A Farewell to those with whom we served...

[HenryS]

Sad news PK very British and proper Ike was a good guy as you say tough but fair .
Resat your oars old sailor us youngsters will take over from here.

[piquet]

You are absolutly correct Henry. He and Paddy Collins (Ist Lt) ran a great small but tight naval base.
I saw him many times at the Anzac day parade here in Melbourne. One year I went up to him and said good morning to him. He said I recognise you, Yes Sir says I. He comes back quick as a flash "Young Sneddon!".

Mind you I was about 55 then, so in his eyes I was still young.
He didn't look any older at about 70 -80 than he did at Lonsdlae in the 1970's. Down to the same gravelly voice
Now I'm not sure if he remembered me for good or bad reasons but I must say I left a print on someones mind at least.

They don't make them like Ike any more.
His funeral is today in Melbourne at 1100 So I will, later today, raise a glass to a good guy who did heaps, seved his country in 4 wars and is remembered by many for his good deeds.
RIP Ike Levy

[Hippy Chippy]

I'd appreciate it if you could copy/ paste/ e-mail me that FaceBook photo of Ike you referred to, PK, and I'll add it to your post in this topic for you...

[piquet]

I think I may have surprised my self. I believe that I worked out how to attach it to an email and email/send it to you Rick.

[Hippy Chippy]

Both attempts failed Peter, but never mind, I managed to download this one from a Facebook post from his nephew, Phil Levy, ex-LSQMG, who posted:
"Thanks for the add Peter. I was trying to join in time to let people know about the passing and funeral arrangements of my Uncle LCDR (MBE) Jack (Ike) Levy.
He passed last Friday aged 94 and was buried today Friday 28th April."



I posted under Ike's pic:

"Fond memories and nothing but respect for your firm but fair Uncle 'Ike' when I was based at HMAS Lonsdale as a Chippy on FMP at Williamstown Naval Dockyard...
That was back in late '70 and early '71, I know, because I just Googled the date of the collapse of the Westgate Bridge which we witnessed from the end of the
Williamstown Pier, at 11.50 am on 15 October 1970, having driven under it just three hours earlier...! VALE 'Ike', rest on your oars, your voyage is done..."

[BC]

The following information was passed on to me this morning. I don't think I ever had the pleasure of meeting, but your watch is done.

RIP Tom

Thomas George Flanagan R58381 CERA - 22/3/1939 - 28/8/2017 Asbestosis

For those who knew Tom, or knew of him, some sad news. Tom was a character and a bit of a larrikin in the early days, but he knew his job and did it well.

Tom joined the RAN in 1961 as a Stoker, but transferred to A/ERA2 in 1965. His Vietnam service consisted of 2 x trips in 1966 in HMAS Melbourne and a full gun line deployment in HMAS Brisbane in 1971.

Tom’s funeral will be Monday 4th Sept at 3pm at the Great Southern Gardens of Remembrance at Mt Cotton.

This will be followed by a get together at the Redlands RSL to celebrate his life.

[Bruce D]

On Sunday my Father Capt A M Downes LCDR RN/RAN (ret) died.

He used to do the compass on the yacht "Nirimba" and some of the chippies would had met him around the Sydney Waterfront.


Mike Downes was born in 23rd July 1921, Surry England and died aged 96.

In 1937 he started his nautical career at the Thames Nautical Training Collage HMS Worcester. During his time at HMS Worcester, Mike was privileged to have sailed the Cutty Sark when it was made its final trip from Falmouth to the collage at Greenhithe. It was our understanding that Mike Downes was the “Last Man Standing" of those cadets who sailed on the Cutty Sark under full sail in 1938.

In August 1939 he was called up for war service with the Royal Navy as a midshipmen RNR, serving on HMS Botlea (alias RFA Lambridge) a Q-ship operating in the Atlantic, Indian oceans, the Middle East and the Red Sea. In 1941 he was posted to HMS Walpole an old V&W class Destroyer operating around the English Channel, here Mike was involved the chase of German battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and the Prince Eugen during their daring dash up the English Channel to Germany.

