2007 NATIONAL
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The National AGM will be hosted by the South Australian Branch as part of
their SUBCON 2007 weekend in Adelaide on Sunday, 10 June 2007. The National
Executive encourages members attending the Conference to greatly assist the
South Australia Branch by registering and sending your payment promptly.
Notices of Motion for the
inclusion in the agenda of the National Committee Meeting and AGM shall be
in the hands of the National Secretary no later than
Friday, 6 April 2007.
Nominations for election to National
Office: The positions of the National Executives will be declared vacant
at the AGM, nominations for these positions shall be in the hands of the
National Secretary no later than Friday, 30 March 2007.
FROM
THE AMS
The first “In Depth” for 2007 and not a lot to report. The DVA report has
been on the website for some time and I encourage all to read and add
comments where applicable before we send our response to DVA.
The long awaited Submarines Association
Australia “Constitution” is in the “home stretch” and will soon be on the
website, now is the time for you to suggest any changes before we tidy it up
and (hopefully) have it adopted at the 2007 AGM.
For those who do not have access to the
website or email, Bob MARSLAND has had to stand down as both National
Treasurer and NSW Branch Secretary due to a recurrence of his illness. I
know you will all wish Bob a speedy recovery. Fortunately the adage “never
volunteer” isn’t in the submariners’ vocabulary, as John RANA has
volunteered to act as “temporary” National Treasurer and Ken WILLIAMS
has agreed to fill Bob’s role as NSW Branch Secretary. Thanks to both. I
trust this short report finds you all in good health and spirit.
Dave (Sandy) Sandquest
National President, Submarines Association Australia
HEALTH
& WELFARE
- “HAPPY NEW YEAR”
Coordinator Kevin HAYTON (02) 6653 4146 or
kghayton@optusnet.com.au
Well another year has come and gone
(doesn’t time fly when your having fun) and, having survived 2006 I know
that everyone’s New Year’s Resolution included giving up smoking, loose a
few pounds, exercise more and cut back on the alcohol intake, well good
luck, lets hope this year you can stick to it and when we catch up in
Adelaide at SUBCON 2007, we will all be trim, taught and terrific.
Oberon Class Submarine Health Study Update
If you have been keeping up to date via the web site you would be aware that
the Executive and I met with the Repatriation Commissioner and
representatives from DVA, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Veterans
Compensation, Strategic Research Development, Repatriation Medical
Authority, Defence and Dr Sonya BENNETT and Assoc Professor Dino PISANIELLO
who gave us a presentation on the retrospective ‘Oberon Class Submarine
Health Study’.
Whilst the jury is still out on whether
it will reap any benefits the positives to come out of it include;
-
DVA will ensure all staff handling
disability claims are aware of the report (so make sure if your claim
involves submarine service you emphasise the fact)
-
The report will be put on the DVA web
site
-
The Repatriation Medical Authority
will take on board the report when considering ‘Statement of Principles’
The Repatriation Commissioner has asked
the SAA to give him (in writing) our thoughts on the report. Our Executive
has tasked me to draft a response by the 1st January 2007, in order to this
I asked members to read the report (available on our web site) and give me
some feedback on both the positive and negative aspects of the report. I’m
not sure whether it’s apathy or a communications failure, but to date I have
had only two responses and without feedback I can only respond with my
personal feelings. So come on men give me something to write about.
DID YOU KNOW
These simple guides can help with mild depression:
-
Ensure you get enough sleep
-
Follow a healthy diet
-
Avoid alcohol
-
Consider biofeedback, meditation or aromatherapy to help you relax
-
During winter months, try light
therapy using a special lamp that mimics the sun
-
Acupuncture as a treatment for depression has shown good results
-
Exercise appears to benefit depressed individuals
New Pension/Welfare Officer
Another Queensland member, Ian SINCLAIR, has joined our every increasing
list of pension/welfare officers. Welcome aboard Ian, I’m sure you can be of
great assistance to our members in the sunshine state.
REMEMBER, before submitting a claim to Veterans’ Affairs run it past one of
our qualified officers to make sure the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed.
For assistance with ‘Health & Welfare’ matters contact an authorised
Pension/ Welfare Officer
HEALTH MATTERS - GOUT
Compiled by Peter SMITH.
Over the last few years it has been brought to my attention that I am not
the only member of the SAA to be inflicted with gout. In the past, I was
treated with injections of cortisone to ease the pain, usually somewhere on
my feet. However, I was never told until now what gout is, what causes it
and how best to treat oneself from it recurring again.
What is gout? Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases
accounting for around five per cent of all cases of arthritis. Arthritis
refers to more than 120 different rheumatic diseases that affect joints,
muscles and bones. For many people, gout initially affects the joints in the
big toe. It can also affect the instep, ankles, heels, knees, wrists,
fingers and elbows.
Hyperuricemia (raised blood uric acid) has caused the deposit of uric acid
crystals in the joint spaces, which leads to a sudden onset of intense pain
and swelling in the joints, which also may be warm and very tender. An acute
attack commonly
occurs at night and can be triggered by stressful events, alcohol, drugs, or
the presence of another illness.
Where high uric acid has been present for a long time and acute gout has
been frequent and severe, deposits of uric acid salts may appear around the
affected joint and even in tissues elsewhere such as the ears. High uric
acid levels and recurrent gout are often associated with high blood
pressure.
What increases the risk of Gout? Genetics may play a role in
determining a person’s risk, since up to 18 percent of people with gout have
a family history of the disease.
The following are part of a condition known as “Syndrome X”. Being
overweight increases the risk of developing gout because there is more
tissue available for turnover or breakdown, which leads to excess uric acid
production.
There is a very strong link between gout and insulin resistance (up to 96
percent of gout sufferers are thought to be insulin resistant) that some
experts have recommended that all people with gout should be screened for
this condition.
Beer drinkers are more at risk than spirit drinkers, although moderate wine
drinkers are not at increased risk at all. Drinking too much alcohol can
lead to hyperuricemia because it interferes with the removal of uric acid
from the body.
