WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT) Memorial Service - 2014
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NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletter Volume 9 Issue 3 November 2014
Annual Memorial Service
The annual WRANS – Naval Women’s Memorial Service at the WRANS Memorial at HMAS Harman was held on Saturday 18 October 2014. In addition to a large contingent of Naval Cadets from TS Canberra, with some of their families and staff members from HMAS Harman, we had 50 members and guests attending. The weather was kind to us this year and was sunny but not too hot or too cold. Female cadets from TS Canberra provided the Catafalque Party and other cadets helped with car door openings and flag raisings. SBLT ANC Lorne Thurgar, the XO of TS Canberra played the Last Post and The Rouse on his bugle. The involvement of the Naval Cadets is very much appreciated.
The guest speaker was Mr John Perryman, CSM, Senior Naval Historical Officer, Sea Power Centre – Australia who talked about the significant naval anniversaries occurring this year and next and the role of women in the RAN. A copy of his speech is included later in the newsletter.
Wreaths were laid by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN; Ms Kathy Leigh representing the Chief Minister of the ACT; Mr Jeremy Hanson, CSC, MLA, Leader of the Opposition in the ACT Legislative Assembly; Commander Jayne Craig, RAN, Commanding Officer HMAS Harman; Mr Peter Cooke-Russell, President, Naval Association of Australia (ACT Section); Mrs Judith Rowe, President, WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT) and two female cadets from TS Canberra.
The RAN printed an article on the “Navy Daily” website which can be viewed at http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Oct2014/Events/1510/Remembering-Navy-Women.htm#.VF6yw_mUd8E
Following the service, 35 members and guests attend a lunch at the Royal Hotel in Queanbeyan.
John Perryman, CSM Senior Naval Historical Officer, Sea Power Centre, Australia speech given at the WRANS – Naval Women’s Memorial Service at HMAS Harman on 18 October 2014.
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests.
There are three reasons why it gives me particular pleasure to have been invited here today as your guest speaker. Firstly, my own association with that unique cohort of women, who chose to serve in the naval forces, began with my mother, Jean, who served in Britain’s Royal Navy as a Wren.
It was while serving in Malta as a signaller during the 1950’s that she met my father, also a Royal Naval signalman, and so it was hardly surprising that my younger brother and I should both follow in their footsteps, joining the Royal Australian Navy as signalmen.
Secondly I have enjoyed a long association with HMAS Harman, the home of Australian naval communications, and of course the birthplace of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. My association with Harman began in 1976 when I joined TS Canberra as a young Naval Reserve Cadet and it continued throughout my naval career; so it’s nice to be back in familiar territory.
Thirdly, as a communicator, I have many fond memories of keeping watches alongside Wrans in facilities such as DEFCOMMARS Canberra, Navy Office MSO and in the Fleet Communications Centre. I consider myself quite fortunate that, as a young SMNSIG, I benefitted from the mentoring of several petty officer Wrans in particular, from whom I learned a great deal. Following the transition of the Wrans into the RAN it followed that I was fortunate to serve alongside some truly inspirational women both ashore and at sea.
Today, however, I have been asked by Judith to speak to you in my capacity as the Senior Naval Historical Officer to discuss some of the significant naval anniversaries that the RAN has commemorated this year, and mention some of those that will be remembered as the centenary of ANZAC draws nearer. But first let’s set the scene by drawing on some words from Australia’s National Anthem.
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil, Our home is girt by sea
Our home is girt by sea…what does this mean? Well, in essence it is a direct reference to the fact that Australia is an island, a very big island in point-of-fact, with a coastline of some 35,876 kms. Puzzlingly, this is something that appears to be lost on many Australians, whose relationship with the sea begins and ends with visits to the seaside and whose relationship with this country’s naval forces is arguably more tenuous. Yet beyond the seaside is the vastness of the sea itself… and it is on, and across, that sea that much of Australia’s rich history has been written - in no small part - by our naval forces. So let’s reflect on some of that history now.
