MY NAVAL CAREER
by ... ALLAN MOFFATT
I joined the RAN on 1st August 1955, taking the Pledge at HMAS RUSHCUTTER, where 3 weeks prior to that, I had done my medical and educational exams. How I came to join the RAN has a small story to it. I was at the PMG Training School in Sydney and we were boarded out, and every weekend I would go home to Newcastle (take the dirty clothes home for mum!!!). Anyway this particular Sunday night I was on the train, in one of the old dog box carriages, sitting there, trying to study as we had an exam the next morning, but when we stopped at Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River, 5 - 6 sailors got into the carriage and they were quite happy, been celebrating but at the same time complaining as they had just got back from the SE Asia and they were off next week to the UK on HMAS VENGEANCE and to Commission HMAS MELBOURNE. All I could think of, you lucky bastards,. So herewith my story.
So that week I wrote to the Recruiting people (each Service had its own identity) but all under the same Post Box XYZ in your Capital city. The next weekend I got my parents to sign plus other signatures required, Headmaster, and a Clergy. During the week took a sickie and fronted up at RUSHCUTTER. , did the examinations and been informed very late that afternoon I was successful, so resigned from the PMG. Had a week at home, but during that time received an official letter telling me to report to HMAS RUSHCUTTER at 9 am on the 1st August, to have a final medical in case of catching anything during the week and also to take the Pledge. That night along with 5 others from NSW we met 6 from Qld at the RTO Central Station and boarded the old overnight rail trip to Melbourne. Changing trains at Albury at 2 am on a winter’s night was no fun. At Melbourne we met up with about 10 others from WA and SA, and that evening we were joined by 5 others, from Vic and Tas. Train from Flinders Street to Crib Point, which was freezing and belting down rain, where an L/Seaman Charlie Thwaites (QMG) met us and we put on a 3 ton truck with a canvas top and taken to FND and thence the Recruit School Police Office. Told there, the galley was now closed so we would have to suffer till next morning, taken to the infamous J Block and shown a room with approximately 26 hammocks already slung, this was to be our bedroom for the night, and tomorrow we would be given another room. We moved to the room next door, and from 6.30am when wakey wakey went and the next 3 months, we were given hell, at the end of the day, all our civilian clothing was taken from us, wrapped in brown paper and sent home, from now on we had to wear the dress of the day, the only people permitted to wear civvies was Officers and Senior Chiefs at shore establishments... The L/seaman that met us that night Charlie Thwaites, told us the next day, he would not be with us too long, as he was going to Cannonball College, I really thought he must be a brain till I found out later, it was the term used for Gunnery School, during the next few years our paths crossed. . Our next Instructor was L/Seaman Bob Lawrence, (TAS), who had just completed a 2 year stint on HMAS QUEENBOROUGH and had just returned from a voyage to England.
At the end of the 3 months, we completed parade ground drills, seamanship theory, education, PT, NBCD and those horrible kit and hammock weekly musters, so on the Friday afternoon, we did the Commodore FND Guard for the whole of FND Divisions. Had leave that weekend but on Monday we joined HMAS GLADSTONE (CO was LCDR Scott-Holland) for a voyage to put into practice. What we had learnt at Seamanship School. After about 4 hours I began to think had I done the right thing. Bass Strait was not the nicest waters to be sailing on, also 23 of us lived in the aft steering mess, about the size of a toilet cubicle, and trying to sling hammocks was totally different to the J Block, e had lost 3 recruits during this period. We kept a 3 watch system, in which during the day it was holystoning the wooden foscle, practicing "away sea boats crew”, fire fighting etc. then when on watch, 1 hour on the wheel, one hour lookout, the other couple hours, virtually instructions on the bridge etc.
Anyway I survived my couple of weeks and lost a lot of weight in between, I didn’t eat much and what I did, didn’t stay down too long. Had I done the right thing and joined up???
I then completed part 2 of Recruit training, most of it spent at the Comms School, doing semaphore, Morse, voice, flags, flashing. Our course instructor was Yeo of Sigs, Ross Osborne, and he had us instead of using normal marching orders, we would have to say “Standby to Execute – Corpen 9, or 9 Corpen – tack speed 15, or we were each given numbers, i.e. number 2 take Guide, - Standby Execute and to show that we knew what was happening our right arm would be half way up, then on the Execute go right and down in a quick fashion. After 3 months selected for wireless operator training, and both V/S and W/T classes combined and we were beaten senseless with Cryptography (we still had to do flashing, semaphore, flags etc as this was known as “Opposite Subject), our course instructor was C/Tel. Jack Donovan. Some how or other, I managed to pass the course and was drafted to HMAS ANZAC a Battle Class destroyer who would be deploying to SE ASIA for about 10 - 11 months. The CO was Cmdr J.P Stevenson, one of the best seaman going, but unfortunately he suffered when as CO of the HMAS MELBOURNE and was in collision with the USS FRANK E EVANS, he took the brunt of the Court Martial tho he was exonerated, the XO was LCDR Geoff Loosli, Our D.O was LT. Gray ships Navigator, RN but on loan to the RAN, ALSO Lt Haines RN Gunnery Officer who I worked with a few times during shoots, but 1 middy I always remember and we served again later on Mike Shotter, who I was to serve again with on sweepers and later on he became a Clearance Diving Officer and was in charge of CDT3 in Vietnam. Anyway along with 4 other ord Comms ratings, and one Ord Signalman who was drafting off HMAS QUADRANT, we caught the train to Williamtown Railway Station. Well the distance between Williamtown and the dockyard is some considerable distance, plus carrying your hammock and kit bag was no mean feat. The Comms Mess was right forward and down the hatch, and this was to be rather dicey, when you fell in on the upper deck (stbd side) and went thru the galley flat, collected your meals in two plates, you then had to make your way thru the ship, pass 2 seamans mess deck and down the steep ladder (hoping the TAS dome was not open, one of our Mess didn’t look one day and all his meal went sailing into the Tas equipment). From the word go, it was training, training, there were 2 AB in our branch onboard, but they were drafting off, and we had no L/Radio Operator (or as we were then known as Telegraphist) so the PO made sure if we were going north, we knew our job. His name was Ron Hoare, joined up end of WW II and had done 2 tours of the Korean War, and took no funny business. We nicknamed him “Mother Superior”
Life in ships in this era was totally different from today, they were not air conditioned, you slung your hammock under a punka where air was forced in, but during rough weather these were sealed off, also in calm waters you could open the scuttles and they had little scoops which let air in. Washing your own plates, cups was an experience, the sig and sparker having say the a’noon watch, would at 11 am, go to the stores, draw tea, butter, sugar for the mess, and just prior to having lunch go to the washroom and fill two big containers with hot water, one to wash with, the other to rinse, and make certain there was a clean tea towel available. The forenoon watch when relieved and both had their meal, would clean the mess, empty the washing up water etc. Payment, you fell in at the forward torpedo space, and when your name was called, march up the stbd side to the paying officer, you would have your ID card in your right hand and with your left, take cap off, and pay envelope placed on the cap, the coxswain would be there to also make sure your hair was cut short and neat, etc. Every so often we would have a movie which was shown in the torpedo space on the upper deck; you got their early to get a space to sit down. I won’t go into the showers and heads arrangements.
