Vale ERA Victor John HARLOW R43396.

[BC]

Sad news about a term mate crossing the bar.

Vic Harlow was a member of the 22nd Intake, Jan 76.

Vic has had a long battle with diabetes and finally passed away the the 17th March.

Vic’s funeral will be at 10am, Wednesday 31st March at Adelaide Hills Funerals, Mt Barker SA.

Condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Vic.

[bfdavis]

Rest on your oars Vic, A great Hockey Player and friend at Nirimba.

[Hippy Chippy]

Another MOBI taken way too soon... Rest on your oars, Vic, your journey's done... R.I.P.

[BC]

The only info I have been able to gather was that at Nirimba, Vic was and excellent hockey player and also had a great talent for pen & ink drawing.

My recolections about Vic, was that he was a quiet bloke who would never intentionally piss someone off. He was just an all-round nice bloke.

After Nirimba, he posted to Melbourne, but I cannot any other ships he was posted to. In his post navy years, according to other SA term mates, was that Vic was quite reclusive and not a well man in recent years.

The Funeral Home has confirmed Vic’s family has arranged for the Ode to be recited and Last Post played, so I guess it will be appropriate for attendees to wear medals etc if they wish to do so. The family has also request that NO live streaming played at the service.

So far, the following will be attending and will represent the 22nd Intake (Jan 67).

Trevor & Moira Hill
David & Anne Trigg
Neil Walton
Barry Davis
Colin Byles
Ken Brown
Ric Summers
Charlie & Cheryl Finch
Ray Mobbs
Greg & Lynne Fairlie

[Pony]

I can't recall Vic, but another brother taken too early. Vale Vic, fair winds and following seas.

[Graeme Rhodes]

Always is and always will be sad to hear of these passings

[BC]

Gi'day mate, I was just about to contact you to let you know I'll be heading over, just for the Funeral and straight back. I was only thinking about our time on the MELBOURNE and yep have some anecdotes and not withstanding our NIRIMBA days, some of us will remember Vics' hockey prowess and artistic ability, he was very good on the field and I reckon he was good enough for major rep, at times I drove him to his civvy comp games on the weekend to watch and he'd carry on to my union match, I digress;

In 1970 Vic was one of the ten ERA's to join MELBOURNE after Passing Out from NIRIMBA.

We all progressed through training and so on, Engineering wasn't just Engines and Boilers on the Carriers. Outside machinery played a huge part of MELBOURNES' ability to fulfil its primary function to launch and recover aircraft and their crews safely.

One such item on board were the two VR plants, and for a while Vic maintained and operated the going unit in part by 'rabbiting' bits off the second unit and it was a source of pride for him when it was running, in between breakdowns and other problems. For 'mere mortals' the VR plant was only found on the 'Carriers' and is a steam jet ejector driven Vacuum Refrigeration air conditioning unit, all part of making the crews life a little more comfortable, sometimes!!

In 1971 during RIMPAC in Hawaii Vic and I decided to fly to Maui for the weekend. As ERA 3's we weren't exactly flush in those days so sleeping on the beach after a night out in Lahaina was all we could afford. After 2 or 3 hours of being eaten alive by mozzies I'd had enough, and I dragged Vic off the beach with the promise of finding lodgings for the night.
He was a bit anxious and had a nervous smile as we walked into the Police Station and approached the desk Sargent, a big islander chap who looked up as I asked how 'he was going', and if he could possibly provide us with a cell for the night. He enquired as to whether or not we were Australians, I thought whacko we're in!! and after confirming said nationality he instructed us to 'leave with haste', not his words!!
By the time I had turned to go Vic was already out the door.

We were to learn later that one of the escorting Frigates had visited Lahaina 2 weeks before and the crew had disgraced themselves.

1972 we were now ERA 2's, or Petty Officers and as we let go and departed the Djakarta Port of Tanjung Priok I was standing on the Flight deck at 'Alpha' and waving to 2 blokes I knew, out of a crew of 1200, who were standing on the wharf having missed the ship and waving back. A chopper was sent in, or a ships boat, I don't remember which, to pick up newly promoted ERA 2 V J Harlow and a Stoker mate. They lost leave and money and were not popular with the Master at Arms.

1973 Vic was our 'Best Man' when Nancy and I married and 'Blue' was Groomsman.

1974 I was off to DDG's, some stayed on the MELBOURNE, some went to Subs and some decided to leave Pussers. I think that was when Vic was one of those who chose another path outside and to 'Pay Off'.

We've known each other since 15 years of age, a long time but only 'yesterday'.

Regards,

Ray Mobbs

[BC]

Reports tell me that Vic's family were very appreciative of the number of term mates attending. There were also many stories passed between MOBI's and family.

Here are some photos of term mates who attend:


L-R Greg Fairlie, Barry Davis, Ric Summers, Charlie Finch, Ray Mobbs, Dave Trigg, Neil Walton, Colin Byles & Trevor Hill.


L-R Dave Trigg, Colin Byles and Neil Walton.


L-R Ric Summers, Ray Mobbs and Charlie Finch.