2014 began with a very important and solemn anniversary for the RAN, and that was the 50th anniversary of the loss of the Daring class destroyer HMAS Voyager, sunk following a collision with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, on 10 February 1964. I expect a number of you will remember that tragic day when 82 sailors lost their lives while participating in the type of exercises that routinely take place over the horizon and out of sight of the majority of most Australians. Many of the 232 survivors were received ashore and cared for by fellow shipmates, WRANs, and members of the RAN’s Nursing Service - perhaps even by some of you here today. That event continues to underscore the inherent dangers of life at sea and in the Armed Forces in general.
The 4th of August this year marked the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the World War 1. It is a little known fact that most of the RAN’s fleet was at sea, battle ready and patrolling their assigned war stations when news of the war was announced.
What swiftly followed was Australia’s first joint operation, when the RAN fleet steamed north to seize Germany’s possessions in the Pacific and in German New Guinea. A hastily raised body of men, known as the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, was escorted by the RAN to New Guinea where several companies of Australian Naval Reservists
landed at Rabaul to destroy German wireless facilities located there. Another little known fact is that a matron and six nurses sailed with that force in HMAS Grantala, a hospital ship especially requisitioned for the New Guinea operation. In 1920, the RAN recognised that although the nursing sisters had originally been enlisted as civilians, their service should be recognised as naval service and they were awarded Returned Sailors Badges.
That operation resulted in Australia’s first casualty of the First World War, a young able seaman named William Williams, and the award of that conflict’s first decoration to an Australian - a Distinguished Service Order to Lieutenant Thomas Bond, RANR. Sadly, the operation was marred further by the loss of the RAN submarine AE1 which disappeared with all hands while on patrol to the east of the Duke of York Island, in New Britain. The anniversary of that event was recently commemorated at Rabaul, coinciding with efforts to locate AE1’s wreck by men and women serving in the mine hunter HMAS Yarra.
The success of the RAN’s Pacific operations influenced the commander of the German East Asiatic cruiser squadron, Admiral von Spee, to evacuate its base in China and lead it eastwards, away from Australia, across the Pacific.
The RAN’s next wartime task was to facilitate the requisitioning and conversion of the merchant ships necessary to convey the first 20,000 soldiers, their horses and equipment to the Middle East. The speed of that conversion was staggering and the first 28 vessels were ready by 27 September 1914 and on 1 November the convoy sailed from Albany, again under RAN escort.
The commemoration of that historic departure will take place in Albany in a few weeks’ time. It is notable that over the course of World War I the RAN oversaw the requisitioning of some 74 troop transports that carried 337,000 men and 27,000 horses from Australia across the seas to the European theatre. None of those carried was lost to enemy action while on passage under the safeguard of the Navy.
This then brings us to the impending anniversary of what is arguably one of the RAN’s most celebrated naval victories; HMAS Sydney’s triumph over the German cruiser SMS Emden on 9 November 1914. Emden had enjoyed a remarkable raiding campaign in the Indian Ocean capturing or sinking more than 25 allied merchant vessels before being intercepted and driven ashore on North Keeling Island by HMAS Sydney. Following Emden’s destruction, the seas surrounding our island nation had been secured and the eyes of the nation then turned to the Dardanelles campaign and the events of April 1915.
While the RAN was not heavily involved in the Gallipoli landings it did gain the distinction of being the first in – through the endeavours of the Australian submarine AE2 which became the first Allied submarine to successfully penetrate the Dardanelles.
It also gained the distinction of being the last out – when the RAN Bridging Train – an engineering unit – became the last group to be evacuated.
There are of course other important anniversaries to recall. For example 2014, marks the 40th anniversary of Operation Navy Help Darwin, the RAN relief effort that saw the fleet rapidly deploy to aid Darwin in the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy in December 1974. The contribution of the Navy’s Women’s services in that operation was significant with many of the Darwin based Wrans maintaining vital communications links and performing other important duties prior to and following the arrival of the fleet. Those efforts brought urgently needed relief to the ‘top end’ city forging long-lasting bonds between the Navy and the citizens of the Northern Territory’s capital.
