A hundred years young…Albert and Allan cut the birthday cake. Picture: Phil Barling PACC/NSW.

Retired RN and RAN yeoman-signaller Albert Flint has celebrated his 100th birthday in HMAS BRISBANE declaring: "If I had my time over, I would join the navy."

Recommending to young Australians a career in the RAN, Albert had some advice. "Do as you are bloody well told…and complain later."

Albert is a resident of Bexley North in Sydney and is believed to be the oldest ex-RAN member alive in Australia. He was a member of the ship's company of HMAS BRISBANE I in 1926, hence the celebration aboard the present BRISBANE in July at Fleet Base East.

With a mind and memory as "sharp as a tack" and still able to scale ship's ladders, Albert was welcomed aboard BRISBANE by Commanding Officer, CAPT Cam Darby.

Albert was accompanied by his son-in-law Harold Martin, grandson Gary Martin and officers of the Naval Association and Earlwood-Bardwell Park RSL Club who had liaised with CAPT Darby and his personnel to make the on-board party and tour possible.

In the junior sailors' café the youngest of BRISBANE's ship's company, AB Allan Jones, helped Albert cut a birthday cake using the CO's ceremonial sword.

CAPT Darby said it was an honour to have Albert on board. He then presented him with a framed photograph showing BRISBANE II and I.

Then it was off on a tour of the ship.

On the bridge Albert took the helm but not before he showed how sharp his memory is when he ran through the alphabetic signals using a pair of semaphore flags.

Those serving yeomen watching said later he got all signals right even though the last time he had sent a signal was in 1931.

Albert was born at Battersea, London, on July 21, 1900.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1915 doing his basic training in HMS GANGES.

He served in HMS INDOMITABLE during the Battle of Jutland.

He was to serve in other RN ships including EAGLE, SERAPH, AJAX, RAMILLIES, SENATON, HOOD, VIVID, MONARCH, TRINIDAD and TEDWORTH.

In August 1925 he transferred to the RAN after marrying his first wife Sarah.

In Australia he served in CERBERUS, CANBERRA, BRISBANE, ANZAC and PENGUIN before discharging in September 1931.

From a naval career he became a gatekeeper at the Concord Hospital then the contract gardener at the adjoining Red Cross hostel.

"He continued working as a gardener until he was 85," his grandson Gary Martin said.

"He only gave it away when his second wife Amy told him to.

"My grandfather lives alone, looks after himself in the family home and is out most nights…to the RSL club usually.

"He has two girlfriends," he added.

During his visit to BRISBANE Albert held centre stage telling stories of the past, including identifying a "LEUT Dechaineux" as one of his former officers.

He told of the difficulty in seeing signal flags when a ship "made smoke" and he told of the vivid memories of his past career as he walked unaided up Brisbane's gangway.

"I'd like to have my time over again…and I would not change it…I would join the navy," he declared.

By Graham Davis