A Farewell to those with whom we served...

[Stroppy Chippie]

Sad to hear of Sids passing - I knew him during his time as the coxswain for Support Craft Ryde (up to his retirement). Always remember the shorts and sandals (yes, and the pipe) with the only concession in winter being a jacket.
Vale Sid.

[Hippy Chippy]

Have just received word that former CNS, Vice Admiral Sir Richard Innes Peek passed away on 28th August at the age of 96.

DOB: 30th July 1914 - DOD: 28th August 2010. RIP.

He used to hate these initials, (R.I.P.) and insisted that people call him Peter. .

Regards

David Dwyer
Hon Sec Vic
H.M.A.S. SYDNEY & VLSVA

[Hippy Chippy]

Shipmates,

The following signal is for information:-

FM CN AUSTRALIA
TO AIG 3600
AIG 3602
RAN ALL SHORE 1/3
RAN ALL SHORE 2/3
RAN ALL SHORE 3/3
RAN ALL SHIP
ALL OVERSEAS

INFO RAYASAA/CDF AUSTRALIA
BT
UNCLAS
SIC VZA/WUE/WZA
SUBJ: PASSING OF VADM SIR RICHARD PEEK, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN (RETD)
1. I REGRET TO INFORM THE NAVY OF THE PASSING OF VADM SIR RICHARD PEEK, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN (RTD). AT HIS REQUEST, A PRIVATE CREMATION SERVICE WAS HELD TODAY IN CANBERRA. VADM SIR RICHARD PEEK SERVED AS CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF FROM 1970 TO 1973, AS THE CULMINATION OF A DISTINGUISHED NAVAL CAREER IN WAR AND PEACE, AND REMAINED ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S ACTIVE ADVISORS IN NAVAL DEFENCE STRATEGY UNTIL THE END.
2. VADM SIR RICHARD PEEK’S LIFE WAS DEFINED BY THE IDEAL OF SERVICE. HE ENTERED THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVAL COLLEGE IN 1928, GRADUATING WITH MAXIMUM TIME, AND SPECIALISED IN GUNNERY EARLY IN HIS CAREER. WHEN THE SECOND WORLD WAR BROKE OUT HE WAS SERVING IN THE BATTLESHIP HMS REVENGE. IN 1941 HE JOINED THE LIGHT CRUISER HMAS HOBART AS GUNNERY OFFICER, AND SERVED IN THE SAME CAPACITY IN HEAVY CRUISER HMAS AUSTRALIA UNTIL 1944. ADMIRAL PEEK WAS AWARDED THE OBE (MILITARY) FOR HIS ACTIONS AT LEYTE GULF IN HMAS AUSTRALIA, AND THE DSC FOR SKILL AND DEVOTION TO DUTY IN ACTION AT LINGAYEN GULF.

3. FITTINGLY, ADMIRAL PEEK LED THE RAN CONTINGENT IN THE VICTORY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON IN 1945, REMAINING TO COMPLETE STAFF COURSE. AFTER SEVERAL POSTINGS AT SEA AND ASHORE HE TOOK COMMAND OF THE FIRST FRIGATE SQUADRON AND HMAS SHOALHAVEN IN 1951 AND LATER COMMANDED THE DESTROYERS HMA SHIPS BATAAN AND TOBRUK.
DURING THE KOREAN WAR, WHILE IN COMMAND OF HMAS TOBRUK HE WAS AWARDED THE US LEGION OF MERIT. HE WAS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL IN 1954 AND AGAIN TOOK COMMAND OF TOBRUK FROM 1956 TO 1958 AND AS CAPTAIN (D) 10th DESTROYER SQUADRON. FOUR YEARS LATER, HE COMMANDED THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMAS SYDNEY AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE RAN FLAGSHIP HMAS MELBOURNE.

4. IN 1964, HE WAS PROMOTED TO REAR ADMIRAL AND WAS APPOINTED FOURTH NAVAL MEMBER AND CHIEF OF SUPPLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH NAVAL BOARD, THEN DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF IN 1965 FOR TWO YEARS. ADMIRAL PEEK’S NEXT POST WAS FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING HMA FLEET IN 1967, INCLUDING OVERSIGHT OF THE FAR EAST STRATEGIC RESERVE, BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT AS SECOND NAVAL MEMBER AND CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL IN 1968 AND THEN CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF AND FIRST NAVAL MEMBER IN NOVEMBER 1970. DURING HIS TENURE, RAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIETNAM WAR CAME TO AN END AND CONSIDERABLE EFFORT WAS DEVOTED TO FORCE STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING PLANS FOR A LIGHT DESTROYER (DDL) AND A REPLENISHMENT SHIP. NAVY ALSO TOOK CHARGE OF MANNING LARGER AMPHIBIOUS CRAFT AND PERSONNEL STRENGTH REACHED ITS POST-1945 PEAK OF 17 000 MEN AND WOMEN.

