Hands to dinner"
Grace
"The Queen"
The President's address of welcome
Response by Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral M.W. Hudson, AC., RAN.
Roll call of corvettes crews
Toast "The Corvettes"
1740 "Clear lower deck, all hands muster at viewing area"
The ceremonial Beating the Retreat
1812 Sunset
"Pipe down"
There will be
the fine Support Command Band some dancing for the young at heart
an absolute minimum of speech making ABOVE ALL ELSE – COMRADESHIP
SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER 1990
1100 ECUMENICAL MEMORIAL SERVICE AT HMAS WATSON will commence, supported by -
a big congregation
a Naval Band
a well-drilled Colour Party
a glittering display of medals
What a spectacular event this will be!
1200 THE BIG BARBECUE (THE BEST EVER)
MONDAY 22 OCTOBER 1990
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE DELEGATES
Magazine July 1990
ATTACK ON CONVOY MKS 21 on 13 August 1943
This convoy consisted of 40 merchantmen escorted by Gawler, Ipswich, Lismore, Maryborough and HM ships Whitehaven, Shorham, Rye, Romne and Hythe bound from Oran to Gibraltar.
It was 2045, just as the sun was setting. From Ipswich we saw forty to fifty aircrafts "silhouetted like evil birds against the Spanish coast" manoeuvring into attach formations. The convoy altered course towards the attackers and by the time all hands were closed up they were upon us - 37 Heinkel III torpedo bombers flying 35 to 40 feet above the water between our starboard bow and Whitehaven. We were the first to get them within range. It was bedlam. Every ship blazing away with every gun. The merchant ships ignited their smoke floats and cast them overboard and their gunners enthusiastically joined in the fight.
The sea, under the blanket of smoke, seemed ablaze. And then came a second force - twelve Junkers 88 - from the port quarter. The sea rippled with machine gun fire from the planes and erupted as the bombs fell. From Ipswich we saw seven planes go down and several more so damaged as to be unlikely to reach base.
It was nearly an hour before darkness closed the action. We took stock. Two cargo ships had been torpedoed but were safely towed to Gibraltar. Eight sailors in the merchant ships and one in Gawler were wounded. Nine German planes were definitely downed at the scene.
German radio that night slightly exaggerated when it claimed that laden shipping, totalling 170,000 tons had been sunk. In fact, all ships were in ballast. Considering that we had no air cover, it was a very satisfactory action. So rapid had been the rate of fire, that Ipswich's 12 pounder was distorted and had to be replaced.
As "Jessie" James said, "the Germans were most unlucky. Their mistook our 40 empty ships for the 75 ship laden convoy UGS 13 and got a thrashing into the bargain."
OCTOBER 1990 UPDATE NATIONAL RE-UNION
1200 bookings (does not included non-corvette people)
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Corvette Magazine January 1996
Despite everything, we made it
If you had to specify the worst possible conditions for the unveiling and dedication of our corvette memorial on Garden Island, you would say a freezing howling southerly with intermittent rain squalls.
You would also say that the chances for weather like that in Sydney in November would be zillions to one against. Well, those are precisely the conditions we had for our big day, but oddly enough it seemed just the right atmosphere - as the Governor, Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair remarked, it was real corvette weather.
The Navy of course, was quite unperturbed. The band and guard of honour stood rigidly to attention throughout in their thin white summer uniforms - the only movement was the chattering of teeth. The ex corvetters and families huddled together in the lee of a building as the dignitaries arrived - Commodore Geoff Moreton, representing the Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral David Campbell, Flag Officer, Naval Support Command and finally the Governor, Rear Admiral Sinclair. Also present were five officiating clergy, but even their combined theological might failed to improve the weather. They were Rev Dr Garath Clayton, principal chaplain of RAN, Rev Fr Krzysktof Gebski, chaplain RAN, the Bishop of North Queensland, the Right Rev John Lewis (ex Ararat), Rev Dr. Douglas Abbott (ex Ararat and Deloraine) and Rev Alec Hilliard (ex Cowra).
Our president Ern Pask, in his welcoming address, said that when the association took on the memorial project it realised it had taken on a task beyond our capacity to achieve, then added: "But corvettes always undertook tasks far beyond their design capabilities". The memorial, he said had been achieved only through the dedication of our members and invaluable help and support of the community and the Navy.