Eventually we got a LRO(Tel), prior to sailing for Fremantle, HMAS SYDNEY entered Port Phillip Bay so the ships cutter went over and Doug Elliot joined us. It was known as a "Pier Head Jump”. I think he said he was going home to his wife that night as he was a Melbourne native, but he didn’t see her for 11 months.
We sailed that evening when Doug joined, and rendezvous with HMAS TOBRUK, (Captain R.I Peek KBE, CBE, DSC) who was Senior Officer of the Squadron, another Battle Class and did a quick run to WA. Here we met with HMAS MELBOURNE (carrier) and HMAS WARRAMAUNGA who had been acting as RESDES on the voyage over when MELBOURNE did flying ops.
After 1 day alongside, we sailed early in the morning and by 10 am all hell broke loose, we met with HMAS QUEENBOROUGH/QUICKMATCH, 6 RN destroyer all C Class CAVENDISH CAVALIER, CARYSFORT, COCKADE, cant remember names of the other 2, all from Singapore, 5 USN destroyers, (or Tin Cans as they were commonly known as – all welded) HMNZS ROYALIST NZ light cruiser, 2 Paki. Frigates, plus RFA’s.
We played many and various war games. Unfortunately during a night encounter HMAS TOBRUK was struck by a 4.5 shell fired by HMS COCKADE and one AB (AB Spooner) was killed, another lost his legs. The exercise was terminated and the next day, all ships had to form a guard, and HMAS TOBRUK sailed past and his body was committed to the deep.
We did many exercises/patrols etc and after about 3 months we sailed again for Hong Kong. I had to go and do a NGFS course with the British Army in the New Territories, I was to use this training when we carried out bombardments on suspected CT camps (Communist Terrorist) in Malaya. Then on completion of the NGFS course, a week of small arms course at Stonecutters Island. Great, but on return to HK, on the Saturday, when we were on this GPV heading back to HMS TAMAR, the weather looked and felt bloody horrible, we no sooner got changed into the white bells, front, fell in and given liberty and settling down to a few cold ales and what else, when the RN Patrol and the USN Patrol from the Fleet Landing burst in the doors of every bar, a typhoon warning was now imminent, and was heading for Hong Kong, all sailors had to return to their ships. Unfortunately we didn’t get out in time, and were making our way back, walking, all buses, those big trams and no a rickshaw driver to seen (all taken shelter in the big White Star Ferry buildings – they had better knowle4dge of what was to come than the authorities) – we were running/walking when it started to blow and heavy rain falling, and we passed this bar, the owner putting up heavy wooden shutters, so we asked could we stop there. So we were trapped in this bar in Wanchia for 24 hours.
Anyway, when we returned onboard we were informed that we now the minimum sea time up to sit for our Able Seaman rate, and prior to sailing for Japan, we would be required to do exams. Somehow or other, we passed and a day later, in company with HMS BELFAST (cruiser) wearing the Flag of FO2 FES. HMNZS ROYALIST and in company with HMAS TOBRUK we sailed for our patrol/deployment off Japan and Korea. Whilst transiting the Straits of Formosa we sailed in cruising watches, i.e. one of the turrets B gun was closed up, 1 of the STAAGS and 2 of the close range were close up. Nationalist Chinese on Taiwan and Communist China were throwing shells at each other. Also for recognition purposes a huge Union Jack was painted on the top of B gun turret. We were checked/buzzed out a couple of times by LRMP aircraft
. Also prior to sailing we were issued with heavy mittens, heavy jumpers and in each mess of people required to work on upper deck, RN duffel coats were hung near the hammock bin for those going on watch, appears Korea was starting to get very cold. This was seaman, communicators, etc, those required to work on upper deck in all weather.
I stayed on ANZAC for about 18-19 months, during which time the ship won the Gloucester Cup for the best ship in the Fleet and this also included Communications, I thought the sigs and sparker did a great job. We kept watch by ourselves and the only time we were able to close down radio watch was alongside in either Singapore or Hong Kong, and back in Sydney etc, even in Fremantle, Adelaide we had to keep radio watch.
