By
LCDR Mick Gallagher
Former Royal Navy sailors of the WW2 British Pacific and East
Indies Fleets visited Sydney and reunited with their RAN mates
in a reunion ceremony held at Garden Island on August 31.
Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific
(VP) and the end of WW2 in 1945, the occasion also highlighted
the 200th anniversary of Lord Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar
in 1805.
“Sixty years later we remember them and dedicate ourselves
to continue to defend the principles for which they fought
and died.” –Gerald Purnell
The British Pacific Fleet (BPF) was a multinational Allied
force formed in Sydney on December 10, 1944.
Initially it was made up of ships detached from the British
East Indies Fleet based in Ceylon and eventually comprised
of allied ships and personnel including those from Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, India
and the USA. ADML Sir Bruce Fraser was the fleet commander
with VADM Sir Philip Vian in charge of air operations.
“Sixty years later we remember them and dedicate ourselves
to continue to defend the principles for which they fought
and died,” said RN contingent leader Gerald Purnell who read
the Act of Remembrance. Gerald served as an Air Fitter in
HMS Indefatigable with the BPF.
The fleet of more than 400 ships included 17 fleet carriers
with 300 aircraft, four battleships, 10 cruisers, 40 destroyers,
18 sloops, 13 frigates, 29 submarines, 35 minesweepers, and
various other war ships and support vessels.
It is said to have been the largest Commonwealth Fleet ever
assembled.
Some 20 Australian ships participated with the BPF including
HMA Ships Geraldton, Quiberon and the N class destroyers Napier,
Nepal, Nizam and Norman. HMAS Nestor had been sunk in the
Mediterranean on June 16, 1942.
The banner of the HMAS Quiberon Association was proudly displayed
at the reunion,where veterans paraded before the Maritime
Commander, RADM Davyd Thomas.
The harbour setting was ideal with HMAS Tobruk and the barque
Endeavour positioned either side of the parade, representing
the past and present.
The visiting Thai Navy ship HMTS Taksin entering Fleet Base
East and the Sydney Harbour Bridge made an ideal background.
Naval ChaplainIan McKendrick conducted the readings and led
the Naval Prayer. Music for the occasion was provided by the
Sydney Detachment of the RAN Band led by LEUT Andrew Stokes,
while the main element of the band was in Cairns for the decommissioning
of HMAS Whyalla.
For some RN veterans it was their first visit to Australia
since WW2. Others, however, had returned to Australia after
the war and settled down to family life with Australian brides.
Former Aircraft Armourer Gilbert Trotter DSM of the fleet
carrier HMS Formidable, married Margaret Seymour and settled
in Mount Colah, Sydney.
Fighter pilot Howard Scott now living in Leura NSW, served
in HMS Illustrious and married Noelle Houston in 1952.
On completion of the parade the gathering was entertained
with a high tea in marquees set up on the cruiser wharf and
the cutting of the celebration cake.
A photo display of the East Indies and Pacific Fleets WW2
ships was set up by the Naval Historical Society.
