| TK's staging site |
|
By *WWII landing ship to visit Charleston *Shrimpers being stopped for checks *Effort to fund a $3.9-million project to provide municipal water and sewer services to American Beach is back to the drawing board *National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers released a report Thursday saying that an "increase in abundance" of lionfish off the East Coast is irreversible
Bob was one of 23 survivors. the remainder of Tempest's 62 crew perished. He was a prisoner of war for the next thirteen months before being repatriated in an exchange of prisoners. After the exchange, he spent six weeks at Alexandria prior to being returned to the UK aboard the ILE DE FRANCE, a famous inter - war liner. Bob's war was not over. He returned to action in 1943, aboard the frigate HMS Cam. This ship was based in Scotland, and Bob stayed aboard for several months, until that ship blew her stern off when attacking a U-Boat in the channel. It was in 1944 that Bob passed his Leading Telegraphist exam, commencing work with Special Services in Greece. He was involved in the Greek Civil War for a short period, before being posted to HMS Canopus, at the Nile in Egypt, and then HMS St Angelo in Malta. Bob's naval career ended in 1946, when he was demobilised on the 23rd. of April. This not the end of Bob's naval life. In 1953, four years after migrating from the UK to Australia, Bob joined the Geelong Sea Cadet unit as Commanding Officer. He retained this position, with the rank of Lieutenant, until 1958, when the pressure of business forced him to leave. This was to be temporary. He returned to Training Ship Barwon, now considered as Naval Reserve Cadets ( NRC ), as Commanding Officer, this time in the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During this period TS Barwon was to become one of the more successful NRC units in the country. The Ship's company rose to well over 100 cadets. For three years in a row, the unit was judged Victoria's best, and in consecutive years won the Australian Colours. This was an Australian record. Such success saw the local community respond, with the unit being given: " Freedom of Entry to the City of Geelong." Bob remained CO of TS Barwon until 1984. This time the departure was due to the RAN's decision - they considered him, in Bob's own words: " TOO OLD." However, Bob was of a different opinion. Whilst no longer involved in the NRC, he started the Navy League of Australia's Geelong Branch that same year, and was appointed Royal Australian Navy Liaison Officer of Geelong Port. Still later, in 1989, Bob became Foundation Honorary Curator of the Geerlong Naval and Maritime Museum. He remained n that position until 1996. During his tenure, the museum expanded through the former Osborne House gym and engineering workshop. Whilst not in Osborne House proper, the museum is located next to the building that was the original home of the Royal Australian Naval College. Photographs of cadets ( including those with names of Collins, Farncomb et al ) decorating the walls have extra significence - they are of, and taken at, the very place the viewer is visiting! The most ambitious of Bob's projects was an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to have an Oberon class submarine moved to the Geelong museum. Bob consulted with the Royal Navy Submarine Museum to assist with costing this project and found ways to get the submarine moved to Geelong at no cost. However, the Geelong Council did not support this attempt, and it ultimately failed - something Bob still considers a lost opportunity. Bob's contribution to Australia in general, and the Geelong region in particular, has resulted in him being awarded the 2003 Centenary Medal, for: " Contribution to Australian Society.", as well as, also in 2003, the Order of These days Bob remains active, sailing several days a week on Corio bay, and is currently working as a volunteer production coordinator at a local radio station, and presenting his own Sunday breakfast show: " Weeties and Wayback." " Mac" Gregory. I emailed Mr Gregory requesting information on his career. As a junior officer during the Second World War, Mr Gregory had first-hand accounts of some of the RAN's more significent moments. He, like Bob Appleton, survived the sinking of one of his ships and served in the RAN for many years afterwards. Like Bob's story, Mac has many events which would be considered significent by many people. But for this assignment I will re-tell just a few. In early August, 1942, the Canberra was steaming off Savo Island. The night of 08-09 August was to be her last. Japanese warships managed to pass by several US radar pickets without detection. They continued southwards, until early on the 9th. contact was made with Canberra's group. The Japanese fired torpedoes. The Canberra managed to avoid being hit by these before several shells exploded around the bridge. Canberra's Captain, Frank Getting ( one of the RANC's 1913 entrants ) was mortally wounded. Several other personnel were killed or suffered injuries. In two minutes Canberra was hit by 24 Japanese shells, leaving her with serious damage. She was on fire amidships and below decks, and had a significent list to starboard, with many of her crew dead or wounded. Sub- Lieutenant Gregory was on Canberra's bridge that night, and is quoted as saying of those short minutes: "... For Canberra the war was over..." He left the bridge just after 0143 and went to his action station, the fore The sinking of someone's ship is a major event in anyone's career, and this was undoubtedly so for Mac. However, after just two weeks of leave he was posted to HMAS Adelaide, which was engaged in convoy escort and patrol work. He stayed in Adelaide until transferring to Shropshire, Canberra's replacement, shortly after the Battle of Surigao Strait in October 1944. Mac's time in Shropshire began on a slightly humorous note. Having experienced much frustration in attempting to organise air transport to join his new ship, Mac asked for a Travel Request. It stated:
Shropshire's Pacific war included experiencing the Kamikaze attacks which ended HMAS Australia's war. Shropshire, a ship almost identical in silhouette, emerged unscathed. Mac describes this period as follows:
Having survived the Kamikazes, Shropshire was able to participate in the Tokyo Bay surrender ceremony, which ended the Pacific War. When the Japanese came aboard USS Missouri to sign the surrender documents, Shropshire was there, one of several ships representing Australia, to witness the event. Mac described the day as follows:
Mac served for nearly a decade after the end of the war, in various capacities. He was the first RAN officer to qualify as a Torpedo/Anti-Submarine Officer ( TASO ) and served on the staff of several senior RAN officers of note. Changing tack in 1950, Mac became Aide - de - Camp to the then Governor- General, William McKell Mac is still active, and runs his own Navy history website. He is recognised as a great source of information by many internet users, with a website visited by many, many people seeking answers to obscure questions - including those from nosy Sub-Lieutenants asking him for his life story. Conclusion. I was quite apprehensive approaching both of these individuals for information to assist me in writing this piece. After all, both had experienced what could only be described as rather traumatic events - ships sinking from beneath them. I thank them both for their positive replies. After reading their stories I hope I can get as much out of life as they have! Both supplied me with more than enough information for this piece, and were happy to do so. In fact they were both prepared to provide futher information if requested! I found it of great interest to be exposed to these personal recollections of history. There are ever fewer primary sources available to us as time marches on, and takes its inevitable toll on people with such interesting and amazing stories to tell. Through NEOC we have read about ships being sunk in peace and war, including the Canberra's loss. But most people only get to read someone else's version of the event, based on the memories of people like Mac and Bob. I coinsider myself fortunate to have to have been allowed to tell both Bob's and Mac's stories, and hope that this piece does them and their memories justice.
May 21, 2004 - Sacramento CA - Empire
|