Dingy Remembers
May 3, 1999
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Dingy with the brass helmeted
diving suit identical to the one he wore during WWII. Picture: ABPH
Jon Gageler
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He remembered the day in 1934 he crossed the gangway of HMAS CERBERUS to join the Navy. And he remembered the day he survived the sinking of HMAS CANBERRA and of his times serving aboard HMA ships LITHGOW, GYMPIE, KATOOMBA, MAGNETIC and MANOORA.
But his most poignant memories of his career in the RAN were brought back to him a few days earlier on the wharf of HMAS PENGUIN, the Navy's primary diving school at Mosman in Sydney.
"I have not done this since 1944," he said as he pulled on the "17 pound" leaded boots of the "standard" diver.
From 1942 till 1944 Alex, a father of three, was a clearance diver using the inflatable suit, brass helmet, breast plates and lead boots, first used by the RAN in the 1920's.
"My first job back then was to help erect a boom net across the river at Townsville," he told Navy News.
"Then I had to check the valves beneath the water once the corvettes had their boilers cleaned at HMAS MAGNETIC (Townsville)."
Back in Sydney he helped recover the midget submarines which attacked Sydney.
"In February of 1944 I was posted as a diver aboard HMAS MANOORA. Problem was, there was no diving gear aboard her. I was made a coxswain of a landing craft.
"In Hollandia the Japanese strafed my boat and dropped cluster bombs. Shrapnel hit me in the eye and I was taken to the US field hospital at Finchaven. The doctors did their best but I lost the eye and was discharged," he said.
Unable to carry on a career as a commercial diver or as a movie projectionist, his earlier career choice, Alex began work with the Repatriation Commission, for whom he worked for 20 years.
But he still loved the Navy and returned to Garden Island as an internal auditor, a post he held until retirement in 1984.
That love of the Navy, particularly the diving section, remains today.
For his 80th birthday he was offered the opportunity to attend the diving school and don the hard helmet, suit and boots he had worn during the War.
That did not occur but as he approaches his 82nd birthday chief diving instructor WO Glen Spilsted and his team, CPOCD Rod Bismire, LSCD Andrew Giles, ABCD Mick Oaklands and ABCD Adam Baker renewed the offer.
On April 22 the specialists took the vintage diving suit ... still in working order … and its hand pump, from their diving museum and on to the wharf.
With little effort Alex, and with the usual blue diver's beanie in place, was soon inside the suit.
"This sure brings back the memories," the WWII veteran remarked as he pulled on the boots and they lowered the helmet over his head.
Watched proudly by his stepson Brad Alexander, Alex compared his ancient gear with the Mark 17 diving equipment, introduced to the RAN in 1980, worn by 23-year-old diving instructor Adam Baker.
Elsewhere across Australia RAN officers and sailors participated in ANZAC activities of many kinds.
Some uniformed personnel laid wreaths on memorials, others marched while many simply wore "civvies" and blended with crowds attending Dawn Services.
By Graham Davis