Rear Admiral Sinclair recalled his days as a cadet midshipman in HMAS Gladstone, which remained in commission after the war as a training ship. He said his experience in Gladstone enabled him to identify with the heat, the smells and the movement unique to corvettes, adding: "You had to be a real sailor serve in a corvette". He described the memorial as a "splendid and appropriate tribute to those who created and sailed the numerically largest class of ship ever built for the RAN". His last contact with corvettes was when the Navy decided to use the hulk of the former corvette Colac as target for a submarine torpedo. While being towed from Sydney to Jervis Bay, Colac managed to sheer across Stalwart's wake and sweep away a mooring buoy as if to show the Navy it was still capable of the little tricks corvettes sometimes got up to, said Rear Admiral Sinclair.
Next day, however, while being towed out to meet its date with a torpedo, Colac behaved like a proud ship, pounding into the waves in true corvette fashion.
Unveiling the memorial, Rear Admiral Sinclair said: "May this memorial remind people who pass by here of brave ships and those who built them and men who fought and endured so much so that we might all continue to live in freedom in this, the finest country in the world".
Corvette magazine helps daughter
to understand father
I found this article in Corvette issue October 2000. It reminded me of the time when I talked with Frank over our 5 o'clock customary whisky and he recalled some of the horrific war memories and of some he could not talk about. I have left out the name of the writer, but I feel it expressed what the families went through during these terrible times. (Erika)
"My father served in HMAS Strahan. He never spoke much of his war experience when my sister and I were growing up. I knew he was in the Navy and had fought the Japanese, because he had a souvenir-ed Jap rifle and a coolie hat tucked away in his top cupboard that he would get out occasionally to show us. He did like us to join him watching the Anzac Day march on TV, though even then he did not talk much about the war.
However, in recent years Dad's war seemed to become more important to him. He began receiving a newsletter from the Corvette Association. For the first time he shared his photos and memories with me. He told me of his days as a teenager with the Naval Auxiliary Patrol in Sydney and his naval service aboard HMAS Goolgwaii and his beloved HMAS Strahan. Together we searched the Internet and references to his ships. Most importantly he gave me your books to read.
Your books opened my eyes to the true nature of my Dad's war service. It has been made real to me now, more effectively than any Anzac speeches, war documentaries or movies - how he and thousands of other young men like him sacrificed their youth, their health and even their lives.
Your books are not the stories of larger-than-life war heroes, but average young men - sons, fathers and brothers caught up in events beyond their control but doing their best.
One photo in "Corvettes - Little Ship for Big Men" really shocked me. It is the photo of some of the crew of HMAS Rockhampton on the mess deck. They could be my son's footy team! They are not war heroes - they are boys and young men doing their best.
Sadly, my father passed away a few weeks ago and now your books are my treasured possessions. Thank you for giving me that extra part of my dad.
Corvettes in Bombay
Extract Corvette Magazine February 2002
The article on the explosion in Bombay in the previous issue has stirred the memory of two members who advise that both HMAS Bathurst and HMAS Launceston were in Bombay at the time of the explosion.
Jack Elford ex Bathurst writes:
I was ashore at the time and at 1607 hours when the first explosion occurred - my bowels nearly collapsed. Then there was the scream of sirens as the fire engines raced to the docks. I had ideas of doing the same, but my feet were sore, and I figured I would be able to read all about it in the papers, however censorship prevented that. The next evening the Japanese controlled Radio Saigon broadcast a running account of the whole incident.
When I finally got back to the ship it was almost deserted the only one evident was the QM, the rest had been sent down to help in the rescue and clean-up operations. This continued for the next five days. I was one of the few that didn't take part in it. I was acting LTO at the time and the skipper decided I should stay onboard. When the lads came back there were lots of stories told. The hospital, ship Wanganella was also in the harbour and would have been called on for assistance.
I mentioned that I was acting LTO and perhaps readers would like to know how that came about. We had an explosion of a sort onboard shortly before when the LTO blew his top!! When I joined the ship the LTO was a three badged AB named "Bungy" Williams. On the day this occurred we were in Bombay out in the stream, the motorboat was out of action so the duty watch was called to man the whaler to take the skipper ashore. I was one of the duty watch, so when the skipper clambered aboard Bungy, who was cox'n, said "shove off' and we proceeded to row his nibs into the jetty. The skipper and Bungy were having quite a pleasant chat on the way.
