At eighty Geoff earns OBE
HMS Gossamer was alongside the stricken RN cruiser HMS Edinburgh when a torpedo passed under her stern...Geoff Jelbart can still see it coming...

Rear Row L-R Parkes Bowling Club Men’s Club President Moss Alchin, John Jelbart, Ray Dunford, District President Jack Tanswell and Trevor Noakes. Front Row: Geoff Jelbart and his wife Hilda.

Courtesy Parkes Bowling Club
Octogenarian and former RAN matelot Mr Geoff Jelbart was recently awarded an OBE in a short ceremony at the Parkes Bowling Club.

In this case, however, OBE stands for “Over Bloody Eighty” and is a special Award conceived by the club to recognise those members who have attained such an august age.

Mr Jelbart had an extraordinary naval service. He enlisted in the RAN in January 1941 and was posted to HMAS Rushcutter for ASDIC (Sonar) training. On completion he was seconded to the RN and posted to the fleet minesweeper HMS Gossamer.

Gossamer was part of the escort of the infamous Murmansk (Russia) convoys and, on arriving there for Mr Jelbart’s second trip, was permanently assigned to Murmansk for escort of arriving convoys.

This was an area renowned for its savage air and surface raids by German assets out of Norway and one of the minesweeper’s less pleasant duties was the rescue of survivors of sunken ships.
During one of these Gossamer was alongside the stricken RN cruiser HMS Edinburgh when a torpedo passed under Gossamer’s stern. Mr. Jalbert can “still see it coming.”

Gossamer’s turn came a few weeks later in June 1942 when she was sunk by German aircraft. Mr Jelbart was badly wounded and spent several weeks in the dubious comfort of Russian hospitals before being repatriated to the UK for four months.

After discharge from hospital he was posted to HMAS Quiberon and spent several weeks chasing the destroyer from Gibraltar and South Africa to Mombassa where he was advised the ship was full and he was not required.

Fortunately for him HMAS Nizam was seeking crew and he returned to Australia before posting to sister ship HMAS Norman. He served in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and participated in several attacks against Japanese possessions, including air raids against the mainland.

He discharged from the RAN in 1946 and returned to the family property near Parkes. Marrying in 1950 he remained there until 1965 when he moved into Parkes and joined the Parkes Bowling Club. He was forced to cease playing in 1999 but remains an active member, assisting with raffles and club sponsorship.

During the award ceremony Mr. Ray Dunford, another ex-matelot and local veterans’ representative reflected on Mr. Jelbart’s long and meritorious service in peace and war. He reminded his audience about Navy personnel from the Parkes district who were serving in the Coalition against Terror and the campaign against Iraq.

Central West Bowls President Mr. Jack Tanswell then presented Mr. Jalbert with his OBE.

After which all hands adjourned for a light meal and, according to Mr. Jelbart, a ‘few quiet drinks’.

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