High intake of foods containing purines: Eating too many foods rich in
purines can cause or aggravate gout. Certain medicines can lead to
hyperuricemia because they reduce the body’s ability to remove uric acid;
these include diuretics, salicylates and vitamin niacin. There are certain
medications to stop organ rejection and blood pressure that unfortunately
cause gout, but cannot be eliminated as there is no alterative medicine for
treatment.
How to treat gout: The first step is to correct those factors which
give rise to high uric acid levels.
Alcohol intake should be reduced, especially beer. The Australian Alcohol
Guidelines, assuming you are not on medication recommend for men, no more
than 4 standard drinks a day on average. And no more that 6 standard drinks
on any one day. For women no more than 2 standard drinks a day on average.
And no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. Everyone should have 1or
2 alcohol-free days a week. During an acute attack of gout it is best to
avoid alcohol altogether.
Weight loss may be very important.
Eat small to moderate sized meals or snacks regularly through the day.
Skipping meals or fasting can increase blood levels of uric acid. When they
are in season, as a snack, eat cherries; it has been proven in studies that
cherries lower urate levels, the same for any other red/blue coloured
berries including strawberries.
Include at least 2 cups of low fat milk
(or other low fat diary foods such as yogurt) every day. Recent studies
indicate that intake of low fat dairy products strongly reduces the risk of
gout.
Drink plenty of fluids especially water –
at least 2-3 litres per day. This helps your body dilute the uric acid it
excretes through your urine and reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.
Some kidney stones are formed of uric acid; others may have a uric acid
core.
Reduce or avoid high purine foods. It is
found that people benefit from limiting foods which are very rich in
purines. Purines are broken down into uric acid by your body’s metabolism.
The following food is high in purines and should be avoided. Sardines,
anchovies, fish roe (Caviar), shrimp/prawns, mackerel and herring. Yeast and
yeast extracts e.g. brewer’s yeast, Vegemite and Promite. Liver, kidney and
pate. Meat extract e.g. Bonox and Bovril. Dried beans, lentils and wild game
meat.
Limit meat, poultry and fish to 1
moderate serve per day. The following have purines in them, but it is
suggested that you only eat one serve of the next mentioned and not to
include more than one in a meal at one time. Moderate purine foods are:
Meat, chicken, fish and shellfish, oats, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms
and silverbeet.
Please note that tomatoes are not
included in the list of purine foods. However, having said that, tomatoes
are most likely to trigger allergic migraine reactions in some people, they
have a high content of glutamic acid, amines and salicylates, especially in
concentrated products. As you would have noticed I have already mentioned
salicylates in ‘certain medicines’ this is the reason tomatoes are one of
the culprits in gout flare ups.
Herbal medicine: Several herbs have been used in the management of
gout.
Propolis is a sticky resin that seeps from buds or bark of trees especially
conifers. Bees gather propolis and carry it home in their pollen sacs for
use in the hive. A recent Japanese study showed that a propolis preparation
decreased uric-acid levels.
Celery and juniper is a traditional remedy for gout. Juniper berries reduce
uric levels and ease gout symptoms. Celery seeds increase renal urate
excretion. Herbs such as garlic, milk thistle, yucca and globe artichoke
have been used to relieve systems of acute gout. Devil’s claw and bromelains
have been used to reduce inflammation of gout.
The use of herbal remedies is well and good; however, some herbal products
can interfere with other drugs/medications that you may be taking. It is
always best to check with your doctor to see if it is safe to take certain
herbal remedies with your medication before doing so.
Source Information:
MANSBERG, Ginni. “Gout.” Adapted from the “Journal of Complementary
Medicine” Vol 4 No 6 as “Getting rid of Gout” in “Go” Issue 5, for Go Vita
Stores.
REID, Mel. “Diet & Gout” Southern Fleurieu Health Service, pamphlet revised
Feb 05.
SAXELBY, Catherine. “Food What’s In It – A to Z of Food and Nutrition” ISBN
0 7301 0293 9.
Website
www.alcohol.gov.au
CORRESPONDENCE
Dear Peter,
With reference to the November Newsletter, page 5, I am bemused with the
item about the late Bungy Edwards and the 100’ SETT. I feel that wires got
crossed when the item was written. As a clearance diver he may have been in
the tank in HMS Vernon, where Air Crew were taught how to get out of ditched
aircraft.
I joined the tank in Blockhouse on the 10.10.1950 as an instructor; all
instructors were CPO Coxn’s at the time.
On 21.9.1951, LCDR PEACOCK R.N. Command Escape Officer, SURG. Commander
DAVIDSON R.N. Tank Medical Officer, CPO Cox’n Charlie LAMPORT, CPO Cox’n
Charlie AVERILLO (also known as the Spanish Gunlayer) and I went to the 100'
tank in New London to gain experience in working in 100' of water. Before
using our own equipment we had to qualify with the USN's Mumpson Lung.
When the SETT in HMS Dolphin could be used we trained the rest of the tank
crew including 9 Leading Hands and one P.O. (Lennie HOUGH) as assistant
instructors known as swim boys.
As to the 350' ascent I don't think a submarine was involved - it may have
been simulated in Haslar experimental lab. Later live ascents were made from
boats down to 600' in immersion suits and hoods. LCDR Matthew TODD R.N. was
involved with this; the escapes were called “Upshots”. To the best of my
knowledge clearance divers never worked in the 100' SETT during my time in
boats.
If anyone has further information I would like to hear from them as I have
been out since Dec. 1963.
Yours aye, Bill WYATT.
Editor’s comment: Part of Bungy’s obituary was taken from his own
statement when he joined the Association as an associate member, he wrote:
“I was not in the submarine service as such, but was very closely associated
with it, as a member of the admiralty experimental team (under Commander
L.P.K. CRABB GM OBE) as a team, the whole concept of free accent was
conceived and trials carried out to a depth of 350 feet and from the
successful trials a 100ft tank was built at Gosport. I took over the
training of submariners and eventually trained staff to take over the
training, and then went on to further trials on submarines.” Further
information was gleamed from the book “HMS DOLPHIN – Gosport’s Submarine
Base” By Keith HALL, ISBN 0 7524 2113 1, where he states several times that
the concrete base of the tank was in place in 1950, the tank completed and
officially opened on 13 July 1954, with the first class of training
submariners making an ascent the same day. If any member can add to Bill’s
comments please contact me via the various addresses in the Masthead of this
newsletter.
