By LEUT Tom Lewis

The aftermath of that fateful day: HMAS Melbourne II in disarray after colliding HMAS Voyager with in 1964.

Photo: Courtesy of the Naval History Section

NEOCS at the HMAS Voyager 40th Anniversary Rememberance Service.

Photo: LSPH-IA Brad Fullerton

A memorial service marking the 40th year since the RAN’s most significant peacetime incident was held at HMAS Creswell last month.

HMAS Voyager was lost after colliding with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (II) on February 10, 1964. This year more than 140 people associated with Voyager and Melbourne, including survivors, their families and friends, attended the memorial service to remember the loss of their ship and 82 shipmates.

Conducted on Sunday February 15, this year’s event included a march from the chapel followed by an outdoor service in Creswell’s Remembrance Park.

Creswell’s Commanding Officer CAPT Tony Aldred, the establishment’s Chaplain, Graeme Watkinson, and the Anglican Bishop to the ADF, Right Reverend Doctor

Tom Frame, all participated in a moving ceremony overlooking Jervis Bay.

CDRE Russ Crane, representing the Chief of Navy, also attended the ceremony. A catafalque guard and platoon of Junior Warfare Application Course trainees were paraded.

The recently donated 1964 RANC Memorial Sword of the late RADM Hammond was made available from the Creswell Historical Collection for the Guard Commander’s use on the day.

After the service the children of CPO Jonathan Rogers toured key Creswell sites and were photographed in front of the RAN College classroom named in honour of their father.

Rogers, the Coxswain of Voyager, demonstrated outstanding bravery in the aftermath of the collision, and was posthumously awarded the George Cross.

 

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