When we got back to the ship the QM told Bungy the Jimmy wanted to see him in his cabin. When he got there the Red Muzzled Bastard, as we called him, accused Bungy of not carrying out his duties in a proper seaman like manner. You don't say "shove off', it's "bear off for' d, bear off aft." With that Bungy blew his top and with a cry of "I've had you, you bastard" grabbed a chair and attempted to hit the No 1 over the head. Fortunately, for the Jimmy, the Gunnery Officer heard his cry for help and was able to stop Bungy's onslaught. So poor Bungy found himself locked up until we reached Aden where the Commodore decided he should stay locked up for 90 days in the RAF cells.
Morale was pretty low on the mess deck after this and since we were now down an LTO I had to fill the breach. When he had served his time" Bungy" was drafted home and discharged. I saw "Bungy" again after the war, he was really a nice bloke, but had a very short fuse.
Llew Bowen relates that HMAS Launceston had been assigned to escort a floating dock on the day of the explosion. She was just raising the anchor to undertake that task when suddenly Launceston moved sideways through the water. (This would have been caused by the tidal wave from the first explosion). Llew rushed topside to see what had hit them, the pall of smoke was enormous. Our job was to escort, so we joined up with the dock and the tugs. They could barely make headway, no more than half a knot, so each morning when we went on deck it seemed that the ship was still in the same place. This went on for several days and the pall of smoke did not seem to diminish.
Whilst Launceston usually anchored just off the magnificent Gateway of India, we did once anchor off the Victoria Docks and went ashore through the dock area. It was a mass of bombs and ammunition intended for the Burma campaign.
Corvette Magazine January 2002
LETTER FROM A NEW MEMBER
I have recently been introduced to the R.A.N Corvettes Association and feel somewhat to be sailing under false colours. Thanks for forwarding "Corvette", I feel privileged to be accepted. The following is my experience with Corvettes particularly HMAS Armidale on her passage from Sydney to Darwin.
In August 1942 I was in HMAS Penguin awaiting further draft after having done several trips as Convoy Sig on merchant ships when I found myself on draft as "Steaming party" on oil lighter 0.L.3 which was to be towed by HMAS Armidale to Darwin to supplement the installations there.
Conditions on this sixty-foot hull were quite primitive. Our living quarters (an igloo in the bows) were basic indeed, a primitive galley to one side, a coal burning stove, bench and food locker. On the other side a couple of built-in bunks, a bench and fixed stools for messing. A sink and hand basin completed the amenities. Lighting was provided by oil lamp. The P.O. and Leading Seaman took over the bunks (of course).
There being no hooks or rails to swing from our hammocks were laid out on the steel deck. As a self-victualling crew, we prepared our own meals, mostly done by one of the A.B.s. Stores comprised mainly of tinned foods, potatoes, bread and powdered milk. Fresh water was limited and no shower facilities.
The whole crew took turns at watch-keeping, irrespective of rate, which meant we each took our turn on the wheel. Like David Angus, Corvette —January 2001, I had to learn how to correct deviations to port or starboard, the intricacies of which we were not taught at FND Signal School.
Four days out from Sydney, we entered Moreton Bay and anchored overnight. Next day, under way again heading north passing through Curtis Channel into the Barrier Reef. After a brief respite in Cleveland Bay, Townsville, anchored off Magnetic Island, we resumed north but when abreast of Cape Flattery Armidale signalled: "We are turning about, I am ordered to return you to Cooktown”. In the estuary, we cast off the towline and Armidale's motorboat nosed us alongside a broken-down jetty, not far from the spot (identified by a stone cairn) where Captain Cook had careened his ship HMS Endeavour in August 1770- exactly 172 years ago. The reason for Armidale's sudden departure was not known but she never came back for us. Her further movements are now part of history.
After two months in Cooktown a tug arrived and towed us back to Cairns. I continued to serve as Convoy Sig on merchant ships, usually being escorted by corvettes and wondered how the crews survived the rough conditions so often encountered.
Later I was to take passage, only for a short trip, on HMAS Lithgow and in July,1944 spent a short time on HMAS Bowen in Darwin as relief Sig. I did not serve long on a Corvette but was always thankful they were there to protect the Convoys in which I sailed
E. Syd Moore.