I wrote the following email to archivist
George MALCOLMSON at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport.
Dear George,
I had an email in response to the obituary in the last In Depth re Norman
John EDWARDS. I am not happy about my response to Bill WYATT’s email; I have
read quite extensively on Commander CRABB's diving exploits and have
accessed the web and Googled all that I can find on CRABB.
I’ve come to assume that the very limited information on CRABB's secret
diving experiments carried out in the Mediterranean before 1950 was research
into ascent. Nearly every page on Google deals more with his disappearance
under the Russian warship. And the period 1946-50 has not been covered very
well at all.
Could you please confirm that I am right in thinking this and also do you
have any early history of names involved at the start of the SETT training
as I would like to place Norman there at the beginning? Also were submarines
involved with the experiments in the Med? I would like to answer Bill's
email correctly.
In the eulogy at Norm's service an interesting piece was divulged that
certainly was not mentioned on any of the web sites. On Norm: "He was a
great friend of Commander CRABB and worked with him clearing Grand Harbour
in Malta. In later years he was asked to identify a body claimed to be that
of Commander CRABB, Norman took one look and pronounced the person was not
CRABB because as a lucky charm Commander Crabb always dived wearing red
underpants! The Navy would not accept this and covered it all up."
Peter Smith
Dear Peter,
Thank you for your email.
I had read the obituary of Norman John EDWARDS with some interest, a copy of
it was sent to our Society of Friends (Andy BUCHANAN) who forwarded it to
me. It stuck in my mind because of the references to his association with
Commander CRABB and his involvement with the early days of the 100 foot
Submarine Escape Training Tank. I must say that Bill WYATT's email provides
some very interesting facts as well as the names of the first instructors.
As far as I know this information is not recorded anywhere else.
First of all regarding Commander Lionel Kenneth CRABB; just after the end of
the war he ended up in Haifa where the Royal Navy was tasked to prevent the
influx of European Jews from reaching Palestine by sea. Ships were being
sabotaged to prevent them being towed back to sea. CRABB arrived from Venice
and he was involved in training ships’ divers to search their own ship’s
bottoms using Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus (DSEA). With him were a party
of six Petty Officers, who arrived from the UK and who were used to deal
with at least one mine located in a destroyer berth that had been intended
to be fired electrically from a wreck in the harbour. The presence of
CRABB's team were a sufficient deterrent to prevent any serious sabotage
activity. After this task CRABB was discharged from the RN.
After this, he was drifting and picking up casual work anywhere he could,
but in early 1949 he got a job at the Admiralty Research Laboratory (ARL) at
Teddington working on experimental underwater photography. In 1950 Crabb and
his boss Lt Jimmy HODGES RNVR, among others, were hastily called in to
assist following the sinking of the submarine HMS Truculent. He was also
onboard HMS Reclaim with the ARL team that used the experimental underwater
TV camera in the search for HMS Affray. CRABB’s role was liaison officer
between the scientists and the diving team. From the obit I assume that
Norman John EDWARDS was probably a member of this team.
In the early 1950's CRABB was detached from ARL and appointed Lt Cdr RNVR in
command of the experimental Clearance diving team for a period of two years.
His official contact with the Royal Navy came to an end in April 1954.
According to one source, the persons asked to identify CRABB's body were Lt
W Y McLANACHAN of HMS Vernon and CRABB's ex wife Margaret PLAYER.
The use of "free ascent" was decided upon in 1946 when a committee (known as
the Ruck KEENE committee) was set up to examine the whole subject of
submarine escape.
Construction of the 100 foot tank was commenced in December 1949. A selected
team of potential instructors underwent a course of free ascent training in
the US Navy tank in New London. In September 1951 the officer in charge and
a medical officer and three Chief Petty Officers spent five weeks in the US
Naval Base. (Bill WYATT email now puts names to these men) Submarine
Coxswains were chosen because they were also to be responsible for
delivering lectures on any subject connected with individual submarine
escape. The use of "free ascent" was a technique used by the US instructors
as a "stunt"
Captain W O SHELFORD was in command of HMS Deepwater in 1946 and he shifted
all the experimental diving unit onboard. I have no confirmation of the
fact, but CRABB and EDWARDS could possibly have been involved during this
period. In his book "Subsunk" SHELFORD states that "the RN Physiological
Laboratory in Alverstoke took on the work of proving free ascent where my
experimental diving unit had left off," SHELFORD went on to commission HMS
Reclaim on 1 June 1948.
That is about all I have readily to hand on this subject. There may be more
information in among various papers and collections of documents; however it
would need further research
The information about the early days of the SETT we have had quite a bit of
material transferred from the SETT and this is currently being sorted
through. I am hoping that it will throw up some more detail about the early
days of the SETT. The main point of reference has been the articles written
about Submarine escape and training written for the RN Scientific Service. I
should also like to point out that the museum has recently changed the
collection’s management software making the existing catalogue that much
easier to search. In the new year we will be employing a documentation
assistant on a two year contract to tackle some of the outstanding
documentation issues. This will help make the information in the archive and
other parts of the collection more readily accessible.
Yours sincerely, George MALCOLMSON
Archivist, RN Submarine Museum
Dear Peter,
Thought you might be interested in this copy of the “Dorset Echo” with the
report of the HMS Sidon memorial ceremony in Portland, last year, 16 June
2005, exactly fifty years after the accident, the SAA was well represented
by Nick CARTER and myself seen together kneeling on the left with the rest
of the surviving crew members. I would like to make one correction to the
article, which says I was on the bridge at the moment of the explosion – not
true, as Second Coxswain I was on the fore casing.
Sidon today! I was assured by the present owners that she is in very good
condition and would not be too difficult to raise, if genuine interest was
shown by the general public. As far as I know Sidon is not considered a war
grave.
Was very sorry to see that Nick CARTER has left us on his long voyage
Regards Eric ANDREWS
New Caledonia.
Dear Peter,
An addition to George HUNT’s article:
In 1980 I was the superintendent Marine Engineer Officer on the staff of
what was then called DPT, based at Foxhill, Bath, UK.