Actually I thought at one stage my Naval career was to be cut short. Some of my “friends” sent me a message by light, RPC 1430 etc, to which I replied WMP. Anyway I arrived on HMAS MELBOURNE and they were still busy doing some painting on Flag Deck etc so said, there’s no one onboard (Officers) take a seat on the bridge. So I crashed out on the Admiral’s chair (I think is was Rear Adm. Harries (FOCAF), and was soon asleep, when this door opens and out comes a Commander, he was the FOO (Fleet Ops Officer) Guy Griffiths DSO, DSC, who later on became a Rear Admiral,, and he then got into me, who did I think I was, who gave me permission to sleep in the Admiral’s chair and what ship was I from and who was my Commanding Officer. When I told him, he said I am giving 5 minutes to get your body off here.
My friends heard the noise and came to the doorway, saw what was happening and did a “runner” and left me high and dry.
I was then drafted to HMAS HARMAN, which at that time was the major radio station for the RAN, also fixed services to the UK, Singapore, Pearl Harbour, NZ, New Guinea , also to the US Embassy etc but also morse circuits to the French base at Noumea, Manus Island, and other outposts, we worked ships on the US Coastguard based in the Antarctic at McMurdo, ships carrying atomic tests at the Monte Bellos and any ship that called us on ship-shore. It was a strictly watch keeping place, and unfortunately pretty strict. One of my mates from TOBRUK, not long after we drafted there, was caught asleep on watch, and was given 14 days cells, then about 3 weeks later the same thing, only this time he got 28 days at 1MCE Holsworthy and a SNLR.. Sleeping on watch was a very strict NO NO. I thought he had a medical problem, but in those days, they didn’t seem to worry. Never saw him again.
Anyway I was selected top do a (S) course, nowadays they call it Electronic Warfare but I fronted the CO and said I didn’t wish to do it, so about a week later was drafted to Darwin for HMAS MELVILLE (Capt Cooper who was also NOIC NA), but I would be out at the radio station COONAWARRA (LCDR Robertson, a hard man, who I later met a couple of times when he was CO of HMAS DUCHESS then HMAS MELBOURNE.) COONAWARRA was a hang over from WW II, old Quonset huts, no air conditioning, very old corrugated showers and toilets, and the mess hall was unbelievable. The work was great because not only could you work Naval ship on morse, but you also worked merchant ships, and with the PIM’s from Naval ships and TR’s from merchant. We used to have a watch challenge to see which watch could score/work the most ships; I enjoyed it, but was then put on HMAS BANKS for survey work around the area. (Lt Carradine was the CO). I shall never forget one trip, we were way out when I received a message that John Gorton, Minister for the Navy (each Service was separate identity and had its own Federal Minister) and he would be stopping over in Darwin on his way to Singapore for a SEATO meeting and would like to have a chat with Captain Cooper who happened to be onboard with us at the time. High speed dash and arrived in Darwin about midnight, but we had a slight mishap coming alongside. The RO’s duties when entering/leaving harbour was also to assist in wheelhouse, bridge telegraphs. So had to front the Inquiry the following day, but the finding was, one of the stokers down below had rang up full ahead instead of full ahead and with the surging tide, we went under the wharf, wiping out the jackstaff and scaring the hell out of the berthing party on the foscle.
After about 10 months there, (Darwin area) I was selected to be one of the 2 sparkers for exchange duties with the RN in England, so had to go over to the RAAF Base and have a medical, then flew south about 3 days later, went to HMAS PENGUIN, had a big medical, given various inoculations, a Yellow Card (World Health) to say I was clean (I think I got a needle from anything from dandruff to tinea) , taken into Sydney to the Tax Office, given a tax clearance, and the following day joined the PO liner SS ORONTES for passage to England, as a civilian passenger.. I didn’t know the Navy could work so fast???
Wow what a trip. It was via Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Colombo, Aden, transiting the Suez Canal, Cairo, Naples, Marseilles and before we got to Gibraltar , there were about 80 – 90 Rats of Tobruk Veterans onboard, and they found out me and my oppo were serving, so we were invited to join the Official party at the El Alemain Cemetery at Tobruk. . I had to go down to the ships storage room, find my kit bag, and retrieve my number 1 uniform, blue collar, cap, and all the trimmings, then headed to the ship’s laundry for the use of an iron etc..
Some of the those in attendance was the Governor of Malta, HMS Loch Fada, Royal Marine Band, and Colour Guard, the funny part we were at this Ceremony and later on a refreshments, when the CO of HMS Loch Fada sent over his Gunnery Officer to find out, how two AB’s in uniform were at this Luncheon .
Prior to leaving Gibraltar for the run up the English Channel, British Customs and Excise came aboard, and I had a visit that night, only to sign a document as we were given diplomatic privileges, so when we docked at Southampton, 800 odd passengers were queued up, we just went ashore, (in uniform) and a special car and driver who drove us then to London and Australia House. He I was introduced to ANRUK but also the Comms Officer there was Lt Peter Rees who I had done some of my AB’s exam on TOBRUK where he was the SCO.
From there it was down to Whitehall W/T which was a huge Comcen about 3 floors below the entrance. (High security). The 2 i/c was Lt Stockdale from the RAN who knew me and I think shuddered when the Reg Chief introduced us. Peter Rees went on to Command a few ships QUIBERON, the DDG BRISBANE and was Naval Attaché Tokyo when he had a heart attack. Bill Stockdale was promoted to LCDR and died whilst on MELBOURNE during a voyage to SE Asia.
