AWM52 1/11/18/5 - Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, 1946, part 4, Summary of events and correspondence - Part 4

NAVAL VICTORY CONTINGENT.
The Naval Victory Contingent includes:
[[2?]] Officers
[[1?]] [[?]] Officers
[[1?]] Naval [[?]] [[?]]
[[26?]] Other ranks
making the total strength 30.
The contingent is led by Lieutenant Commander
R.I. Peek, O.B.E., D.S.C., R.A.N. (Senior Officer) and
Lieutenant Commander G.J. Cliff, O.B.E., G.E. & Bar, R.A.N.V.R.
Chief Officer S.McClemans represents the
Women's Royal Australian Naval Service and Sister C .Wilson,
the Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service.
The men have been selected from all branches of
the Navy and include Chief Petty Officers, Petty Officers,
Telegraphists, Sick Berth Attendants, Able Seamen, and Stokers.
Their awards have been gained in services in all parts of the
world and are representative of all sections of the R.A.N.
activities.
Twenty-eight members have earned between them,
2 O.B.E's, 1 M.B.E., 1 D.S.C., 2 G.M.'s, 23 D.S.M's, 1 B.E.M.,
1 Lloyd's War Medal, 1 Greek Medal and 7 mentions in despatches.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R.I.PEEK, O.B.E., D.S.C., R.A.N.,
of Penrith, N.S.W.
Awarded OBE as Gunnery Officer in H.M.A.S.Australia for
operations at Leyte Gulf. In this action "Australia" was hit by
a suicide aircraft causing casualties to most of thre bridge
personnel. Lt.Cdr. R.I.Peek took charge and organised fire
fighting and damage control operations.
The DSC was awarded on the same ship for gallantry, skill
and devotion to duty during successful actions in Lingayan Gulf.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER G.J.CLIFF, O.B.E., GEORGE MEDAL & BAR,RANVR,
of Collaroy Beach, N.S.W.
Served war years as member of special Admiralty squad
engaged on mine recovery and disposal operations around ports and
harbours of United Kingdom.
Gained George Medal for rendering a buried mine safe, in
London Docks area, May,1941.
Bar to George Medal awarded for a successful recovery
operation of live magnetic mine in Belfast Reservoir, July,1942.
Awarded MBE in March,1943 for removal on magnetic mine from
vicinity of Training ship "Mercury" ,Southampton.
OBE awarded in November,1943 for removal of buried mine in
Southampton docks.
CHIEF OFFICER S.M.McCLEMANS, W.R.A.N.S. of Perth, West Australia.
Joined WRANS 1942. Appointed Director, May, 1943.
Prior to war service, practised Law in Western Australia
and has the distinction of being the first woman to appear as
Counsel before the Supreme Court in Western Australia.
SISTER C.S.WILSON, R.A.N. NURSING SERVICE, of Geelong Victoria.
Joined Nursing Service in 1942 as one of its original
members.
Served during the war at Flinders Naval Depot, Westernport;
Milne Bay (New Guinea) Naval hospital, being one of four Nursing
sisters sent to that area; Sydney Repatriation hospital Naval
Wing and Canonbury Naval Hospital, Sydney.

CHIEF STOKER A.WRENCH, DSM., MID^x., of Kingsford, N.S.W.
Whilst serving in H.M.A.S.Gascoyne was awarded the D.S.M.
for his part in an action which resulted in saving a Dutch
troopship damaged by torpedo attacks off the island of Leyte.
Received M.I.D. whilst serving in H.M.A.S.Vampire in the
Mediterranean when an enemy bomber was shot down.
The second M.I.D. was awarded in the same ship when it was
attacked and sunk by Japanese bombers in the Bay of Bengal.
CHIEF SHIPWRIGHT A.J.ROBINSON, DSM.,MID, of Melbourne, Victoria.
The DSM was awarded for his part taken in Repair and Damage
Control when the cruiser H.M.A.S.Australia was hit and badly
damaged by Japanese suicide aircraft at Lingayen Gulf.
MID was gained on H.M.A.S.Hobart during the evacuation of
British Somaliland.
LEADING SEAMAN B.R.SMITH, DSM.,MID., of Melbourne, Victoria.
DSM was awarded for survey operations in the Philippines
whilst serving on H.M.A.S.Gascoyne. This work was carried out in
small craft off the beachheads some days prior to Allied landings.
MID was gained in the same ship for distinguished service
in successful survey work under dangerous conditions off the
New Guinea coast.