A Naval Staff requirement was raised to examine engineering options as to
how to increase the dived endurance of the Type 2400 diesel electric
submarines (Upholder Class), which were then currently under construction at
Barrow in Furness in the Lake District. A contract was raised on
Vickers, Shipbuilders, to conduct a review of the options currently
available to meet this requirement, and a small team was set up with myself
as the project Manager aided by the very senior and HTP experienced Naval
Scientist, Miss Eleanor McNAIR and a group of four Vickers’ Engineers.
It became apparent that the simple answer was to install a small diesel
generator with sufficient power to allow the submarine to remain dived on
station in the North Atlantic with all sensors powered up and propelling at
patrol speed with the battery floated, for up to fourteen days!!!
The problem therefore was how to provide this diesel engine with oxygen? In
the early days of the Polaris submarines, there was concern in high places
at the lethal potential of 16 missiles carrying enough rocket fuel to drill
a few holes in the pressure hull, so that any mention of liquid oxygen in a
conventional submarine was not looked upon very favourably at that time.
So the decision was taken to resurrect the HTP option.
An old barge was acquired and moored in the dockyard in Barrow.
Modifications to allow storage of a small amount of HTP were carried out and
Perkins P6 engine with associate generator was purchased. Clean conditions
similar to nuclear-powered submarine requirements had to be established and
detailed Safety and Training Rules approved. Miss McNAIR had been heavily
involved with the Excalibur and Explorer submarines, so she was well aware
of the dangers of mishandling HTP (at 99.9% purity) and instilled in the
Project Team a healthy respect for this liquid. Normal everyday cleaning
fluids contain peroxide, but at very low concentrations.
In its simplest form, HTP was passed through a catalyst column to produce
oxygen which was supplied to the diesel generator, the exhaust which was
compressed and discharged overboard. The Project achieved remarkable success
with this engine but the HTP storage problem became a contentious issue. In
the Explorer class, HTP was stowed in flexible plastic containers inside
pressure compensated external tanks, but a better solution was hard to
engineer. An additional small hull section would have required to house the
equipment and associated Air Purification units, but provision of breathing
oxygen for the crew was easily provided by HTP.
I left the Project in 1982 on transfer to the RAN, but the decision to sell
the Upholders to Canada brought the resurrection of HTP to, I believe, a
final end.
Regards Mike DAVIDSON
OBITUARIES
Michael 'Jan' Kiff:
It is with regret that I announce the death of NSW Branch member Michael
“Jan” KIFF. Michael served in the Royal Navy as an M(E)1; his first boat was
HMS Telemachus joining her in 1953. During his time in submarines
Michael served in the Fourth Submarine Squadron in Sydney. During that
period in the Squadron he saw service in HM Submarines Thorough,
Tactician and Aurochs before leaving the Navy in 1958. On leaving
the Navy, Michael decided to make his home in Australia and settled down in
Sydney.
John Robert Hodgen: It is with regret that I
announce the passing away from the effects of cancer on Saturday morning, 11
November 2006, of John Robert HODGEN.
John was one of the early Australian sailors who heard the call for
submarines and was sent to the United Kingdom in 1966, his first boat for
his part three was HMS Opportune from 1966 to 1967. On completion of his
training he joined HMAS Otway at Scotts as commissioning crew in 1967; he
stayed with the boat until 1969.
John had a break from submarines and joined his next boat HMS Onslow in 1971
and remained with the boat until 1972.
John returned to the United Kingdom in 1974 to join the newest boat to join
the Squadron HMAS Orion, on his return to Australia in 1974 he returned to
Britain and joined the last boat HMAS Otama as commissioning crew, he stayed
with the boat until 1978.
John left the RAN as a CPOETS4SM, he returned to Scotland with his family
where he was living in Lanarkshire. As a birthday gift John’s wife Jennifer
gave him a membership form and paid the dues, he joined the Association in
March 2004
ACT & SR BRANCH
Secretary Geoff BURNS JP 02 48494330 0427 435 314
burns@ugl.com.au
The year for the ACT Branch has been pretty quiet, finishing with the last
meeting at Mick CAREW’s house at Gundaroo, which although poorly attended
was never the less very enjoyable. I would like to thank Mick for his
hospitality on that day.
We are looking forward to the Christmas break and the start to the New Year
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my committee for the
support over 2006. We once again have been plagued with a certain amount of
apathy in regard to attendances and I hope that this can be turned round,
particularly with the ACT’s 2008 AGM campaign fast approaching.
To all my fellow members through out the country and elsewhere I hope you
enjoy the festive season with your families and have a very enjoyable and
safe New Year.
Regards
Andy GALLEY
NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH
Secretary Ken WILLIAMS H 02-80042304 M 0400500604 email
kenbwilliams@hotmail.com
Due to ill health, Robert MARSLAND has resigned as the NSW Branch Secretary
and National Treasurer, in the interim his Branch duties will be carried out
by the Social Committee member Ken WILLIAMS until a new Secretary is voted
in. Ken can be contacted at the following address: 1 McMullen Ave,
Carlingford 2118.
The next Branch meeting will be held on 11 February 2007 commencing at 1130
in the City of Sydney RSL, 565 George Street, Sydney. The main topic for
discussion will be nominations and agenda for the National AGM.
BBQ at Spectacle Island on Sunday, 4 March 2007, a sausage sizzle will be
supplied at $15 per head, children under 10 free, over 10 $5. I need your
names and numbers NOW so we can organise the coxswain thing, victualling or
for you stokers FOOD. Contact me at the above phone numbers and or email for
planning purposes, boats will leave at 1000 and 1030 from the ferry wharf on
the west bank under the Iron Cove Bridge. BYO thirst quenchers, hats and
sunscreen. The Submarine Collection will be open.
On behalf of the National Executives and NSW Branch members, thank you Bob
for your un-stinted work for the Branch and Association, our thoughts and
prayers are with you. (Ed).
NORTH QUEENSLAND BRANCH
Secretary Garth SCHMIDT email ssc83850@bigpond.net.au
Not much to report from the North at this time of year, however I would like
to extend our New Year greetings from President Mal, the Committee and
members of the SAA North Queensland to all members of the SAA and
submariners and families anywhere. We trust that your Christmas was a warm
one spent with family and friends and that 2007 brings forth great benefits
for all.