Anyway it was a great draft, and I made man y friends with the English , and loved the country, invited by ANRUK to attend Anzac Day Services at Westminster Abbey, saw the Royal Tournaments and a bit of travelling, unfortunately my Passport I had to hand in, not long after I arrived in England and it was handed back and was marked with the names of many countries that I couldn’t visit, this was the era of the Cold War and because of the duties, what I saw, and what was about to happen, I was restricted to visits in Europe and Eastern Bloc countries.
Had great times when Communicators arrived to commission ships of the 16th Minesweeping Squadron and HMAS SUPPLY, we showed how RAN Communicators can play!!!! We hired a pleasure launch on the Norfolk Broads for about 3 days – wow.
Also my old “skipper” Lieutenant Carridine came in with a class, he was doing a Long C course at HMS MERCURY.
One thing that I always remember, I was working the circuit to HMS HIGHFLYER, the RN base in Colombo (now Sri Lanka) and this was very busy, all traffic East of Suez, which took in the RN Base at Aden, HMS SHEBA, the Loch Class Frigates on patrol around Kuwait etc, but this particular day, I received a coded message and I thought I was pretty good, but I couldn’t place it. So I casually mentioned to the POOW who then told the Chief of the Watch, next minute I was relieved and taken around to the Duty Communications Officer, (there was always one on duty 24 hours a day) who then took me up to next floor and lo and behold was a room of civilian cryptographers, one explained this particular code, it was a low grade code issued to British Foreign Affairs Office staff based in different parts of the world, and this one was to say there was civilian unrest in the area. I found it great that they had taken the time and effort to explain to me. The room looked like something out of a James Bond movie, all hunched over crypto machines...
But life all things it came to and end, and my 2 years were up, but I had phone call to report to Australia House, and was advised I had to fly home, but if I took some of my leave due and paid about 10 pounds English, I could go via the USA, taking leave in New York, San Francisco, Los Angles, Honolulu and a couple of days in Fiji. So it took a while to get home, came home with a great tan laying on the beach at Hawaii.
Also ½ way through my time, received a letter from Canberra and Australia House, would I like to change to Submarine Service. I did a lot of thinking about it, but it worked out, I would be here for another 2 years training and then on RN Subs and then probably commission first RAN sub and that would be 5 years away from home. Said NO.
I was drafted to HMAS HARMAN again temporary, and it had been really rebuilt, all new brick quarters, modern receiving station etc. new galley and the wet canteen was now called the Junior Rates Club, and you were allowed to wear civvies when not on duty. I was there for about 3 months when I was selected to be the Communi cation rating for the HM Royal Yacht BRITTANIA for a tour by the Queen Mother. Back to HMAS PENGUIN, new uniforms with all the insignias of the Crown, and the day we were to leave for Fiji to join the Yacht, the Queen Mother took ill., appendicitis so the tour was cancelled. We had a couple days there, I had to work in the MSO, and had just gone home to Newcastle for a weeks leave when I received a message, I was drafted to HMAS MORESBY (Workup, trials and Commission and then crew). I think it is now called NUSHIP and BILLET!!
It was beautiful ship, new straight out of the dockyards and we commissioned under the CO, Cmdr John Osborne, the XO was Peter Whitmore, who had been CO of HMAS BARCOO, my D.O was LCDR Colin Wheatley the Helo pilot, and the Comms Officer was LCDR Maxwell , some of the other Officers was LT Doyle, Lt Drinkwater (Supply), and the Navigator (cant remember his name at present) who had just returned from the UK, (HMS DRYAD) and S/LT Macree a Commissioned Bosun, a great hand.
It was great on board there, there were only 4 Communicators, and our DO saw us the first day, and said, you are all fully rated and judging by your SC’s you know what’s what, do your job, if you play up, do it ashore out of sight and I will never bother you.
So we kept our watches, 2 of us, (called DOP’s) – (double operator periods) 1 sig, who did his own thing, the other was a LRO who did day work and was studying for the HET and selection for Upper Yardmans Course. (I won’t elaborate of this; he was “dead weight”!!!) . Our first deployment was to Tasmania in the end of summer and winter. Then it was north to the Gulf of Carpentaria for 6 months, and in which time, I had to do my turn on an island camp, doing tide pole watching off the Qld coast (something to do with King Tides). You lived in a tent with a Survey rating sailor and every ½ hour you took the tide readings and we relayed to the ship via H/F the next day. This went on for 10 days then you were relieved .no washing, no shaving and just a pair of shorts. The main thing that did happen, one day a boat came up or drifted onto the beach, there were 2 males, 2 females and about 4-5 children, all white, they had taken off on a fishing journey, but the engine conked out. This was the time of wooden clinker type fishing vessels, no radio, no reporting to Coastguard or Coast Radio; just take off, trusting in your own seamanship/navigation and God
I made a call to MORESBY outside our sked hours and by luck, my opposite number onboard had it on loudspeaker in the wireless office (he was now keeping SOPS’S) (single operator periods) and he told the CO who about turned the ship and made full speed for our island. It was good as before the MORESBY and a technical ratings came ashore and repair the engine, the two women cooked a great meal for me and the AB SR, as a gesture of thanks for helping them and their family out. (Best meal we had had for about 8 days – both lousy cooks)
Also aboard was the Coxswain, John Dowsett who I had been with on HMAS BANKS, and I made his day, I received a signal telling him he was drafted to ANA Washington (Regulating) and then to HMAS BRISBANE , and it was a married accompanied draft to the USA. I gave him the copy before I showed the CO, and he gave me an extra can that night at beer issue (two cans oh joy)
The sad thing was being on the upper deck at GI to see HMAS MELBOURNE enter harbour after the collision with HMAS VOYAGER. And reflecting back that I would no longer be seeing friends who I knew and were still out there in a sea grave. In fact one, Bob Denham we had been together since we joined up within a week or so of each other, had gone through Recruit School, Sig School and drafted out together. This was his 2nd draft to VOYAGER, his first being part of commissioning crew and 2 deployments to SE Asia aboard her. It had been a couple weeks prior that we had a couple of nice ales together, and he was telling me he had just got married. I complained to him, “why wasn’t I invited, I would have told your “Lovely” some things about you”!!!