The anniversaries I’ve mentioned largely commemorate naval service at times when women were, with few exceptions, largely confined to supporting the war effort from the home front.
Encouragingly, much has changed since then, and you may be pleased to learn that when the frigate HMAS Anzac visits
Gallipoli next April to participate in the 100th anniversary commemorations it will do so under the command of Commander Belinda Wood, RAN. This is Belinda’s second command, having previously been the captain of the patrol boat HMAS Ipswich. I recently spoken with her about this I can assure you that it is an appointment that this very experienced naval officer is very much looking forward to and she joins the ranks of an increasing number of women who have held major fleet unit command appointments at sea.
Arguably, the road to that command began when the first 14 women of the WRANs reported for duty at the Navy’s wireless station, here in HMAS Harman, in 1941. Each of you who followed in their footsteps has contributed to the Navy’s proud record of service and played a part in the Royal Australian Navy achieving a more gender balanced workforce.
Today women from all walks of life can be found serving in the RAN from the rank of seaman through to rear admiral, performing all manner of tasks at sea, ashore and in the air, and in operational theatres around the globe. Many proudly wear multiple campaign ribbons awarded for service in the Middle East and other regional operations while others proudly wear the ribbons of Australian, and in some cases foreign, honours and awards in recognition of outstanding performance.
To that end, I commend all of you for your naval service and trust that each of you enjoys today’s commemoration of the role of women in the Navy and the fellowship that will follow over lunch.
Navy Ticketing Membership Navy Ticketing is a personalised entertainment booking service provided to all Australian Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence APS personnel. Discounted tickets are available to theatre shows, opera, dance, music, sporting events, tourist attractions etc. Navy Service Personnel, Navy Reserves and Retired Navy personnel fees are sponsored by the RANCCF and no contribution is required. Please register with either the RANCCF or Navy Ticketing to receive your membership card and to be added to our email list.
Membership Benefits
As a member you are entitled to:
a. personal service by Navy Ticketing staff to secure tickets to theatre, show and sports events;
b. electronic newsletters to keep you informed of the availability of shows and special offers;
c. discounted tickets when available;
d. preferential booking times and seating when available;
e. free tickets to shows and events when available; and
f. discounted holiday and hotel accommodation where available.
How to apply for membership
You can apply for membership through the web site at: http://www.navycanteens.com.au/content/navy-ticketing-membership-enquiry
Or phone Navy Ticketing staff on (02) 9393 3227 or (02) 9393 3276.
Commissioning of HMAS Canberra
The third Australian Naval ship to be named after our national capital will be commissioned on Friday 28 November 2014 at Garden Island in Sydney. HMAS Canberra 3 is the first of two Amphibious Assault Ships, also known as Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) for the RAN. The second ship will be commissioned in 2016 as HMAS Adelaide.
Construction of the hull to the level of the flight deck, including the majority of fitting out took place in north-west Spain. The hull was then shipped to Williamstown dockyard in Victoria for the installation of the island structure. The island modules were constructed at a number of sites around Australian before being moved to Williamstown for final installation on the flight deck.
The ship's roles are to embark, transport and deploy an embarked force, along with their equipment and aviation units, and to carry out/support humanitarian missions. The 27,500 tonne ship is almost half as large again as our previous biggest ship, HMAS Melbourne. It has a ship’s company
of 360 comprising Navy, Army and Air Force personnel.
National Council of Women of Australia Annual Memorial Ceremony
On October 3 some of our WRANS – Naval Women’s Association Members attended the annual memorial ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. NCWA holds a service each year remembering women who served in war and those who supported them at home. It is an opportunity to say thank you to those women and their place in history. Afterwards we adjourned to Poppy’s café for coffee and cake and talk.
VALE
Marie Forbes (nee Lloyd)
It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that we have lost our dear friend and founding member Marie Forbes.