Our Treasurer, Craig COPE has departed for Adelaide, where he is
constructing a pipeline for the Gold Coast desalination plant and will be
gone for eight months. Craig will be flying back for our next meeting,
scheduled to be held in the latter half of February in Mackay. Mackay is a
beautiful little town, but a fast growing NQ city. Anyone passing through
will be most welcome. I will advise the exact date and venue early in the
new year.
QUEENSLAND BRANCH
Secretary Rob H. WOOLRYCH MBE H 07-54421991 email
robjanw@launch.net.au
As usual
the important item first NEXT MEETING OF SAA Qld Inc. When, 1100 Sunday, 14
January 2007. Where Galaxy Room, Coorparoo RSL, 45 Holdsworth Street,
Coorparoo.
Please join us if you can as we have quite a few important items for
discussion and as members of SAA National you should all be bought up to
speed on matters within our Branch, prior to your possible participation in
SUBCON 07.
To all SAA members we wish you all the best for the New Year and please stay
safe and well in 2007.
We had an excellent Christmas gathering and thanks to all those who joined
us for making it such a happy occasion. To all of you keep the date of 28
July 2007 clear for our 25th Anniversary which we will celebrate with our
usual flair. VENUE Kedron Wavell RSL and we have a 4 piece band already
organized
Remember Queensland Members and of any from other States who wish to join us
MEETING 1100 Sunday, 14 January 2007 GALAXY ROOM, Coorparoo RSL
SOUTH
AUSTRALIAN BRANCH
Secretary David BRYANT H 08-82630461 M 0412574790 email
djbryant@senet.com.au
Some thirty plus members and family gathered in Adelaide's Bonython Park on
a beautiful sunny day Sunday 3rd December for the Branch end-of-year BBQ.
Once again, the same old faces were in attendance to enjoy a sausage or two
and a beer courtesy of Branch funds.
As 2006 draws to a close, the President, Committee and members of the South
Australian Branch wish all of our Submarine Association colleagues a Happy
and Prosperous New Year, and in particular, our thoughts are with those
members who are suffering health problems, and we wish them a speedy
recovery.
Plans for SUBCON2007 are progressing, and some definitive costs for the
various events planned over the June long weekend should be forthcoming in
February, when the Planning Committee will have some idea of sponsorship and
attendance figures.
To date we don't have many South Australia members who have expressed
interest in attending, so please get those applications in and support YOUR
Branch!
The next meeting of the SUBCON2007 Planning Committee will be over the
Australia Day weekend at the Bishop Country residence on the Murray River
(details to be promulgated).
It is intended to organize a function in the New Year, prior to our AGM in
May, so please contact your Secretary for details.
TASMANIAN BRANCH
Secretary David BYRNE H. 03/6233588 Email:
dbyrne@keypoint.com.au
The recent branch barbecue held at David and Sue BYRNE’s was very
successful. David did his best as custodian of the BBQ tongs to get all the
various dead animals (chicken, beef, pork, lamb and fish) cooked to
individual preferences whilst avoiding the worst of the smoke and flames.
Kim PITT had to leave early due to a last-minute work requirement for him to
do a return jet flight to the new ice runway near Casey Station in
Antarctica. The pictures he captured were quite stunning. Kim’s wife, Eril
and daughter, Kelcie, kicked on for the rest of the afternoon and took home
some dessert for Kim to enjoy after midnight when he returned home.
As a small branch the Tasmanian membership likes to mix with the wider naval
community and a couple of non-submariners came along to enjoy the legendary
hospitality for which submariners are known. We had an ex-bubbly and an
ex-radioman, with their wives, join us for the afternoon trading warries
about how great we all were and how good or bad, cheap or expensive and hot
or cold the beers were on those runs ashore back in the “good old days”!
As I write this many places around the country are being threatened by
bushfires. We sincerely hope and pray that all our members and their friends
and families around the nation remain safe and with their homes and property
unharmed.
The next gathering for the Tasmanian Branch members and for any mainlanders
who may be visiting Hobart at the time is a Restaurant Night at the Thai
Garden Restaurant on the corner of Argyle Street and Ryde St (opposite North
Hobart Oval) at 1915 for 1930 on Saturday, 3 February 2007. Bernie WATTS is
co-ordinating this event so please contact him on (03) 6249 1156 or via
e-mail to tumberine@tadaust.org.au if you’d like to attend. The RSVP date is
20 January 2006 so please let Bernie know ASAP and come along and support
your branch.
The President, Committee and Members of the Apple/Holiday Isle Branch would
like to wish all our submarine comrades and their families a most Happy and
Prosperous New Year in 2007.
VICTORIAN BRANCH
Secretary Keith ‘Boot’ HATFIELD M 0408 051 085 email
hatfield.1@optusnet.com.au
Regular meetings every 3rd Sunday at the ESU (Naval Association), corner
Walsh Street and Toorak Road, South Yarra.
Our esteemed Secretary (the Right Honourable Boot PhD (Calcutta-failed) VD
and Scar, has decided to award himself several days leave and ‘nick off’ to
the land of the Long White Cloud; and so this edition is written by yours
truly.
December 17 was the day we held our Christmas Party and Annual Fund Raiser
Raffle. Over 60 people attended what (again) turned out to be a really good
occasion. The proceeding were blessed by our Branch ‘Sin Bosun’ (The Rev
Vernon COLLINS) who also rendered the Submariners’ Prayer and “mentioned”
the lost of RN, Royal Netherlands Navy and the United States Navy submarines
and a visit was made by Mr S CLAUS and his very alluring Christmas Fairies
(of the traditional kind!) After the kids had been given pressies the ‘other
kids’ got their Kris Cringle gifts. Up Spirits (with Stand Fast the Holy
Ghost announced by the Padre) was piped by Pat HEFFERNAN, the Loyal and
Absent Friends. Later, Gerry FRANCE made mention of Branch members on the
sick list.
