A Farewell to those with whom we served...

BC · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:33 pm

Those early days, and it was not just Roy, but other old tiffies and/or instructors, really did instill some life long values to us following MOBI's.

We are special bunch!!!

Thank you Roy RIP. :salute1:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2019 1:21 am

ERA2

FORSYTH, Roy McCrae.
01-12-1924 - 12-01-2019

Loving & adored husband of Nancy (dec).
Much loved father & father-in-law of Andrea & Greg, Ross & Jean.
Loving Pa to Paul & Tracie.
Forever In Our Hearts

Friends & family are warmly invited to attend a celebration of his life in
the Chapel of White Lady Funerals, 402 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills
(car park entry of Boundary Rd) on Tuesday, 22nd January, 2019 2pm.

BC · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2019 1:12 pm

This is now starting to circulate.

Vale John :salute1:

Dear members

I regret to advise the passing of Captain John Stevenson on 29 January at the ripe old age of 98. Captain Stevenson’s highly successful career to that point ended prematurely as a result of the Melbourne and USS Frank E Evans collision in 1969. An obituary article for Captain Stevenson will be included in the next NOC newsletter and will highlight what a special officer he was.

The RAN will be honouring Captain Stevenson by providing a full naval funeral at the Garden Island Chapel commencing at 12.00 on Friday 15 February. All welcome.

Regards

Rick Bayley
Captain RAN (Ret’d)
President, Naval Officers Club of Australia

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2019 8:15 pm

John Philip Stevenson was born in Melbourne on 24 August 1921 and entered the RAN College (HMAS Cerberus) as a 13 year old cadet midshipman in 1934. He gained his sporting colours for tennis and at passing out was awarded the prize for mathematics-physics-chemistry.

As a midshipman he served in the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (I) before traveling to the United Kingdom in mid-1939 for loan service with the Royal Navy. He joined the heavy cruiser, HMS Shropshire and was serving in her in the Mediterranean when World War II broke out. Shropshire then operated in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean on patrol and escort duties. After completing training courses in the United Kingdom he served as a sub-lieutenant in the commissioning crew of the destroyer HMAS Nestor which operated in the North Atlantic on escort, patrol and screening duties. Nestor was involved in the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941.

Nestor later served in the Mediterranean and South Atlantic, and on 15 December 1941 sank the German submarine U-127 off Cape St Vincent. The destroyer operated in the Indian Ocean during January - June 1942 before returning to the Mediterranean theatre. On 15 June while escorting a convoy to Malta, Nestor was badly damaged by enemy air attack and later scuttled as she could not be saved. Lieutenant Stevenson was amongst the ships injured. He then served in the destroyer HMAS Napier, in the Indian Ocean, before joining the now HMAS Shropshire in mid-1943 (replacing Canberra sunk at Savo Island in August 1942). Shropshire served in the Pacific campaign during 1943-1945 and, apart from radar training in the United Kingdom, Stevenson served in her for the remainder of the war and was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.

After the war Lieutenant Stevenson went to the United Kingdom on loan to the Royal Navy where he underwent courses in navigation and fighter direction. He served in Royal Navy ships in the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean and also saw operational service in the early days of the Malayan Emergency. Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1950 he returned to Australia in the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney (III) which had embarked her second carrier air group in Portsmouth. Upon arrival in Australia he took command, in March 1951, of the frigate HMAS Barcoo which operated as the RAN training ship. He later served in the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (II) as navigation officer, and later re-joined Sydney as the Fleet Navigation Officer.

Sydney visited the United Kingdom for the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II where Stevenson commanded the RAN detachment during the coronation parade. In 1954 Sydney conducted a post-armistice patrol in Korean waters and in June 1954 Stevenson was promoted to commander. In 1954 Commander Stevenson was Director of Plans in Navy Office and also served in HMY Britannia as the naval equerry to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh who was to visit Australia for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

He commanded the destroyer HMAS Anzac (II) during January 1957 - June 1958 during which time she served in the Far East Strategic Reserve. In 1958-1959 he attended the Naval Command Course at the US Naval War College followed by the US Naval Tactical Course. In May 1959 he was appointed as the Defence attaché to Thailand and was promoted to captain in December 1960. Captain Stevenson assumed command of HMAS Watson, in October 1961, and the following October took command of the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (II) as well as commanding the 10th Destroyer Squadron.