There were others, Kev Cullen Yeo on the VOYAGER, who I used to go to BBQ’s at his house in Darwin, Don McPharlan, who I had met in UK (he pulled out of the Sub. Conversion course), Sandy Beavis who one of my first CRS, and had been Commissioned and was SCO on VOYAGER, a great lost to the Communications world, he was a gentleman of the first degree.
Anyway after about 12 months onboard, Indonesia was starting to play war games and the Indonesian-Borneo Confrontation started, so I was drafted to HMAS SNIPE for deployment there and I/C Communications aboard. Also we would be the senior ship and would carry MS 16 aboard. LCDR Brian Courtier, also the XO was Lt Mike Shotter who I had known as a middie on ANZAC, the other watch keeping Officer was Lt ‘Chuck” Hamer, who left us half way thru to deployment to go to the UK and do the Long C Course. He was relieved by S/Lt. Steve Youll who I think went on to become a Captain???
Before we sailed, along with another sparker from SNIPE and 2 from CURLEW we were sent to KUTTABUL Comcen (tempo) to do a submarine broadcast from the CRR. I was in charge. What it amounted to, 2 of us would cover the whole 24 hours, i.e. keeping a 12 hour shift of one day on, one day off and this would be for about 10-12 days. We would encrypt up all the Subs traffic in code, then type into Morse code, the transmitters would be patched through from HARMAN, and given times, the sub would come up to periscope depth just enough to allow its radio aerial to be above the water line, and we would send the traffic at 40 wpm, the submariner would tape record the message, dive and the sparker would play back at nor mal speed 22 wpm.
It was here at KUTTABUL I was to meet my future wife, a WRAN RO, Helen Foreman. She had just graduated as a Nurse at Royal Adelaide Hospital and wanted a change, so she joined the Communications Branch as a WRAN. Lucky girl, I took her away from all of this!!!
Anyway, after completion of this exercise, back to SNIPE and after a couple days last minute maintenance, storing ship etc later, we sailed alone (CURLEW developed engine probs) we sailed direct to Townsville. Thence Manus Island, then Borneo and rendezvoused with HMS DAMPIER for fuel, thence onto Singapore.
We then came under Captain Inshore Flotillas (RN) who flew his flag at sea in HMS MAXMAN (a fast minelayer) and ashore in HMS MULL of KINTYRE.(looked like HMAS STALWART) It then became 10 -11 months of very interesting times. Once there is a report we had just started our evening patrol with HMS HOUGHTON when radar detected a vessel closing very fast. We went to action stations and appeared a new Russian PB given to the Indonesian Navy. It could outrun us, outgun us and also carried missile capabilities. We were closed up nearly all night, and this vessel kept pace with us on their side of the waters in the Malacaa Straits. Another time we detected and picked up a man in a native canoe paddling furiously across the Straits, he was hauled aboard, and not treated too light only to find out he was a Officer in the Malayan Navy who had be dumped behind the Indonesian lines to find out what was taking place, as at that stage there was civil unrest.
Our times in Borneo was boring, but had its moments. With the air conditioning never ever working, no capabilities to convert water to fresh, and water restrictions it was not very pleasant. We had a fire hose rigged on the upper sweep deck to wash with; you were given salt water soap and just walk down to the sweep deck with a towel wrapped around you, drop it and with the salt water soap have a shower and got dressed there. One area of our patrol in Borneo, we would go upstream at night, ship darkened and at action stations, and anchor just near an Indonesian camp, with lookouts to detect any sign of movement across the river, then at daylight go back down stream and carry out normal patrols. A larger ship either HMAS DUCHESS or VENDETTA would be on the other end of a circuit and if we got into trouble, come pronto.
Also one day, we were ordered by HMAS VAMPIRE to stand too, and a couple of Officers came aboard off the Malayan coast, and lo and behold, my old “skipper” Carridine (he was now a LCDR) and was SCO on VAMPIRE and was to carry out a Confidential and Registered book/pubs muster on both the bridge and wireless office.
Anyway from there I was drafted to HMAS KIMBLA, a ship that had been changed to carry out trails and experimental work. I joined with another sparker Kev Davies from HMAS DIAMANTINA, whom I had known from when he was on HMAS VAMPIRE. The CO was LCDR Peter Cummins, the XO Lt Geoff Dove who joined the same day as me from HMAS DUCHESS, Lt Bob Speed Commissioned Bosun, (a great hand and one of nature’s gentlemen) and S/LT Julian Hart. We also carried about 6 Tech Officers (boffins) We sailed north for deployment in the Gulf of Carpentaria (this was as we were told, hush-hush) what you see don’t say anything about it and on the well deck we had these items that looked like submarine conning towers with radar reflectors on them, (all under canvas covers) . In theory they would be scattered around the coast and would detect any sub coming within range. At Darwin we met with HMS FORTH (Submarine mother ship and 2 RN subs) and then started these trials with subs and LRMPs from Amberley. This was the time of the big Red and Yellow peril from submarines. This was to be one part of the deployment, and a few years after I had been out, it appeared on the ABC as a documentary of Anti-Submarine Warfare. We were up there for about 5 1`/2 months getting back just for XMAS and it wasn’t bad, had a great sun tan and managed to save money, as I was then in the process of getting married next year.