CHIEF STOKER A.S.HOLDSWORTH, DSM., MID., of Melbourne, Victoria.
DSM - served in H.M.A.S.Australia during the landing on
Lingayen. Chief Stoker Holdsworth was in charge of 'A' boiler
room when the ship was hit by suicide planes and saved the boilers
from serious damage.
MID - received for part taken in damage and control work
when the destroyer H.M.A.S.Nestor was sunk by German aircraft on
convoy duties in the Mediterranean.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER A.W.F.COOPER, DSM.,GREEK MC., of Fremantle,
Western Australia.
Awarded DSM whilst serving in the fire control room of
H.M.A.S.Shropshire in the battle of Surigao Straits and Leyte Gulf
operations. Citation reads ‘ For skill, determination and courage
whilst serving in H.M.A.S.Shropshire in Leyte Gulf operations
October, 1944.
Greek MC was awarded for services as Gunner’s Mate in
H.M.A.S.Voyager during the Greek campaign.
PETTY OFFICER W.R. ANDERSON, D.SM,, LLOYD'S WAR MEDAL, of Collingwood,
Victoria.
D.S.M. - acted as D.E.M.S. gunner on M.V.Dorset when that ship
was attacked continuously for four days in a Malta convoy. ‘Petty
Officer Anderson’s courage acted as an inspiration to the crew.’
The Lloyd’s war medal was awarded for the same action by the
Directors of Lloyds.
CHIEF YEOMAN SIGNALS C.B.MITCHELL, DSM., of Lakemba, N.S.W.
The DSM was awarded for the efficient handling of all lines
of communications whilst serving on the L.C.I. H.M.A.S.Manoora when
that ship took part in many hazardous landings in the Philippines
and Borneo operations.
PETTY OFFICER A.S.LONG, DSM., of Hampton, Victoria.
DSM – was engaged in survey work in H.M.A.S.Junee in the
islands north of Australia. Much valuable information was
obtained from this work which was carried out under extremely
hazardous conditions.

PETTY OFFICER R.J.ANDERSON, DSM., of Subiaco,Western Australia.
Whilst serving on the destroyer H.M.A.S.Nestor on escort
duties in the Mediterranean, Petty Officer Anderson assisted in
the rescue of a torpedoed troopship by going over the side and
cutting loose two life boats which were hampering operations.
This work was carried out under the threat of air attack.
PETTY OFFICER H.G.PALMER, DSM., of. Rose Bay, N.S.W.
Gained DSM whilst serving as senior Dems Gunner in H.M.
Transport Dempo during the North African landings at AlgeriAlgiers.
The ship was subject to prolonged air bombing and torpedo attack
which were successfully repulsed.
PETTY OFFICER H.P.WARR, DSM., of Bellvue Hill, N.S.W.
Received the DSM whilst serving in H.M.A.S.Stuart in the
Mediterranean for his part in locating and charting an enemy
minefield. During this operation a submarine was located and
successfully attacked.
PETTY OFFICER TELEGRAPHIST W.J.SPERRING,DSM., of Cottesloe,
Western Australia.
Received award of DSM whilst serving in the sloop H.M.A.S.
Swan during the [[W???]] Wewak, (New Guinea) bombardment. Petty Officer
Sperring took a prominent part in organising combined Navy, Army
and Air Force communications.
SICK BERTH PETTY OFFICER P.A.McKENZIE, BEM., of Clyde, N.S.W.
Served in H.M.A.S.Melville, Darwin, during the attack by
Japanese aircraft in 1942. Was awarded the BEM for action when the
hospital was badly damaged by enemy bombing and for the attempted
rescue of trapped personnel on the damaged merchant ship Neptuna.
PETTY OFFICER COOK E.FRANKLIN, DSM., of Hobart, Tasmania.
The DSM was awarded whilst serving on the destroyer H.M.A.S.
Nizam at the evacuation of Crete early 1941. Petty Officer
Franklin was in charge of evacuees and arganised accomodation,
medical and feeding services.
ENGINE ROOM ARTIFICER W.B.SCHWANN, DSM, of Perth,Western Australia.
Served on the destroyer H.M.A.S.Arunta during the invasion
of the Philippines. The ship was hit by a Japanese suicide
bomber and E.R.A.Schwann under most difficult conditions
isolated the damaged steam line and effected temporary repairs.
WRITER C.J.TAITE, DSM, of Marrickville, N.S.W.