Details
of the winners of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Branch Members Raffle will be
documented in the next Edition of “Flood Q”. Of the ten prizes won, only two
members were not in attendance on the day: I will be contacting them both
individually to discuss delivery
On that note I will take this opportunity, on behalf of the Members and
Auxiliary Members of SAA (Victorian Branch) to wish you a very Safe ,
Prosperous and Happy New Year.
Mike (Wiggy) BENNETT
President and Rum Locker Key Holder….!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA BRANCH
Secretary/Treasurer: Norm WILLIAMS OAM 0419 863 558 Email:
norm.williams@submarinesaustralia.com
May the New Year bring great prosperity and joy. A special thought to those
in need of comfort and support.
There has been a change of President in
the West and Roger Hardwicke has taken on the task from Fred Lawrence who's
work commitments have increased and making it impossible, in Fred's words,
to do the task properly. The Branch thanks Fred for his time at the
helm.
Again
I offer thanks for the support that Members continue to give, it is this
feedback and input that makes it all worthwhile. The site's popularity is
evident and that means it serves a useful purpose, opening lines of
communications between submariners.
Last year the site was accused of being too political (SAA that is), but I
make no apologies if that is the case. If an issue is there, it needs to be
discussed, not hidden in Committee meetings.
A reminder, the Events Calendar in Up Periscope provides a full calendar of
events in all states. If your State's events are not up to date contact your
Branch Secretary and ask him to send the details for inclusion.
Again I would like to thank our sponsors, Thales Underwater Systems and the
Thales team for their support. In these tight times the corporate dollar is
getting harder to obtain and the submarine community are fortunate to have
the support of companies such as Thales, ASC, Raytheon and ADI.
Remember it is YOUR site and it is only as good as the information supplied
to the Web Manager. Contact norm.williams@submarinesaustralia.com mobile
0419 863 558 http://submarinesaustralia.com
SIDON REMEMBERED
by Hilda SWINNEY From the “Dorset Echo”
dated Friday 17 June 2005
The courageous and
dedication of all the submariners in war and peace was remembered at an
emotive ceremony held on the mist shrouded Portland heights. The main
purpose of the occasion was to mark the 50th anniversary of HM
Submarine Sidon
disaster in Portland Harbour and commemorate the 13 men who lost their lives
in this peace-time tragedy on 16 June 1955.
The submarine had
been moored off the Great Coaling Jetty and was preparing to slip from her
depot ship, HMS Maidstone, when one of her torpedoes exploded with
devastating results. The commanding Officer of Sidon
in 1955, LCDR Hugh VERRY, handed a wreath to crew member of the Coastguard
Helicopter at Osprey Quay and the wreath was passed into safe keeping of the
winch-man who lowered it to the waiting Weymouth Lifeboat whose crew then
cast it into the sea at the point where Sidon sank .
As the Royal Marine bugler from Portsmouth sounded the last post every ship
Almost 400 people gathered for the ceremony at a point at the Heights close
to the cenotaph where they were welcomed by Rupert BEST, a former commander
in the submarine service and now president of the Dorset Branch of the
Submariners’ Association.
Among those present
were Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Captain Michael FULFORD-DOBSON COV RN;
Admiral Sir James PEROWNE KBE, national chairman of the Submariners’
Association and Lady PEROWNE, Rear Admirals Paul LAMBERT; R.R SQUIRES: John
CROYDON and Mrs CROYDON; LCDR Chris EARL Royal Canadian Navy and Mrs EARL;
and standard bearers and members of the RNA and Submariners’ Association
Branches all over the country. The service was conducted by former
submariner Rev Canon David HENLEY.
A striking Portland
stone memorial bearing the names of all who lost their lives in the disaster
was unveiled following the service and was dedicated by Canon HENLEY. The
stone was presented by Shahram HAKIMZADEH on behalf of Hanson pic (sic) and
was carved by local stonemason Paul BROWN assisted by Allan WOLSEY.
Among those on
board were LEUT Pat PURSER and PO Eric ANDREWS who were standing on the fore
casing when they heard a muffed explosion and then smoke began to come out
of the hatches. Mr. ANDREWS said: “this is a very emotional day which brings
back memories of that in 1955” Mr PURSER said: “Fifty years have passed and
now the mourning is over and I look on today as a chance to meet old
friends.” There was a memorable outcome to the meeting of both these men for
Mr. ANDREWS had a picture taken with Mr. PURSER on Sidon just prior
to the disaster and they had another taken which will remind them of their
meeting 50 years on.
Former CO Mr. VERRY was amazed at the amount of people who were present to
mark the anniversary, many from overseas including New Caledonia, and he
said: “We are looking on this as a day of remembrance and thanksgiving.”
Attending with her husband and family was Gill DASH from Essex who never
knew her father, Surgeon LEUT Charles Eric RHODES, as she was only three
weeks old when he was killed in
Sidon. He was a member of the ship’s company of HMS Maidstone
and when Sidon blew up he immediately went to the aid of those on
board. He brought out three men and returned to give aid to the injured but
this cost him his life and his bravery resulted in the posthumous award of
the Albert Medal. Gill, who was wearing the Albert Medal which was left to
her by her mother, said: “This is the first time it has been out of its box
since the Queen presented it to my mother and I am very proud to be wearing
it today.” Footnote: Members of the Association collected funds to
send Sidon survivor , the late Nick Carter, to the unveiling. He supplied
the photo of the bugler.
OPERATION SILENT LEGEND - AE2
Mr. Bruce BILSON, the Minister assisting the Minster for Defence and the
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs announced on Monday 6 November that the
Commonwealth Government has accepted the offer from the Submarine Institute
of Australia (SIA) to lead a joint Turkish/Australian project to preserve
AE2 and to tell the story of her gallant action at Gallipoli as part of
the celebration of the Centenary of Gallipoli in 2015.
The Minister for
Defence and the Chief of Navy are strong supporters of the Institute’s
project and will provide the $388,500 approved by Government from the
Defence portfolio which will cover half of the cost of the proposal; the SIA
has already raised the bulk of the remainder and are confident that the
balance can also be obtained.
