Those Apprentices Deceased Whilst on Duty

Memorial Notices for those fellow shipmates who are no longer with us...

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maverick
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Post by maverick »

Bryan wrote:There is two that I can think of, that don't seem to be mentioned yet.

Leon James (14th Muppet Intake) was killed in a motor cycle accident when returning to base (Nirimba), in '80 (I think... maybe it was late '79)...

Around '82-83, (Bomber) Brown (13th Muppet Intake?) died in a car accident at the bottom of the hill leading up to Albatross (hit a tree)...
It was rumoured at the time, that it was suicide, because he had recently been diagnosed with leukemia (?)...


Hi Bryan,

I remember Leon very well he was a great lad. It was so sad what happened to him so close to passing out as well. Leon was killed when a drunk driver ran into him whilst he waiting to make a right hand turn on his way back from Blackers to the base.
Paul Svensen
S126324
Ex-ABATWL
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84 RAAF Dec 84 - Dec 90
Nirimba, Albatross, VC724 SQN, RAAF Wagga,
RAAF - Williamtown, RAAF Richmond, 2AD, 481 SQN, 77 SQN
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Bryan
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Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:52 am
Given Name: Bryan
Surname: Harries
Original Official Number: S124324
Rank and Rate: ABATA3
Intake or Class: 14th Muppet Intake
Date of Enlistment: Jan 1979
Date of Discharge: Dec 1984
Ships and Establishments.: Nirimba, Albatross.
City or Town: Delray Beach
State: Florida
Country: U.S.A.
Occupation: Sales Manager
Location: Delray Beach, FL (USA) - Ex Busselton, W.A.

Post by Bryan »

I came across the accident scene on my way back to base... I didn't know at the time, it was Leon...

Whilst most where liked more or less, depending on the circles they hung out in, Leon was liked by all...
Bryan Harries
S124324
Ex-ABATA3
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84
Nirimba, Albatross (HC723 Sqdn - Bell Cell)
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maverick
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Post by maverick »

Bryan wrote:I came across the accident scene on my way back to base... I didn't know at the time, it was Leon...

Whilst most where liked more or less, depending on the circles they hung out in, Leon was liked by all...


Yep I agree 100%, Leon was just one of those kind of guys that was liked by everyone who knew him. He used to do some pretty funny things, I remember him standing rounds one evening and he had just walked in from his pig farm duties and boy did he stink. The reviewing officer nearly chucked up when he walked into his cabin. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Paul Svensen
S126324
Ex-ABATWL
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84 RAAF Dec 84 - Dec 90
Nirimba, Albatross, VC724 SQN, RAAF Wagga,
RAAF - Williamtown, RAAF Richmond, 2AD, 481 SQN, 77 SQN
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tw586
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two from the Jan 80 intake

Post by tw586 »

We lost Steven Bowles on our first leave at mid year, he was killed in a car crash at home on leave, Darren Holmes killed in an horrific bike crash on board in our 4th term . Any one know of any others, let me know
Tony Whitfield
S128586
Ex-LS MTP3
16th Muppet Intake
Jan 80 to Jan 89
Nirimba, Cerberus, Tobruk, Moreton, Labuan, Wewak, Waterhen, TRV,s Waterhen.
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maverick
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Post by maverick »

Bryan wrote:There is two that I can think of, that don't seem to be mentioned yet.

Leon James (14th Muppet Intake) was killed in a motor cycle accident when returning to base (Nirimba), in '80 (I think... maybe it was late '79)...

Around '82-83, (Bomber) Brown (13th Muppet Intake?) died in a car accident at the bottom of the hill leading up to Albatross (hit a tree)...
It was rumoured at the time, that it was suicide, because he had recently been diagnosed with leukemia (?)...
Bryan, I am not sure if you visit this forum much but I only just realised that you were talking about Paul Brown. Not a suicide but a case of a bunch of guys pushing the limits. I was supposed to have been with them that night. They went up to the Cross to have some fun and I had to work back so missed out going. There were 4 of them in the car and all were killed. Paul lived till the emergency crew got there but died shortly after.
It was a particularly gruesome accident with the guys having terrible injuries.