In January I was drafted to HMAS ALBATROSS for watch keeping duties in the CRR in the tower. This was great, we had a long dormitory for sleeping quarters and of all things, we each had our own our own cabin, and as we were watch keepers no one really worried you. But the war in Vietnam was escalating and HMAS HOBART (Captain Guy Griffiths) was to be our first ship to be sent there to serve on the gun line. Now, down at the northern end of Jervis Bay there was a gun firing range at Beecroft Head, and HOBART was to carry out at least 5 days of gun fire there. Someone found out I had done a NGFS course so along with the BGO from FOIC EA’s staff, couple of seamen and this Artillery Army Officer who had already served in Vietnam as an observer (prior to Australia’s involvement) we spent 5 days living in the op tower, eating when you could, putting a blanket on the floor to crash out on, no shaving etc. (as this Army Officer told us, this has to be very realistic). At all hours, this Officer would kick, shake us, and I would have to get on the radio set that I had set up and pass the following. HOBART this is OP, We have Victor Charlies in coordinates etc Request illumination, then up 200, left or right 300 hundred what the case maybe, then fire for effect etc. authentication is ./…. /. Prior to going out there I had to go to ALBATROSS crypto office and work out Tac call signs for at least 6 days
There were other ships also that I would be required to go out there for 1 – 2 days., plus and exciting day watching F111’S do live bombing on a target known as “Drum and Drumsticks) couple of rockie pillars just on the entrance of the northern part of Jervis Bay. You wouldn’t believe the fish we got, the duty SAR boat was anchored just inside, but when the bombing was over, all you need was a big scoop. Had to be scaled and frozen, as they start to bleed internally from the impact of the shock.
Anyway after 9 months there and having just got married and living in a flat in Nowra (still waiting to get quarters on the marriage patch at the TROSS) .Helen had been at ALBATROSS working in the MSO there for exactly 3 days when I arrived but had picked up her Leading Rate and was drafted to JCC at Russell Canberra.
When she told her Unit Officer WRANS (HARMAN) that she was getting married, she had to take her discharge on completion of her 4 years, married women were not allowed to be in the WRANS, (they only wanted virgins???) .
Anyway I was coming off morning watch, just having passed a BALMET to the Army (Artillery) at Tiningara, when this PO from the Captains Office saw me and said, “Don’t forget to come and do your preliminary draft out at 9 am this morning. You must have upset someone at Navy Office and they think you love small ships and sea time.”
I had no idea what he was on about, but at 9 am, I found out. The new Attack Class PBs were coming online, and I had been selected to do a PCT course and then drafted to the Squadron Leader’s boat. I went to HMAS CERBERUS about 2 weeks later, and did a course, and then went to HMAS WATERHEN, only to be told, one of the first was ready to carry out work up and commission and I would be carrying out this. So headed north and did the trials and commission of HMAS ARROW (subsequently lost in Cyclone Tracey) After 4 weeks carrying out this, we were sailing south, when I received a signal to divert to Brisbane. The Prime Minister John Gorton wanted to go fishing in Moreton Bay and surrounding area and the Government did not want a Harold Holt disaster again, (he had been lost whilst swimming at Cheviot Bay in Port Phillip Bay). So when we tied up at HMAS MORETON, I was taken by car along with the CO and XO to Naval Hdqrtrs in Brisbane (Edward Street if my memory is correct), and there was asked what communications plan I would put inforce to keep Canberra, plus full Naval authorities informed that the PM was safe. So we sailed again and kept the PM’s vessel under constant surveillance, radar and lookout, and every few hours I would pass messages to Authorities that all was okay.
After that, we took off for Sydney and on arrival at WATERHEN I left the PB on arrival and took 2 days leave with my wife, but when I arrived back at WATERHEN was informed that I had to rejoin the vessel, my relief was and had critical seasickness., and that he was at HMAS PENGUIN Hospital and I would be required to take the PB to Melbourne., Allowed to go home (we were living at Westmead in a flat as Helen had now gone back to her original career as a Registered Nurse at Parramatta Hospital.) And put some gear together what was known as a steaming kit, the bare essentials, caught the train back into Sydney, and we sailed later that afternoon.
We arrived okay in Port Phillip Bay and headed up the Yarra River where the CO from HMAS LONSDALE, NOIC VIC., and others were waiting, I was thanked and given a rail warrant to catch the train back to Sydney that night. Got back to Sydney next morning (Sunday), so went home, and didn’t get to WATERHEN till next morning. About 3 days later was on a train north again with the trails team heading north to carry out work up trials and commission and billet on HMAS BARBETTE which was to be ComAusPabRonOne under the command of LCDR Bernie Hamill. (A great man, brilliant seaman, but he wanted his pound of flesh when you were aboard)
I remained on BARBETTE for 20 months, carrying out some great and exciting deployments, one being Navy Office was to check out a Russian Trawler operating south of Hobart who they suspected of being a spy ship (more radio aerials than a normal fishing vessel required), wow, south in that area in the middle of winter was no trip for the faint hearted. We took a great pounding day in and day out, and we were storm bound in Port Arthur area when advised my wife was in hospital giving birth to our son, and was having medical troubles.
