When
SMNCSO Leah Evans recently graduated from recruit training at
HMAS Cerberus, she became part of a growing naval tradition in
her family.
Leah’s grandfather, Tom Evans, was a stoker in the corvette
HMAS Geelong, when it was ploughed into by the American Tanker
SS York on October 18, 1944. Geelong had been steaming without
lights from Milne Bay, New Guinea, to Madang, when the tanker
crashed into her side sinking her soon after.
York took all of Geelong’s ship’s company onboard and
there was no loss of life.
On completion of hostilities, Tom left the Navy and settled in
Victoria with his wife Daisy. It was here they raised a daughter
and three sons.
In 1963 daughter Toni joined the WRAN, completing three and a
half years service as a LWROS.
Next, eldest son Darryl joined the RAN in October 1963, completing
20 years service as a CPOCOX.
Second son Lee signed on in January 1974, completing 13 years
as a LEUT MEO, and, lastly, youngest son Shane joined in January
1976, completing 8 years as a LSATA.
More recently, the eldest three of Tom and Daisy’s six grandchildren
have joined the Navy. SMNEWL Ryan Evans is employed in Canberra
and SMNCSO Shannon Evans is serving in HMAS Sydney, whilst SMNCSO
Leah Evans is now completing Seamanship Training at HMAS Cerberus.