In April 1964 he temporarily commanded the fast troop transport HMAS Sydney (III) which took Australian troops to Borneo. In 1965 he commanded HMAS Cerberus and was also Naval Officer in Command - Victoria. Then in late 1966 he became the Australian naval attaché in Washington, D.C. After returning to Australia he assumed command of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (II), then in refit, in October 1968.

Melbourne commenced work-ups in February 1969 and sailed for Southeast Asia waters on 5 May 1969 with 805, 816 and 817 Squadrons embarked. In the early hours of 3 June 1969 during Exercise SEA SPIRIT, in the South China Sea, the American destroyer USS Frank E Evans crossed Melbourne’s bow and was cut in two in an incident reminiscent of the Voyager (II) collision five years earlier. The forward section of Evans sank immediately with the loss of 74 lives and Melbourne sustained extensive damage to her bow.

A joint USN/RAN Board of Inquiry held Stevenson partly responsible stating that, as commanding officer of Melbourne, he could have done more to prevent the collision from occurring; however, a subsequent RAN court-martial cleared him of any responsibility. The integrity of the initial Board of Inquiry has since been questioned, particularly as it was presided over by Rear Admiral Jerome King, USN, the officer in overall tactical command of Evans at the time of the collision. Stevenson’s defence council, Gordon Samuels, QC, stated he had “never seen a prosecution case so bereft of any possible proof of guilt.” Captain Stevenson subsequently resigned from the RAN bringing to an end a distinguished 35-year naval career.

John Stevenson worked for the Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) from 1970-1987. He retired in 1987 moving to Burradoo, NSW with his wife, Joanne in 2000. They had been married for 54 years when she died in 2012. In December 2012, Stevenson received an official apology from the Minister for Defence, the Honourable Stephen Smith, MP, in which he stated that Stevenson was not treated fairly by the government of the day and the Australian Navy following the events of 1969, and describes Stevenson as 'a distinguished naval officer who served his country with honour in peace and war'.

John Stevenson was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2018 Australia Day Honours List.

:salute1:

Captain John Stevenson passed away in Sydney on 29 January 2019. [-o<

Gnomeranger · **Posted:** Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:12 am

Capt. John Stevenson RIP you deserved better.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:19 pm

From: Bob Mummery <bandi@iinet.net.au>
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2019 at 11:33
Subject: VALE - Commodore David York AM RAN Rtd.
To: Bob Mummery <bandi@iinet.net.au>

Dear All,

It is with much sadness that I onforward the news of the passing of Commodore David York AM RAN Rtd.

One of natures real gentlemen, David was loved, admired and held in high esteem by many.

Yours aye

Bob Mummery
0408 811 201

UNCLASSIFIED

From HNAVENG DTG: 040549Z MAR 2019
Releaser EA HNE/HNAVENG
Action AIG 3600 RAN ALL SHORE Routine

VALE: COMMODORE DAVID YORK AM RAN (RTD) WUA

1. IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I INFORM YOU OF THE PASSING OF COMMODORE DAVID
YORK, AM RAN RTD. COMMODORE YORK MADE A MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO NAVY’S
MARINE ENGINEERING CONTINUUM AND THE MODERNISATION OF THE FLEET DURING HIS 41 YEAR
CAREER.

2. HE ENTERED THE RAN COLLEGE AS A 13 YEAR OLD IN 1953 FROM HIS NATIVE CANBERRA.
SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, HE ATTENDED THE RN COLLEGE IN DARTMOUTH, UK AS A MIDSHIPMAN AND
THE RN ENGINEERING COLLEGE IN PLYMOUTH AS A SUB-LIEUTENANT AND LIEUTENANT.
SPECIALISING AS A MARINE ENGINEER, HE COMPLETED HIS ENGINEERING TRAINING IN 1963.

3. ON HIS RETURN TO AUSTRALIA, LIEUTENANT YORK JOINED HMAS SYDNEY AS DEPARTMENTAL
ENGINEER OFFICER AND THEN HMAS DUCHESS AS THE DEPUTY MARINE ENGINEER OFFICER; WITH A
ROLE AS AN INSTRUCTOR AT THE MARINE ENGINEERING SCHOOL AT HMAS CERBERUS IN BETWEEN
HIS SEA POSTINGS.

