Family tradition

I read with interest your story on AB Shannon Watson who is currently serving on HMAS Anzac. I too have a son, Seaman Bosun Mate, Benjamin Herpich, who I understand is the youngest member of HMAS Anzac’s crew (turning 18 on March 29 of March this year whilst at sea).

His grandfather, SGT R.C.P. BRETT was also a Gallipoli veteran serving with the 25th Battalion 1st AIF.

Ben unfortunately was not lucky enough to be selected for the shore party for the Anzac Day Service however was on board at the time of the service.

I know that he was very moved with Gallipoli seeing things that his great-grandfather saw. He is a fourth generation Australian serviceman commencing with his great grandfather who served in both the First (Gallipoli) and Second World War (New Guinea) rising to the rank of Captain.

His grandfather was a member of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) in Japan serving with the water transport corp, and I also served with the Australian Regular Army for six years until becoming a policeman. Ben is the first to join the Navy with the other three of us all in the Army.

Still, we are extremely proud of his chosen career and support his Service of this great nation.

- Cameron Herpich

 

How to contact us

Navy News would like to encourage its readers to write in and express their views. Preference will be given to typed letters or e-mails of up to 250 words. Letters will only be published when they include the author’s name, ship or unit (where applicable), location and contact number. Note that the authors details can be witheld from print if requested. Send letters to: The Editor, Navy News, R8-LG-039, Russell Offices, Dept of Defence, Canberra, ACT 2600. Phone (02) 6266 7707, fax (02) 6265 6690 or e-mail: navynews@defencenews.gov.au (please note that this is not an internal e-mail address and therefore requires Sec: Unclassified in the subject line when sending from a DRN terminal.

 

 

.