Just
to explain a little about the Submarine Institute of Australia; it is a not
for profit, incorporated association, which has in turn formed the AE2
Commemorative Foundation Ltd as a not for profit company to manage the
commercial aspects of the project. The Company is wholly
controlled by the Institute. The Institute’s membership covers a
range of expertise, including submarine engineering, project management,
maritime archaeology, marine sciences and international maritime law,
providing links to the major Australian maritime museums, Defence and
associated industries. The Institute encourages serving or former
submariners to join and add their weight to our efforts for the range of
project which the Institute has running. Details on the website
www.submarineinstitute.com
The SIA offer to
lead a project to conduct a hydrographic and dived archaeological survey to
assess the material condition of AE2 in September 2007 has been
accepted by Government. The survey to gather the necessary data to enable an
assessment of the strength of the hull [it’s of all riveted construction] is
planned for the next northern autumn –September 07. This endeavour has
been dubbed Operation Silent Legend 1. It is envisaged that there will
be a series of check dives in the run up to the Centenary of the loss of
AE2
in 2015.
The offer was made
through the Inter Departmental Working Group [IDWG] which, under the
chairmanship of Navy, provides the co-ordination of policy advice to the
Australian Government. As the name implies, representatives of various
Government Departments attend to ensure that the proposals are
comprehensively examined, are soundly based so that possible pitfalls for
the Government and individual Ministers are identified and avoided.
The proposals put forward in 2003 and 2004 which were endorsed by the IDWG
then have been revised and enhanced.
Concurrently, a
number of Ministers, their staffs and key officials in their departments
were lobbied very effectively by the SIA President Peter BRIGGS, both
directly and by letter to achieve the successful result. Senator Ian
CAMPBELL from Western Australia has been very supportive and provided a
grant of $25,000 to fund travel to Turkey and the production of a report on
the feasibility of how a dived archaeological survey of the wreck could be
conducted.
Initially
the SIA funded a visit to Turkey by the Vice President AE2, Terry
ROACH, to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Turkish Institute
of Nautical Archaeology [TINA] the counterpart to the SIA in Turkey.
It was a member of
TINA, Mr. Selcuk KOLAY who after exhaustive research and persistent effort
located the wreck of the submarine in 1998. Subsequently, he and other
members of TINA, in conjunction with Dr Mark SPENCER, a keen underwater
photographer and Mr. Tim SMITH a Marine Archaeologist from the NSW Heritage
Council, positively identified AE2. Early units of the
class [there were 57 built] had a distinctive step in the casing. No
other E-class with this step was lost in the Marmara during the war, so the
identification of
AE2 is very positive. Mr. KOLAY’s contribution has been recognised
by the award of an OAM.
There have been
some thoughts by interested Turkish citizens to raise the submarine, but
they have been persuaded that it would be imprudent to attempt such an
undertaking without a sound knowledge of the condition of the structural
integrity of the hull.
The SIA’s Project
Manager Ken GREIG has developed a detailed plan which assembles a volunteer
team of expert individuals with diving, archaeological, corrosion, image
gathering - about 15 or so. It is intended that there will be a
Mission Rehearsal and Training Exercise [MRTE] in February 2007on one of the
J Class submarine wrecks off Port Phillip heads to familiarize team members
with the equipment for measuring hull thicknesses and collecting samples.
The MAA plan
involves dived operations over a 10 day period from a hired commercial
diving vessel in Turkey complete with hyperbaric chamber, a small high speed
tender for ship to shore commuting and the setting up of a base ashore on
the mainland to support the operation. AE2 is in 73 m of water,
which means closed circuit rebreather equipment is the preferred equipment
with a mixture of breathing gas. The Australian defence company
Sonartech Atlas has offered to conduct a hydrographic survey using a new
precision sonar to demonstrate its technology.
DSTO scientists led
by Dr Roger NEILL will provide a Remotely Operated Vehicle [ROV] to assist
the divers in gathering data from the hull of the submarine;
this will reduce the task of the divers significantly and will be of great
help to reduce the time spent under pressure and hence the decompression
time. In addition Roger and his team have started to produce a virtual tour
of the interior of
AE2
using original ship’s drawing from the Government Archives. The
results are spectacular and we are sure that the images will be seen in the
documentary and news stories in the near future.
The data gathered
during the MAA will be used to assess the condition of the submarine and on
that basis; costed options for preservation will be jointly developed with
TINA for presentation to both the Turkish and Australian Governments to
mutually determine.`The spectrum of options for preservation range from in
situ treatment to recovery and display of the submarine at Gallipoli. Our
efforts to tell the story will be led by the award winning WA documentary
maker, Electric Pictures [who made the successful series on the COLLINS
class] and the Australian Geographic magazine. The ABC has
indicated strong interest in the documentary and we are talking to various
news channels.
The announcement of
Government support is a significant step forward; we will keep In Depth
informed with regular updates in future.
SUBMARINE MYSTERIES UNFOLD - AE1
by Michael BROOKE
The Little known
story about the RAN’s first loss at sea which ranks as its oldest maritime
mystery was recently revealed in a television documentary seen by more than
half-a-million. “The Sub Hunt”, screened on the ABC on 26 November 2006,
traced a former Navy Officer CMDR John FOSTER’s search for
HMAS AE1, the RAN’s first wartime casualty which disappeared off the
coast of New Britain in 1914.
The documentary
told the story about the missing submarine from the perspective of CMDR
FOSTER, who learnt about the mystery when posted as the CO of HMAS
Basilisk in Port Moresby in the mid 1970s. CMDR FOSTER, now retired,
spent the last 30 years looking for
AE1, which was lost at sea during the Australian military’s first
amphibious operation the seizure of the German colony of Rabaul. CMDR
FOSTER said a two-day search failed and as the tempo of war increased, the
AE1 quickly faded into official obscurity, with the crew’s bereaved
families and descendants left in anguish.
His search began
in earnest in 1976 when HMAS Flinders explored the submarines most
likely track on its return to harbour, however nothing was found. During his
search over the next three decades CMDR FOSTER made the most of his local
knowledge and intelligence about the area, the waters, current, islands,
islets, reefs and native knowledge of wrecks in the area. Finally, in 2003,
in conjunction with the Western Australia Maritime Museum and the ABC, CMDR
FOSTER led an expedition to the area in the hope of finding AE1’s
last resting place.