Her son advised me this morning that she passed away early yesterday, ending what has been a short but painful illness.
At 93 death is not unexpected, but until late last year Marie had been a regular meeting attendee since joining the subsection in 1964, and we will miss her sweet smiling face. Even though she was unable to attend the meetings lately, she kept in touch and sent donations to our events.
Marie Camilla Forbes (nee Lloyd) served in the WRANS from 18.11.1942 to 17.10.1945 as a Supply Assistant at HMAS Penguin.
It is anticipated that her funeral will be held on Thursday morning, but details are not yet at hand. I will advise as they become available.
Lest we Forget
The WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT) Christmas Dinner
will be held at the Ainslie Football Club, 52 Wakefield Ave, Ainslie. On Wednesday 10 December 2014 – 6.30pm for 7pm.
(Wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks will be available from the bar at your own expense). Husbands, partners, spouses are most welcome to join us.
‘Secret Santa’ will get us all in the spirit of Christmas. Please bring a wrapped gift, up to the value of $10. (Ladies to bring a gift for ladies and gents to bring a gift for gents). As you arrive and place your gift in the appropriate basket, you will receive a ticket. This will be drawn out later in the evening.
Main Course:
Serve of three roast meats with roast vegetables
Desserts: (served alternate)
Traditional Christmas Pudding or Chocolate Mudcake
Please mention dietary requirements when replying (vegetarian/gluten free etc)
The cost per person is $30.00
and the closing date for payment is Friday 28 November, 2014.
Payment must be made by Friday 28 November 2014 via direct transfer to our account, OR by cheque made out to the WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT) and mailed to the Treasurer at WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT), PO Box 402, WODEN, ACT 2606, OR pay at the general meeting on Monday 10 November.
When paying online please use your name as the reference. Account details are as follows for direct transfer:
BSB Number 633 000
Account Number 12082 7027
Account Name WRANS-Naval Womens Assoc ACT
At the cut-off date 28 November, no further allowance can be given for acceptances or payment. Unfortunately refunds will not be possible. Your name (and that of your partner) will only be confirmed on the List of Attendees when payment has been received by the Treasurer.
Now to make your reply, please return your name to me, [email protected] or phone 6241 3759.
“WRANS - RAN Women Reunion 2016”
Melbourne 26 – 28 February 2016
There is plenty of time to plan and save the pennies.
The contact person is Jan Gallagher 57 Emanuel Drive Seaford Vic 3198 or Contact: [email protected] 03 9786 5371 0412918013
Accommodation details: The Bayview on the Park is situated in Queens Road, opposite Albert Park, and has been chosen as our recommended venue for accommodation, with two of our functions also being held there.
The negotiated price per room is:
Standard Room $115.00 per night
Premier Room $140.00 per night
Studio Suite $185.00 per night
Breakfast is $17.00 per head if requested when making your booking.
So get in early and book your accommodation.
You need to quote – WRANS2016 when making your booking.
Membership renewals are now due so if you have not already done so, could you please pay your annual membership subscription of $20.00 before the next Annual General Meeting either by cash or by cheque made out to the WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT) and forwarded to:
The Treasurer, WRANS – Naval Women’s Association (ACT), PO Box 402, WODEN ACT 2606 or if you prefer you could pay online by direct transfer. The account details are BSB Number 633 000
Account number 120 827 027
Account name WRANS - Naval Women’s Association (ACT) Payee Reference – your Surname/Mship 2015
NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME JOINING FEE IS
$10.00 PLUS THE ANNUAL $20.00 SUBSCRIPTION (Application Form on website)
INVITE YOUR NAVY FRIENDS ALONG TO OUR MEETINGS!
Personal Details - New email address – moved?
We need to continually update our contact details so if you have changed address, email etc., would you please complete the following and either return it to the Membership Secretary, PO Box 402, Woden ACT 2606 or hand it in at the next General Meeting.
PERSONAL DETAILS – UPDATE
Surname …………………………………………… Given Names ……………………………………………