Serving on the corvette H.M.A.S.Deloraine, Writer Taite,
then Able Seaman Taite, was submarine detector and made contact
with a Japanese submarine which had attacked the ship 50 miles
from Darwin in January 1941. By maintaining contact the
submarine was attacked and destroyed.
LEADING CODER J.A.PAYNE, DSM., of Spotswood, Victoria.
The DSM was awarded for service with the Australian
Intelligence Bureau in early operations on the Solomon Islands.
Leading Coder Payne landed in these Japanese held islands with
a small advance party and assisted in the transmission of
information which later made the landings possible.
LEADING SEAMAN W.G.CHESTER, DSM., of Subiaco,Western Australia.
The DSM was awarded for courage and skill when serving
on the H.M.A.S.Australia in the Philippines. The ship was badly
damaged by suicide planes and Leading Seaman Chester carried on
with radar operation throughout the action.

LEADING SEAMAN J.NICHOLSON, DSM of Penshurst, N.S.W.
Whilst serving on convoy duties in H.M.A.S.Ipswich
attached to Eastern Fleet Escort Forces, Leading Seaman
Nicholson was H.S.D. and operated the anti-submarine set which
located and resulted in the destruction of a Japanese submarine
which had caused severe shipping losses in the vicinity.
LEADING SEAMAN W.Mc.C.ROBERTSON, DSM, of Abbotsford, Victoria.
xxxxx Whilst serving on the destroyer H.M.A.S.Vendetta
during the critical period of the Singapore campaign Leading
Seaman Robertson was manning the A.A.gun and was credited with
bringing down a Japanese Bomber.
LEADING SEAMAN N.GRANT, DSM, of Carnegie, Victoria.
During the invasion of Tarakan, Borneo, whilst serving
on H.M.A.S.Manoora in May, 1945, Leading Seaman Grant was coxswain
of a landing craft being used for conveying troops inshore and
returning wounded aboard. This operation was carried out in the
face of heavy enemy foire.
LEADING STOKER F .MACK, DSM, of Boronia, Victoria.
During operation against the Japanese battle fleet
H.M.A.S.Shropshire was subjected to heavy bombardment and air
attack during which time LEading Stoker Mack showed great skill,
determination and courage in carrying out his duties.
ABLE SEAMAN R.WELLARD, DSM, of Footscray, Victoria.
Whilst serving in H.M.A.S.Shropshire during the battle
of Surigao Straits (Philippines) the left cordite hoist of X
turret broke down. By hand ramming and using auxiliary cordite
Able Seaman Wellard was able to keep the gun in action.
ABLE SEAMAN L.JONES, DSM, of Melbourne, Victoria.
Received decoration for his assistance in damage control
duties in the boiler room of H.M.A.S.Australia when that ship
was hit by Japanese suicide planes in the Philippines. Able
Seaman Jones remained in the boiler room after repeated enemy
attacks and assisted the Chief Stoker in saving the boilers from
destruction.
LEADING STOKER D.L.YATES, MID., of Chatswood, N.S.W.
Served on the destroyer H.M.A.S.Arunta during the battle
of Surigao Straits in the Philippines when the 7th U.S.Fleet
met the Japanese battle fleet. Leading Stoker Yates was in the
engine room during this action and carried out his duties with
great skill, courage and determination.
LEADING STOKER W.F.HARRISON, MID., of Stanmore, N.S.W.
Whilst serving on the sloop H.M.A.S.Swan during the air
attack on Darwin 19th February ,1942, Leading Stoker Harrison was in
the fire and repair party when the ship was hit and did outstanding
work under intense air attack.

NAVAL VICTORY CONTINGENT
The average age is 31 years.
The average time of Naval service is 10 years.
Chief Stoker A.Wrench. Age 42 years. Naval service 22 years.
Served on H.M.A.S.Waterhen and Vampire in the Mediterranean convoys
and Tobruk ferry run. The Vampire was in operation with Repulse and
Prince of Wales when they were sunk by Japanese air attacks.
Chief Shipwright A.W.Robinson. Age 48 Years. Naval service 23½ years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Hobart and Australia in the Indian and Pacific
Ocean operations. Born in Plymouth, Devon - lived in England 24 years
before comning to Australia.
Leading Seaman B.R.Smith. Age 34 years. Naval service 6 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Perth, Manoora, and Gascoyne.
Chief Stoker A.S.Holdsworth. Age 32 years. Naval service 13 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Perth, Napier, Nestor and Nepal. Served in
operations of 'Bismarck' convoys and also invasion of Madagascar.
