‘DOWN UNDER’ Newsletter

PRESIDENT

Allan Thomas 08 9581 4167

alpatthomas@iprimus.com.au

VICE PRESIDENT Alan Jameson 08 9367 6062

dreadval@bigpond.com

SECRETARY Bob Wood

0408 327 311 bobandrae@iinet.net.au

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

Mick Hannah 0416 231 727

michaelhannah257@gmail.com

TREASURER John Harrison 08 9401 1806

dianeharrison1943@dodo.com.au

SOCIAL SECRETARY Pat Thomas

08 9581 4167 alpatthomas@iprimus.com.au

September 2018

www.submariners-australiabranch.org

PATRON

Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce GCB CBE DL

CHAPLAIN

Bob Pitman 08 9844 7997

davidkayepitman@gmail.com

WELFARE Buster Keating

9527 7963 keatingclan@optusnet.com.au

SLOPS BOSUN Ted Manning 0421 416 202

johnhmanning@iinet.net.au

WEBMASTER Tom Oates

phylstom@bigpond.net.au

‘DOWN UNDER’ EDITOR Eoin Douglas-Smith

eoin@myplace.net.au

PERISCOPE MEMORIAL WARDEN Ned Newcombe

STANDARD BEARER

Ian Mackenzie ianmackenzie@hotmail.com

Monthly General Meeting September 12th, 2018

The President Allan Thomas opened the Meeting with a Toast to Absent Friends Guests: Lee Stedman. Apologies: John Manning, Barry Grace, Bob Pitman, Jim Dandie, Ken Read, Dennis Williams, John Reeve, Jim Major,

Barry Morgan, Eoin Douglas-Smith.

Attendees: Peter Greenfield, Mick Hannah, Tom Oates, Bob Wood, Allan Thomas, Pat Thomas, Roy Stedman, Peter

Treen, Paul Meakin, Mick Hanlon, Alan Jameson, Geoff Arnold, Roy Widgington, Ian Mackenzie, Ned Newcombe, John

Harrison, Richard Drain, Carl Campbell, John Keating.

Ladies: Wilma Hannah, Margaret Melville, Pat Hanlon, Yvonne Newcombe, Charlotte Keating, Morag Campbell.

Splicers Donation: Bob Wood.

Rum Raffle Winner: Paul Meakin. Rum Raffle raised $135.00

Today’s Dit: John Harrison.

Birthday Wishes

September: J (Bush) Beamon 15th Ned Newcombe 23rd Barry Morgan 27th

Treasurer’s Report

General Account: $1375.93 Investment Deposit Account: $22,000.00 Welfare Account: $1251.83 Total Assets 12 Sept 2018: $24,627.96

Acceptance Proposed by: Peter Treen Seconded by: Mick Hannah

Secretary’s Report

The Incomes & Debits of the Association were discussed by the Members, and it was agreed that at the Annual General

Meeting in November, the figures for the year November 2017 to November 2018 would be given. This will give

Members an awareness of costs and lead the way forward regarding future expenses.

A Cheque for 25 Pounds Sterling, has been sent to the Submariners Association in the UK, as a Donation for a Wreath

from the Australia Branch, to be placed at the Submariners Embankment Memorial on Sunday 4th November 2018,

during the Remembrance Parade.

It was sad to hear of the passing of Kath Pouleris, a Good Friend of Association Members. Her Family embraced the

Members who attended her Funeral Service. It was heartening to hear how much she meant to her Family. Vale Kath.

It has become Known that every Wednesday that we haven’t got a meeting, one of our stalwart ladies, Wilma Hannah,

takes another of our stalwart Ladies, Margaret Melville, to visit Roy Stedman. BZ to Wilma & Margaret. In fact BZ to

all our Ladies, they do a great job.

President’s Report

On Friday 7th September, we attended at Karrakatta Cemetery the Memorial Service for Kath Pouleris, wife of the late

United States Subvet Bill Pouleris. Kath was an Honorary Member of our Association & attended a number of our

Monthly Meetings, enjoying the Up Spirits & Camaraderie. Kath was a driving force behind the World War II Sub Vet’s

Memorial in Albany & witnessed it over the years growing in numbers, to what it has become today. The following

Member’s & Widow’s attended the moving Service: Bob Wood, Geoff Arnold, Alan Jameson, Sandra Vine, John

Harrison, Pat Thomas, Allan Thomas.

A floral tribute was laid by the President on behalf of the Association. B.Z. John Harrison for organizing the Wreath.

On completion of the Service we shared the obligatory Pusser’s Rum, with Family & Friends celebrating Kath’s

wonderful life. R.I.P. Kath.

I have finally been contacted by the Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettitt, the START DATE for the refurbishment of the

PERISCOPE MEMORIAL SITE will begin end of November into December 2018. This will take approximately three

weeks to complete. This was later confirmed to me by Paul Liveris, Manager Parks & Landscapes – City of Fremantle.