I can still hear Pauls voice in my head today, we had become very good friends prior to his death and it was difficult to console his fiance at the time. She later moved back to Sydney.
Paul Svensen
S126324
Ex-ABATWL
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84 RAAF Dec 84 - Dec 90
Nirimba, Albatross, VC724 SQN, RAAF Wagga,
RAAF - Williamtown, RAAF Richmond, 2AD, 481 SQN, 77 SQN
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Bryan
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Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:52 am
Given Name: Bryan
Surname: Harries
Original Official Number: S124324
Rank and Rate: ABATA3
Intake or Class: 14th Muppet Intake
Date of Enlistment: Jan 1979
Date of Discharge: Dec 1984
Ships and Establishments.: Nirimba, Albatross.
City or Town: Delray Beach
State: Florida
Country: U.S.A.
Occupation: Sales Manager
Location: Delray Beach, FL (USA) - Ex Busselton, W.A.

Post by Bryan »

Paul, I was on SAR stand-by to fly him directly to Sydney, but the fight was canceled.

Brad (Dimmock), Rigby-Meth, Bomber, and I shared a donga at Nirimba... I had some of his sketches for the longest time... he was an excellent artist.

PS. I stop by here most days.
Bryan Harries
S124324
Ex-ABATA3
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84
Nirimba, Albatross (HC723 Sqdn - Bell Cell)
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maverick
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Post by maverick »

Bryan wrote:Paul, I was on SAR stand-by to fly him directly to Sydney, but the fight was canceled.

Brad (Dimmock), Rigby-Meth, Bomber, and I shared a donga at Nirimba... I had some of his sketches for the longest time... he was an excellent artist.

PS. I stop by here most days.
Hehehe Rigby now there was a character, do you know whatever happened to him?
Paul Svensen
S126324
Ex-ABATWL
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84 RAAF Dec 84 - Dec 90
Nirimba, Albatross, VC724 SQN, RAAF Wagga,
RAAF - Williamtown, RAAF Richmond, 2AD, 481 SQN, 77 SQN
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Bryan
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Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:52 am
Given Name: Bryan
Surname: Harries
Original Official Number: S124324
Rank and Rate: ABATA3
Intake or Class: 14th Muppet Intake
Date of Enlistment: Jan 1979
Date of Discharge: Dec 1984
Ships and Establishments.: Nirimba, Albatross.
City or Town: Delray Beach
State: Florida
Country: U.S.A.
Occupation: Sales Manager
Location: Delray Beach, FL (USA) - Ex Busselton, W.A.

Post by Bryan »

I think Brad was in touch with him at one time, but I have no clue.

I still have a grey spot just under my ribs, where he (Rigby) stabbed me with a pencil one day, just because.
Bryan Harries
S124324
Ex-ABATA3
14th Muppet Intake
Jan 79 - Dec 84
Nirimba, Albatross (HC723 Sqdn - Bell Cell)
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mobiandy
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Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:34 am
Given Name: Andrew
Surname: McCarthy
Original Official Number: R96224
Rank and Rate: POATC3
Intake or Class: 25th MOBI Intake
Date of Enlistment: July 1967 (ex JR)
Date of Discharge: July 1976
Ships and Establishments.: Leeuwin, Nirimba, Albatross, Melbourne, HT725, HS817.
City or Town: Toormina
State: NSW
Country: Australia
Occupation: Retired
Location: Sydney

Post by mobiandy »

Re Mick Dernedde and Lou McKenna.
Mick Humby was also killed in that accident. They were returning from Adelaide to Albatross after the Easter weekend in 1972. They were in Mick D's white Torana and it left the road and hit a tree in the Cullerin Ranges near Yass NSW. Very sad time for the birdies from the 25th intake.
Andrew McCarthy
R96224
POATC3 (dreaded birdie)
25th MOBI Intake
July 1967 (ex JR) to July 1976
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Albatross, Melbourne, Albatross.
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Max
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Post by Max »

Paul "Debbie" Reynolds. January 1990

We were on leave over the Xmas/NY break and the day before returning Paul was hit by a car in his home town of Rockingham. He was walking down the road with a few mates and the sun was setting behind them. This blinded a driver coming towards them who swerved and hit Paul.

His intake and classmates (of which I was proud to be one) erected a memorial garden out the front of Dampier Division shortly after. We met Paul's parents during the obligatory weekend away prior to passing out.

Paul was a lovely bloke and a very skilled apprentice. He had completed a pre-apprenticeship course prior to joining and his machining skills were top class.

We were the January 1989 intake. Our class was MTP2.
Michael Walker
Ex-LSMT
Jan 1989 Muppet intake
Jan 1989 - Jan 1997
Nirimba, Brisbane, Kuttabul, Hobart
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