5. VICE ADMIRAL PEEK RETIRED ON 23 NOVEMBER 1973 TO LIFE AS A PASTORALIST BUT CONTINUED HIS LIFELONG INVOLVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA’S NAVAL DEFENCE. HE PROVIDED EXPERT ADVICE TO PARLIAMENT AS RECENTLY AS THE 2009 WHITE PAPER DISCUSSION PROCESS AND WAS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR NAVAL VETERANS OF ALL CAMPAIGNS.

6. VICE ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD PEEK’S PASSING MARKS THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE RAN. HE PERSONIFIED THE VALUES WE STRIVE FOR FROM THE MOST JUNIOR TO THE MOST SENIOR AMONG US – HONOUR, COURAGE, LOYALTY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY - WHETHER IN PEACETIME OR IN FACE OF THE CHALLENGES OF WAR AT SEA. FOR HIMSELF, HE NEVER FORGOT THE MEN UNDER HIS COMMAND AND THEIR WELFARE WAS AMONG HIS GREATEST CONCERNS. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL NAVAL OFFICER AND ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE AND RESPECTED DESTROYER CAPTAINS THE RAN HAS PRODUCED.

7. THE FAMILY OF THE LATE VICE ADMIRAL SIR RICHAR PEEK HAVE ADVISED THAT A MEMORIAL /COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE WILL BE HELD NEXT MONTH TO HONOUR THEIR LATE FATHER. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE WILL BE ADVISED SEPARATELY.
BT
DRAFTER: CAPT B.K. GORRINGE, DNSOM TO CN

RELEASED: VADM R.H. CRANE, CN


Kind regards,

Les Dwyer
National President
Naval Association of Australia

'Each for All - All for Each'

Telephone: 07 54727359 Mobile: 0419 84 9900
Mail: PO Box 614, YANDINA QLD 4561
Email: NationalPresident@NavalAssoc.org.au

[BC]

I have just noticed the following listings in the "Last Post" section of Reveille, the journal of the NSW RSL.

Norton GF R43519 WO

Robbins CJ R42047 Shipwright


RIP

[Hippy Chippy]

Thanks BC, but individual topics have been created (as we do for ex-Nirimba people,)
for both ex-MOBIs Col Robbins and Graham Norton...

[BC]

Sorry Rick,

I jumped in without looking, I should have checked the other posts first!

[Hippy Chippy]

FNSA - Passing of Jack Bennett - Foundation member of Federation of Naval Ship Associations

Dear Members,

It is with deep regret that I advise you of the death of Jack Bennett. Jack passed away in North Shore Hospital last Wednesday 17 November of complications from a brain tumor.

After a distinguished career in the RAN during WWII including Service in the Scrap Iron Flotilla in the Med and later in South East Asia, Jack joined the Naval Association and commenced work associated with the Anzac Day March in Sydney in 1948. Jack was a Founding Member of the Federation of Naval Ship Associations and was our Representative on the RSL NSW Anzac Day Organising Committee since 1954. He has been HEAVILY involved in planning the Navy Order of March for every Anzac Day for the past 56 years including next years March in 2011. Even advising me of necessary changes while in hospital almost up to the day he passed away. A stalwart of our Association and a true gentleman in every sense.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
The funeral of Jack Bennett will be held at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium (East Chapel), Dehli Rd North Ryde, at 1030 on Tuesday 23 November (this coming Tuesday). Jack's wife Vena has invited Friends and Family to celebrate Jack's life afterwards at Mosman Anglican Church, Cowells Rd Mosman. Cards to Mrs Vena Bennett, 44 Almora St, Mosman NSW 2088

As your President, it would be sincerely appreciated if Members of our Association could attend the Funeral of Jack Bennett who has done more than anyone to ensure our Association's strength and longevity.

Sincerely
Commander Ken Swain AM RAN
President
Federation of Naval Ship Associations
Ph: 9907 9003

[Hippy Chippy]

I received this from Peter Maher tonight...

Rick,

I think this bloke may have been an adult entry tradesman.

Peter

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fw: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 19:59:34 +1000
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
To: <Undisclosed>

Bill,

Just advising you that Don Dargusch (ex WOETC) R59497 Dob 15 Jan 1941
passed away peacefully on 26th Jan 2011 after a long illness.

Don served in Vendetta during 26.2.62 to 29 4.64. He travelled to Vietnam on board Anzac in 1968.

He was cremated at Traditional Funerals, Burpengary, QLD yesterday. You may wish to dist. this.

Regards

Gordon

Vale Don, rest on your oars Matey, your voyage is done...

[Hippy Chippy]

Many of you will know Dave Twiss, Lower Deck to CERA, and on to Officer, although probably better known for his passion for Steam traction.

PM

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Annette Twiss
Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:06:37 +1100
From: david.twiss08@optusnet.com.au

To: Peter Maher <steelcatd41>


Dear Peter,

Just letting you know that my wife, Annette, passed away peacefully at Calvary Hospital yesterday.

The funeral is to be held at St.Catherine Laboure Church, Gymea corner of Gymea Bay Road and President Avenue, at 9.45 Tuesday, 15th February, 2011.

Dave Twiss

[Peter Weyling]

Aaaah...that's sad. First came across Dave and Annette at Leeuwin whilst doing the HSC Course for SD selection. Tch tch!!