Fallen four remembered

Taking a moment’s silence for the fallen.

Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffe

By Graham Davis

Four sailors who lost their lives in the fire in HMAS Westralia six years ago were remembered during a special memorial service at the Monument Hill Memorial Reserve in Fremantle on November 22.

Plaques to their memory were dedicated.

An initiative of the City of Fremantle and the Ex-Services Alliance, supported by the RAN, the memorial and plaques paid tribute to those who laid down their lives to save their ship and mates.

Soon after 10.30am on May 5, 1998 and just 90 minutes after leaving HMAS Stirling, fire broke out in Westralia’s engine room.

LS Bradley Meek, 25, MIDN Megan Pelly, 22, AB Phillip Carroll, 23 and PO Shaun Smith, 29 died in the fire.

Mayor of Fremantle, CLR Peter Tagliaferri said there were many individual and collective acts of bravery during the fire and he believed the service and commemorative plaques were a fitting way of honouring those who lost their lives.

“Several heroic crew members fought the fire attempting to save the ship and the lives of their fellow shipmates, but, tragically, four of the crew could not be saved,” he said.

Current Commanding Officer of Westralia, CMDR Peter Stafford, said, “No one can feel or share the same loss of Megan, Shaun, Bradley and Phillip as their immediate family and loved ones.

“We should never forget those fallen, but remember them.

They served their ship, their Navy and their country with pride. We continue to remember them.”

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