While the
expedition’s goal was not achieved, it was the first serious attempt to find
the AE1 since 1914 and the ABC made the documentary “The Sub Hunt”.
CMDR FOSTER’s search for
AE1 is also well documented in his book “AE1-Entombed But Not
Forgotten”. Despite no luck on the previous mission, CMDR FOSTER remains
hopeful of finding
AE1. “Our probability of success – once we deploy
into the field – has been assessed by an acknowledged expert in his field,
as being in the mid-90 percent range,” he said. “Some of the experts we have
consulted were involved with the finding of such iconic shipwrecks as the
Titanic, the Bismarck, the Lusitania, the Israeli
submarine, INS Dakar and the Japanese submarine
I-52.
CMDR FOSTER said
locating the wreck of
AE1 and deciphering of the cause of her loss would provide some
long-awaited closure for the surviving relatives of the crew.
JAPANESE
SUBMARINE FOUND
The mystery surrounding the fate of
the Japanese M24 midget submarine that disappeared after attacking
Sydney Harbour in WWII was solved by amateur divers recently. The Australian
Government and the RAN on December 1 confirmed the discovery of M24 –
which has been the topic of Navy scuttlebutt for the past 60 years.
According to
Environment and Heritage Minister Ian CAMPBELL, “I can confirm the wreck
discovery by a group of divers is the Japanese midget submarine that
disappeared after the Japanese action in Sydney Harbour in 1942”. The
Type A midget submarine, one of three that raided Sydney Harbour in 1942,
was found by divers in 50-metres of water, about 6km off the coast off
Sydney’s northern beaches.
The Minister said
he had declared a protected zone around the site to ensure the protection of
this wreck, its relics and any human remains.
As to the fate of
M24’s two crew members, Mr. CAMPBELL said Australia and Japanese
governments would work together “to ensure all maters are handled
sensitively”. The night of 31 May 1942, M24 entered Sydney Harbour, along
with two other midget submarines, and fired torpedoes that missed the
American cruiser USS Chicago but exploded beneath the barracks ship
HMAS Kuttabul, killing 19 Australian and two British sailors. Of
the other two submarines,
M27
became entangled in the defence boom net and its two man crew blew it up,
while the other M21 was sunk in a depth charge attack before firing
any torpedoes. Both articles from Navy News (RAN) 14 December 2006
Editor’s Comment:
On checking the comments in the above item I noted in the footnote in G.
Hermon GILL’s “Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945” the following: “Examination
of the wrecks of Midgets Nos 21 and 27 and of their contents,
led to the conclusion that, in favourable circumstances, it would be
possible for one of these craft to operate in a suitable harbour for a
period up to one week, and to remain submerged for at least 12 hours.
General habitability would be the most serious problem to overcome, and
would have been necessary for crew to get out of the submarine for periods
if the cruise were protracted. The midgets contained food rations and
bottles of mineral waters, whisky and wine. A typical meal (1,300 calories)
was of soda biscuits, dried bonito, pickled plums, peas, chocolate and
caramels. Charts of Sydney and Newcastle Harbours were carried and target
photographs including Garden Island and Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney;
the Hawkesbury River railway bridge; and the steelworks, floating dock, and
Walsh Island shipyard, in Newcastle.
NEW
MEMBERS – WELCOME ABOARD
BATEMAN,
K.A. (Keith) - Ipswich, Queensland 4305
ABROSM HMAS ONSLOW, ORION, OTAMA and OTWAY 1980 -1985
DWYER,
G.M. (Spin) - Yass NSW 2582
LEMNRSM, HMS/m OPOSSUM, HMAS OTWAY and OXLEY
1968 – 1969
IVINS,
P. J. (Phill) - Darby Falls, NSW 2793
LEUT MESM RAN, HMAS OXLEY,
ORION OVENS COLLINS and WALLER 1980 -1999
KING,
F.E. (Frank), Gargett, Queensland 4741
RSSM, HMS/m OPPORTUNE and HMAS
OVENS 1965 – 1969
McCORMACK,
G.N.J. (Mack) - Belmont, WA 6104
WO2 Water Ops SASR, HMAS OXLEY and most
Oberons (Swim on/swim off, Float on/float off, Sub Para Associate member
RV’s).
ROBERTS,
I.D. (Ian) - Wynnum, Queensland 4178
CMDR GLEXSM RAN, HMS/ms
NARWHAL, OSIRIS, HMAS OTWAY, HMS/m ORACLE, HMAS OXLEYand ORION 1964 – 1975
THOMAS,
D.H. (Dave) - Buderim, Queensland 4556
WOUWSM, HMS/Ms GRAMPUS, OPPORTUNE
twice and HMAS ORION 1970 -1985
HORN,
K. (Ken) -Emu Park, Queensland 4710
ABUWSM, HMS/m OPPORTUNE and HMAS OXLEY 1965 -1969
Spike Milligan, love him or loath him, many considered him a genius of
comedy. Reproduced in the New Zealand Branch of the Submariners’
Association newsletter “Up Periscope” was a cartoon by Spike showing a
submarine (U2?) opened up like a sardine can with men laying head to foot,
with the following text.
A
baby sardine saw her first submarine: She was scared and watched through a
peephole. “Oh, come, come, come.” Said the sardine’s mum, “It’s only a
tin full of people.”
Editorial
Several errors were not detected in
the last issue of “In Depth” (Vol 26 #6) the first was the initials for CMDR
CRABB. Because of hast to get the newsletter to the printer I confused two
of my regular corespondents and missed one out. First I would like to thank
Captain George HUNT for his regular letters and for supplying the story on
HMS Naval Base Clyde, of which I confused with Captain Brian BAYNHAM who is
a regular supplier of submarine related information from the UK. To both
Captains, I am sorry for the mix up and thank you for your contributions.
On behalf of the National Executives, we hope the Festive Season was a safe
and merry one, we also wish all readers of “In Depth” a Very Safe, Healthy,
Prosperous and Happy New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Smith
Hon Nat Secretary
5 January 2007
![[Company Logo Image]](../_borders/logo_saa.jpg){kind=logo}