This is a Heritage Listed Site, & any addition to the Site: Plaques etc, will need approval from Heritage W.A. The City of

Fremantle was given approval in 2016 for the proposed Site Drawings & was allowed a Grant from Heritage W.A. to

implement the Site modifications.

Membership Report

We have 35 members this is four more than our November 2017 A.G.M.

A report from the UK Blackpool branch states that Trainee submariners will be issued their Dolphins on the completion

of part 2 training without having to do a part 3 on board a Boat; a worrying thought.

Associate members are not entitled to Life membership of the Assc however they can be made Branch life members.

There is nothing to denote a member who is a life member of the Association. This will hopefully be addressed at next

year’s A.G.M in the UK in the form of a lapel pin and a membership card.

Regards, Mick Hannah.

General Business

The President asked for Volunteers to pick up the chairs from Fremantle Art Museum & Tea Rooms for the

Periscope Memorial Service. Tom Oates kindly volunteered his services. BZ Tom.

The President & Social Secretary sadly give notice that due to Overseas, & Internal Travel in 2019, they will stand

down from their roles after the November AGM. Volunteers are required for these two positions.

Report into AE1 Findings Released.

On the 104th anniversary of the loss of Australia’s first submarine HMAS AE1, a report

released by the Australian National Maritime Museum today reveals new evidence which

may finally solve the mystery behind its disappearance on 14 September 1914.

The Royal Australian Navy’s AE1 was lost at sea with all hands-on 14 September 1914 and

its fate remained a mystery until its discovery in December 2017 off the Duke of York

Island, near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. AE1 was the first loss for the RAN and the first

Allied submarine loss in WWI but ultimately a tragedy felt by all Australians.

The Report details the findings of a team of experts from the Australian National Maritime

Museum, Find AE1 Ltd, Curtin University, independent experts from Australia and the UK

who have closely examined high-resolution imagery of the wreck site to piece together

what caused the submarine to be lost with all hands. The Defense Science and

Technology Group confirmed the resultant hypothesis is consistent with the facts.

On Sunday (16th), Charlotte & I attended the Annual AE1 Memorial Service, at HMAS STIRLING, again along with

Allan & Pat, along with the President & members of the SAA-WA (they organise this Annual event); as the Chapel at

STIR is being refurbished, the service was held in the combined WR/WO/SS Mess, from 1100.

This year’s service was very special, as AE1 is no longer missing, her remains & those of her entire crew were found

earlier this year, after years of searching; BZ!!

Regards, Buster.

Social Secretary’s Report & Coming Events

Wednesday October 10th, 2018: Monthly General Meeting with Melbourne Cup Tickets.

Sunday October 21st, 2018: RN Periscope Memorial Service @ Monument Hill with lunch afterwards at Fremantle

Navy Club. If wet, we will have the ceremony at the Navy Club. We will have to vacate the area at 2pm, because of the

Jazz Club, but we can retire upstairs to carry on. Gifts for Raffle Welcome. Also, Auction for Special Bottle of Whisky,

so bring your pennies.

Sunday November 18th, 2018: End of Year BBQ/Picnic @ Kings Park, Pines BBQ Area. Gifts for Raffle Welcome.

Saturday December 8th: Xmas Luncheon @ Mount Henry Tavern @ 12:00. Gifts for Raffle Welcome.

Crossed The Bar

Obituary of David Humberstone Lorrimer.

David was born on 12 January 1930, unfortunately I have no current recorded history of where David was born in

England, the schools he went to or when he joined the Royal Navy. I presume it was in the late 1940’s. However, after

joining the Naval College and completing his studies, as a Midshipman he was sent out to join the Modified Black Swan

– class sloop HMS Amethyst on the Far East Station sometime around the late 1940’s. David was aboard when attacked

by the Communist People’s Liberation Army in the Yangtze River near Nanking on 19 April 1949 before the ship

grounded on Rose Island. Once Amethyst freed herself and made an escape, David reviewed his career opportunities

within the Royal Navy and chose the submarine service.

David returned to England and proceeded to HMS Dolphin in 1949 to undertake his initial training in submarining. He

joined his first boat HMS Truncheon in 1950 he served in this boat until he was posted to HMS Trump in October 1951,

this posting lasted until January 1953.

The next posting was the “S” boat HMS Sanguine which David joined in February 1953 this stint would last a year for

he was posted out in March 1954. The next posting for David was back to a “T” class HMS Token from June 1954 until

February 1957. David returned to Dolphin where he undertook his Perisher course. The next submarine that David

served in was when he was posted to the “S” class boat HMS Scythian as commanding officer from August 1958 until

June 1959. He was also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 16 of December 1959. David’s next post

was to the “T” class submarine HMS Tapir in 1962 until July 1963. It was during this period that David decided to

answer the call for submarine commanding officers for the fledging submarine Flotilla to be based in Sydney Australia.