4. WHILE SERVING AS A PROJECT PLANNER FOR THE MODERNISATION OF HMAS MELBOURNE (II),
HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER IN 1969 AND RETURNED TO SEA AS THE MEO IN
PARRAMATTA (II). HE SUBSEQUENTLY JOINED AS THE MEO OF HMAS VAMPIRE (II) AS SHE
EMERGED FROM MODERNISATION AT WILLIAMSTOWN DOCKYARD.

5. FOLLOWING PROMOTION TO COMMANDER IN 1973, HE UNDERTOOK THE JOINT SERVICES STAFF
COLLEGE COURSE PRIOR TO BECOMING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DOCKYARDS WITHIN DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENCE (NAVY).

6. ASSUMING THE DUTIES OF PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR THE DESTROYER ESCORT
MODERNISATION PROJECT IN 1976, HE REMAINED IN THIS POSITION UNTIL PROMOTION TO
CAPTAIN IN 1979. SUBSEQUENT POSITIONS AS SUPERINTENDENT TECHNICAL SERVICES NAVAL
SUPPORT COMMAND, PLANNING MANAGER GARDEN ISLAND DOCKYARD, AND DIRECTOR OF FLEET
ENGINEERING POLICY IN NAVY OFFICE FOLLOWED.

7. PROMOTED TO COMMODORE IN 1986, HE REJOINED NAVAL SUPPORT COMMAND AS CHIEF
SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT BEFORE APPOINTED JOINT TEAM LEADER OF THE DEFENCE
REGIONAL SUPPORT REVIEW (DRSR) FOR NSW AND THEN HEAD OF THE DRSR IMPLEMENTATION
TEAM.

8. HIS FINAL APPOINTMENT IN THE PN WAS AS CHIEF OF LOGISTICS, NAVAL SUPPORT
COMMAND, RETIRING IN 1994 FOLLOWING A CAREER WHICH HAD SPANNED OVER FOUR DECADES.
HOWEVER, AFTER RETIREMENT FROM THE RAN HE CONTINUED TO SERVE THE NAVY AS DIRECTOR OF
MARITIME ENGINEERING.

9. RETURNING BRIEFLY TO THE RAN AS A RESERVIST IN 1998, HE HEADED A NEGOTIATING TEAM
FOR THE NEW DEFENCE MUNITIONS CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COMMONWEALTH AND AUSTRALIAN
DEFENCE INDUSTRIES, FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED A SECRETARY’S COMMENDATION.

10. IN 1994, COMMODORE YORK WAS MADE A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA FOR
SERVICES TO NAVAL ENGINEERING AND WAS ALSO AWARDED A PAPAL KNIGHTHOOD, A KNIGHT
COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF ST GREGORY THE GREAT.

11. ON BEHALF OF THE NAVY, I EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO COMMODORE YORK’S
FAMILY.

12. COMMODORE YORK’S FUNERAL WILL BE A REQUIEM MASS AT THE MAIN ALTAR AT ST MARYS
CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY, COMMENCING AT 1030, MON, 11 MAR 19. FORMER COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS
ARE MOST WELCOME TO ATTEND. IN LIEU OF FLORAL TRIBUTES, THE FAMILY WOULD WELCOME
DONATIONS TO THE NSW CANCER COUNCIL.

UNCLASSIFIED

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:39 pm

A true gentleman - had the opportunity to meet with him many years ago. RIP

Pony · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:06 pm

He was indeed I also had the pleasure of serving with him. RIP sir, a job well done.

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:14 am

I have just checked back through my paperwork. I believe he was FONSC in late 93 early 94. If that is the case it was his intervention that saw me placed in MMES as the Hull Systems Officer...................

BC · **Posted:** Fri May 24, 2019 11:23 am

Vale ex-CME David John Trevor RAYMOND, R41784

Morning members,

I have some sad news to report, John Raymond Crossed the Bar yesterday morning following an operation.

John was a very active member of Nepean Blue Mountains until three years ago when health problems dictated that he move to Canberra where he had family. Colin O’Flynn had kept in touch with him over the years.

Ian Raymond will inform us of funeral arrangements when known.

Regards

Arthur Fisher
Secretary
Naval Association of Australia
Nepean Blue Mountains Sub-Section Inc.

John joined the RN in 1951 and transferred to the RAN in 1963. His Vietnam service involved 2 x Gun Line tours in Hobart (67 & 68) and 7 x Vung Tau trips in "The Ferry" (71 & 72) as a Chief Stoker.

RIP John, your watch is done. :salute1:

A Farewell to those with whom we served...

Who is online