When we finally made it to Hobart, the skipper arranged with NOIC TAS for me to be flown to Sydney via commercial airline, arranged pick up at Mascot and taken to Crown Street hospital. I arrived outside visiting hours and by which time my wife had given birth to our son, and both were doing fine. I was back at Mascot the next morning, flight to Melbourne, then Hobart and was picked up at the airport and as the weather had eased virtually as soon as I was onboard we sailed for Sydney. (Glad I hadn’t any drink to celebrate, it was still lumpy out there).
Another time was I had the duty watch on Saturday went home to our Navy Quarters we now had, a flat in Walker Street Redfern and had a very restful Sunday, pushing a pram, and on the Monday arrived back at WATERHEN at 7am, when leave expired, but already the boats motors were running, the Skipper and XO, were standing at the gangway, duty watch had already singled up lines, and ship rigged for heavy weather. (jackstaff down, lashed) 40-60 mm covered and double lashed etc)
Told to get over to the Ops room and Main Signal Office, grab all signals and information required about our sailing at the base, and there I was informed a Merchant ship MV ……………. had gone down in Stockton bight on Sunday night during rough seas the cargo had shifted and all PBs were to sail immediately and take part in a search, HMAS HOBART would be SOPA. We had no food and limited fuel. I made out our sailing signal and also for the other 5 PBs from our Squadron and the comms plan we would use to cover the full 24 hour watches. . As soon as we passed North Head and headed north I could understand why this ship went down and this was to be no picnic. The seas were unbelievable. We all sailed into Newcastle and there on the wharf waiting was fuel tankers, trucks with food etc. and we no sooner took stores on, than we were underway again, passing Nobbys Head and proceeded to carry our sweeps for possible survivors.
We located an upturned ships boat, but no survivors. This continued for 5 days when search was terminated. There is a Plaque on the wall at the National Maritime Museum dedicated to the loss of 14 seamen that night. Another problem was, that due to our imminent deployment north for 5-6 months, most of us didn’t have any spare clothing/uniform onboard, it was all home getting washed cleaned and packed in plastic bags to keep moisture out, so we all virtually lived in the same clothes for 6 days, this included underclothes. When they said, you bond well in the Navy, they were not joking,
The NSW Police at Redfern were given the message that we would be away for a week and they called around to advise your partner/wife, don’t expect so and so home, “he has gone to sea”. This happened 3 times, we sailed at a moments notice, and in that period no one had house phone, mobiles were not invented, so the Navy would arrange with the local Police to do this duty. Another time was we sailed at a moments notice to make full speed for Jervis Bay exercise area as a SUBMISS/SUBSUNK was in force. It was only an exercise but we didn’t make it home again that night.
Another good one, due to having no other ships to carry out RESDES duties for HMAS MELBOURNE when at flying Ops, and were carrying out SAR duties at JB, we were to act as RESDES. Have you ever seen a PB alongside a carrier doing a jackstay transfer, something out of this world!!!
It was just after this when sadly HMAS MELBOURNE sailed to the SE not long after that and was in a fatal collision with the USS Frank E Evans.
Also at this particular time, HMAS BRISBANE and STUART were doing an Anti-Submarine exercise and working with them was one sub, but they claimed they were pinging on two. Well all these high ranking Officers flew to ALBATROSS and were helo’ed to CRESWELL and joined us and we made a mad dash to sea to R/V with STUART.
It was a good sth’erly swell running and without naming them, all these Officers spewed over my nice clean bridge. I had the honour and privilege of cleaning it the next day. They never came back on board, but from that day, all PB’s were given a Navy Office Order that they could carry frozen meals as they had seen the conditions of how meals were cooked etc.
We took part in KANGAROO 1 exercise, plus PB’s from Darwin and New Guinea. Prior to leaving we took onboard about 8 Royal Marines from the Special Boat Sqdn, based at Singapore, and we had to be off this island in the Coral Sea, when a British Andover acft parachuted other Marines into the water, and they were picked up by the ones on board, and they made a simulated landing against a hostile force (Gurka’s). Very interesting.
Another time we had been or just arrived at T.I. when we were asked/received a message could we assist the Native Mission on this island right down in the Gulf of Carpentaria, a native who had a medical problem, well they had run out of the drug and he was in the habit of becoming violent. So NOIC Qld and CO of HMAS WATERHEN said yes, so as we didn’t have charts for this area (or not really up to date ones) we took onboard a Native Pilot. It was unbelievable, he stood outside the bridge and held on to the main wireless whip aerial (AN URC58) and visually guided us through reefs, rocky crops below the waterline. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it. This was there and back.
At one stage due to a maintenance requirement, we had to go to Townsville to the slip yard (Walker Bros – Evans Deakin) and carry out a SMP. I wont go into the details (heads could have rolled!!), but we were billeted at Laverrak Barracks and I would have to go to Garbutt RAAF Base for signal traffic. Anyway after about 3 days, I was met by about 3 Flt Sergeants from the Signal Unit and said, they had checked on my Authorised Access and would I come inside and show them how to do “off-line crypto” and call sign encryption. It was a few years since they had been taught this and had forgotten, and they were getting so much traffic for us, with Info to them, they were at a loss, so I ended up showing about 5 or 6 RAAF people.
Always said the Navy training was far superior to the other two Services. I could still do “on-line crypto”, in fact HMAS MORESBY was one of the first to be fitted, but where as the RAAF had fixed aerials, we had to tune in H/F receivers, in all weather, and subject to heavy interference, but I had never forgotten how to do it.