It is assumed that David must have been one of the first officers to answer the call and proceeded to HMAS Carpentaria

in London to be inducted into the Royal Australian Navy. His first duty in 1966 was to proceed to Scotland to stand

over the building of the RAN’s fist Oberon HMAS Oxley. She was commission on 21 March 1967.

David sailed out to Australia and joined the newly commissioned Submarine Squadron being the first boat there. David

served in Oxley until May 1968. David retired from the Navy and settled down in Sydney. He passed away on 31 August

2018.

Compiled by Peter Smith. Hon. SAA Historian.

Norm Williams

Last Sat (8th), at 0930, I attended the farewell service for ex-WOMTPSM Norm Williams, at the ORION Fin, at

Rockingham Naval Memorial park, along with Allan & Pat Thomas; this very well attended service was timed to

coincide with a service at the old HMAS PLATYPUS site in North Sydney, at 1130 their time, to spread Norm’s Ashes

into Neutral Bay (the original site of the RAN SM Arm from 1967 onwards, until they moved to the West, with the

arrival of the COLLINS class).

After his long RAN SM career & then running the RAN COLLINS SM School (STSC), at HMAS STIRLING, Norm moved

back to his native QLD & ran the very popular SM website ‘Up Periscope’ & the weekly ‘Chief Stokers Log’, as well as

flogging SM Slops & supporting all sorts of good deeds!!

RN SM Association - CTB's for Sept 18 'Down Under' (from UK)

Date/Name: Rank (if known): SM Service: SM's Served On; Branch/Age:

26 Aug - John (Andy) Andrews WO 1965 - 88 RESOLUTION class Faslane; Aged 70

26 Aug - RJ (Wee Ronnie) Gilbert WO Mech RN NN All South African DAPHNE class SM's NM; Aged in his 70's

Ronnie came from Ayrshire

30 Aug - David Ramsey NN NN NN NN; Aged 80

30 Aug - Nigel Irvine OEM NN ASTUTE & OPOSSUM; tx'd to RAN SM's in NN; Age NN

Mid-1970's as an SAP

Sept 18 - David H Lorimer LCdr 1949 - Early 60's Originally RN; he later tx'd to the RAN & RAN SIA; Age 88

NOTE: See attached page commissioned HMAS OXLEY as her first CO & brought her home to

Australia in 1967

7 Sept - Juelian (Jim) Roskilly PO Elec 08/1952 - 07/71 TUDOR, ALARIC, TACTICURN, AENEAS, Southampton; Aged 86

TALENT, TALLY HO, WALRUS, TIPTOE & REVENGE

9 Sept - Dick Lloyd-Williams LCdr 04/1953 - 02/72 TACITURN, AURIGA, SENESCHALL, Exeter; Age NN

TRENCHANT, TEREDO, SEASCOUT, Former long time President

PORPOISE (CO) & DREADNOUGHT

10 Sept - Edward (Ted) Hogben CCMEA 1968 - 88 VALIANT, WARSPITE, COURAGEOUS & Medway Towns; Aged 80

CONQUEROR

12 Sept - CR (Colin) Bartlett CPO MEAP 1971 - 81 ALLIANCE (72/73), ODIN (73/76), OTWAY Former RN ES; Age 70

LCdr RAN RAN 1983 - 90 (78/79), ONSLOW (79/80), both on loan to RAN; OTWAY (83/85) &

ORION (85)

Sept 18 - ER (Edwin) Garner AB GL3 11/1952 - 01/55 THERMOPYLAE Poole & Dist; Aged 88

RN Navy News CTB's - Sept 2018:

5 June - David Sandford LCdr NN HMS VICTORY (RNB), LYNX, SAFEGUARD, RNOC; Age NN

CENTAUR, TAMAR, NIGERIA, BOXER, ZEALOUS, ZAMBESI, ALARIC &

NATO

23 June - Barry George Stanley Till LCdr NN HMS CERES, ALBION, PHOENIX, EXCELLENT, NN; Aged 79

SALISBURY, RALEIGH, FINISTERRE, BULWARK, FALCON, RESOLUTION (Port)

ROOKE, NEPTUNE, CHALLENGER & DOLPHIN

28 June - David H Lines Cdr OBE NN C-in-C Nav Home, SCC/CCF, NP 2070, NN; Aged 85

Capt Naval Drafting, HMS EXCELLENT, RALEIGH, SCYLLA, GANGES, TENBY,

NAIAD, GRAMPUS, SAFEGUARD, BARFOIL & SCOTT

NOTE: There were another 3 SM CTB's in this edition (None from the Submarine Association), but we had covered all 3 in earlier Newsletters.

Meeting shut at approx: 13:10

END OF SEPTEMBER MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING

The next Monthly General Meeting will be at The Flying Angel, Fremantle on

October Wednesday 10th 2018 commencing at 1200