From 1942 to 1945 Mike Downes was posted to HMS Tay a River Class Frigate assigned to the B7 " Escort Group" under Capt Peter Gretton. Mike Downes (LT RNR) was the HMS Tay's Navigator and the ships anti-submarine officer. The most famous convoy he was involved in, was ONS5 in April/May 1943.It was a slow convoy from Liverpool to Halifax with 44 ships, during the proceeding battle over eight days, the convoy was attacked by 4 German wolf packs with a an strength of over 50 U-Boats. The convoy escorts, including the B7 Escort Group sunk 7 U-boats with the loss of 13 merchant ships. During the course of this battle HMS Tay assumed the duties of the Escort Commander when Capt Peter Gretton's ship HMS Duncan ran low on fuel and had to leave the convoy. This convoy was regarded as the turning point of Battle of the Atlantic.

In 1945 Mike Downes was posted to HMS Patroller (a American built Ruler class Escort Carrier) as the Navigating Officer, deployed to the British Fleet in the Far East. Mike remained on board until he was discharged in March 1946.

During WWII Mike Downes gained not only RN qualifications such as a graduate of the RN's Long Navigation Course and other Warfare related courses, but his civilian tickets as 2nd mate, 1st Mate and Masters Certificate in the Merchant Navy.

Post World War II (1946 to 1951) Mike Downes returned to the Merchant Navy serving on various Shaw Savills ships sailing mainly on the UK to Australia run, and then on the Adelaide Steamship Company ships sailing between Fremantle to Cairns.

In late 1951 Mike Downes returned to the UK for reserve officer training, returning to Australia by September 1952 to join the Royal Australian Navy (1952 to 1960) as a LCDR RANR, here Mike served in a number of positions, including as Assistant & Master Attendant of Garden Island, Deputy Captain of the Port of Sydney & Senior Pilot. He also became Commanding Officer of HMAS Kookaburra, HMAS Sprightly, HMAS Woomera, and HMAS Emu.

In 1960 Mike Downes left full time service with the RAN to set up business as a Marine Surveyor and Compass Adjuster, Capt A M Downes and Associates, a business he ran for 40 years. Mike was a well-known figure along the NSW waterfront. One of his job included inspects the tiles for the Sydney Opera House. Mike was in constant demand for compass work, all over Australia and even as far away as Fiji, Mike for many years swung the compasses for many of Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race boats. One year he nearly ended up heading to Hobart, because he was still on board the yacht minutes before the start gun.

Mike Downes continue to serve the RAN in a reserve capacity until the late 1970's. During his time with the reserve be did training on ships such as HMAS Queenborugh, HMAS Sydney (III), HMAS Supply, HMAS Stalwart as well at various shore bases such as HMAS Waterhen and Kuttabul.

In 2000 he retired from business, through to continue to do compass work well into his 80's.

Mike Downes was a keen swimmer, swimming both summer and winter, until winter of 2017 where it had became too cold for him to get the water, but this didn’t dampen his spirits. He was also keen sailor and a Life member of RANSA where he crewed for many years. He especially enjoyed skippering the Naval Whalers for regatta events.

Mike Downes was a sailor who loved being at sea and took delight with any opportunity of a day on the water, no matter what type of vessel, weather it was a cruise ship, cargo ship, a small fishing vessel or a Naval warship.

On a personal note, In 1953 Mike Downes married Joan Gaffney in Melbourne and they had five children, Peter, Bruce, John, Kim and Alan. Joan died in 2012.

Mike Downes is survived by his five children.

He was a loving father and a beloved husband to Joan.



Bruce D

[Seejay]

My condolences for your loss, Bruce.

[Chippy Ned]

Thanks for sharing your Dad's life with us Bruce, he was a great man. My condolences.

[BC]

So sorry to hear of your family's loss. Mike certainly had a full and active life.

RIP Mike