My time when I did get my bum kicked was during this time, we had slipped and were berthed alongside at Townsville when HMAS VAMPIRE and STUART entered early one morning, our duty QM was a stoker, who didn’t know about putting the Ensign up and dipping to a senior ship/Officer etc. Our CO and XO were ordered to “repair” onboard ASAP and were given a slap on the wrist, and when they got back I got my bum kicked for not advising about this procedure. I said, I wasn’t informed about these ships entering harbour. Anyway I had to make out the Orders of Procedure, i.e. Call the CO, XO and self (bend on the Ensign, but keep at the “dip”), flash up Tac Pri, remote to bridge and have a aldis lamp at the ready , and also give them a small talk to the crew in case this problem arose again.
Anyway we sailed north, carrying out patrols and helping HMAS MORESBY on a survey and arrived back just before XMAS. Prior to Xmas leave, we all had to muster at the grassed area just inside the gates of Garden Island, and this was along with sailors from all ships in port. Here ComAusFleet presented Awards, and the CO of HMAS WATERHEN (Cmdr Ferguson) received on behalf of PB‘s the “Kelly Shield” for Comms won by the AusPabRon 1 against all other PB Squadrons and Sweepers. When we returned to WATERHEN, all the CO/XO’s mustered in the wheelhouse and they filled this Cup up (we had also won this, I think it was Commodore Wardle Cup for Communications) and I was piped to the wheelhouse to drink it. I like a beer, but I would have to say, Reschs, Tooheys, VB, Swan, and even South Pacific Lager mixed together gave me the mother of all hangovers.
I was put on retard leave as I was to be part of a composite crew to man a PB for the start of the Hobart Yacht Race, and then to sail to Broken Bay for a small yachting/boating regatta being held over that period.
Anyway, I was then drafted to KUTTABUL, a new base, nice Commcentre and all the trimmings, nice rates club, with beer at a good price and a great view of the harbour, without worrying about the sea state outside. I was on watch keeping duties there, but also the BGO would ring up and I would be relieved and sail on tugs, towing targets to sea for ships deploying to SE ASIA, carrying out calibrations and shoots. All good fun, early start so we could be in exercise area prior to shoot, stream target astern and pray they didn’t hit us instead, and late return to harbour,, making sure ferries, pleasure craft kept well away and didn’t come near the tow line etc . I did quite a few of these.
One day, I was giving myself an early mark, getting changed in the change room when the Reg Chief came in and said, get back into dress of the day and report to the MAA Offices. I was given an airline ticket to fly to Townsville the next morning, and join HMAS BOMBARD, taking a steaming kit. The Comm rate on there had flipped, and had threatened the CO and XO with physical violence. Midday the next day, the aircraft landed at Townsville , and I was met by the Cox’swain with transport, an Army vehicle and driver, taken straight to the wharf, met the CO, XO of HMAS BOMBARD, given the keys and combination to the wireless office and confidential safe and we slipped.
The combination of the both the wireless office and safe as per normal I changed, as they were now compromised. In stead of heading south as I had been told in Sydney we headed north. This was okay, but when we did about turn about 2 weeks later, we I received a message, we would be joining HMAS STUART, and we would be acting as inshore patrol for the Royal Yacht BRITTANIA which was carrying the Queen and Prince Phillip on a Royal Tour, and when they went ashore to the selected island off the Qld coast for a BBQ we would provide close inshore patrol. Full dress was to be worn. I only had the bare rig/uniform as I had been informed I would only be away 2 weeks, this was coming up to 5 weeks. When a PO from the BRITTANIA came onboard and saw me, asked what skeds I would be keeping as a fair bit would be on Tac Pri remoted to the Bridge. I could only think how the hell am I going to get out of this.
The Gods must have smiled on me, as we were hit by a low that was building up in the Coral Sea, heavy seas and squally rain, so this part of the trip was cancelled, and we were ordered to proceed south.
I arrived back at KUTTABUL and as my engagement in the RAN was finishing, I went in my day off into the city and sat for the exams for entrance into DCA. But prior to discharge the Chief Reg called me into the BCO offices (LT Johnston) and said had a phone call and signal from Canberra that subject to me reengaging I would be drafted married accompanied to the RANCD in Singapore. This was known as the “spy station”, where do to increase tension in SE Asia the number of communicators was to be increased.
I gave it a lot of thought, but I declined, I now also had a daughter, and with a wife, son and daughter I had better look to making an outside career, and after 15 years, I thought, I have had good time, seen a bit of the world and how the other people lived, so it is now time to settle down.
I walked out of KUTTABUL on the 14th February, having completed 15 years 4 months (I had joined before my 18th birthday, so this time was called “boys time) and was not counted, after having a couple of ales in the Rates Club with people I had spent some time with, and joined DCA. After a couple of years, I received a nice letter saying that I had joined the RAFR on discharge (to get the cash bonus, and was medical Cat A) asking/.advising me I was to carry out 13 days ACT, so did a few of these, but the Navy had changed, and it was a “new” type of sailor, and on completion of my time, decided against signing on for Reserve time again, also I had moved quickly up the ladder in Civil Aviation and was now a Watch Supervisor at the ComCentre, Operations, Mascot Airport and also seconded to training of new trainees in Communications (most went on to be Air Traffic Controllers) . ..
I really enjoyed my time, had no regrets and given the choice I would do so again, join the Navy.
Later on when I received a phone call from the late Ex Commodore Peter James who was mixed up with the replica of the HM Bark ENDEAVOUR (Captain James Cook) and would I consider becoming a Guide. I did so, but would be selected to go to sea on day sails, taking the wheel with the “punters” and talking about the ship/crew in the days of Cook etc. After a few of these, asked would I consider going aloft and doing voyage crewing.
Wow, it is great being up there. Furling/unfurling sails, putting on gaskets, and also learning another way of steering other than by direct order, given a compass course, back in a hammock again etc l. But that’s another era, and totally different from steam and diesel sailing.