Chief Petty Officer A.W.F.Cooper. Age 37 years. Naval service 20 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Voyager in the Mediterranean during the Greek
campaign and Malta convoys. Served on H.M.A.S.Shropshire in the
Pacific. Was in H.M.A.S.Australia during the Jubilee Review, Spithead,
1935.
Petty Officer W.R.Anderson. Age 30 years. Naval service 6½ years.
Served on motor vessel Dorset and H.M.S.St.Angelo on Malta convoys.
CHIEF YEOMAN Signals C.B.Mitchell. Age 40 Years. Naval service 25years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Canberra, Hobart, Manoora in Pacific operations.
Petty Officer A.S. Long. Age 36 years. Naval service 6 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Goulburn,Wollongong, Fremantle, and Junee. In
H.M.A.S.Wollongong at evacuation of Singapore. Lived for a short
period in Woolwich, England.
Petty Officer R.J.Anderrson. Age 30 years. Naval service 11½ years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Moresby, Nestor, and Napier in the Mediterranean
and Indian Oceans. Served in H.M.S.Southampton and Brilliant. Attended
the unveiling of Australian War Memorial at Villiers Brett.
Petty Officer H.G.Palmer. Age 29 years. Nava l service 6½ years.
Served as D.E.M.S.gunner on merchant ships plying to Britain 1939-40,
and to the Ea st Indies 1940-41. Was D.E.M.S.gunner on H.M.Transport
Dempo during the North African landing. Parents from Bath, Somerset.
Wife (Miss Snow) from Walthamstowe and prior to marriage was residing
at Poulton,LaFylde,Blackpool, Lancashire. Operational service on
east coast and channel and North and South Atlantic.
Petty Officer H.P.Warr. Age 30 years. Naval service 12 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Stuart in the Mediterranean and in Malta convoys,
in the battle of Matapan and the Tobruk ferry run. Served in H.M.S.
Fury in 1938.
PEtty Officer Telegraphist W.J.Sperry. Age 29 years. Served 6½ years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Sydney, Geelong, and Swan. Was in service in the
Mediterranean and Pacific.
Sick Berth Petty Officer A.Mckenzie. Age 36 years. Naval service 6½.

Petty Officer Cook E.Franklin. Age 40 years. Naval service 21 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Canberra, Vampire, Waterhen, Vendetta, and Nizam.
Was at the Crete evacuation and Tobruk ferry run and Malta convoys.
Petty Officer W.B.Schwann, Age 29 years. Naval service 4 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Hobart when torpedoed and in H.M.A.S.Arunta when
hit by suicide planes.
Writer C.J.Taite. Age 30 years. Naval service 5½ years.
Served on corvettes H.M.A.S.Goulburn and Deloraine in Pacific
operations.
Leading Coder J.A.Payne. Age 37 years. Naval service 5¾ years.
Served with pre-invasion parties in Allied Intelligence parties in the
Pacific.
Leading Seaman W.G.Chester. Age 26 years. Naval service 5 years.
Serv ed all time in H.M.A.S.Australia in Pacific operations.
Leading Seaman J.Nicholson. Age 24 years. Naval service 5 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Hobart and British Escort Carrier H.M.S.xxxxxxx
Patroler and corvettes Wilcannia and Ipswich in Indian Ocean and
Bay of B engal.
Leading Seaman W.C.Mc.Robertson. Age 24 years. Naval service 6 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Vendetta and Manoora in the Mediterranean and
Pacific Oceans and was present at fall of Singapore. Born in Glasgow
and left for Australxia at age of 6 months.
Leading Seaman L.M.GrnatGrant. Age 21½ years. Naval service 4 years.
Served as coxswain of landing craft in the Pacific wa r theatres.
Leading Stoker F.Mack. Age 27 years. Naval service 10 years.
Served in H.M.A.S. Swan, Australia, Shropshire and also in H.M.A.S.
Canberra when sunk in the Pacific. Went to England and took over the
Shropshire in 1943.
Able Seaman R.Wellard. Age 38 years. Naval service 18½ years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Canberra and Shropshire in the Pacific theatre.
Able seaman L.Jones. Age 24 years. Naval service 5 years.
Served on H.M.A.S.Deloraine, Australia and Ararat in Pacific
operations. Visited England in H.M.A.S. Australia in 1945.
Leading Stoker D.L.Yates. Age 25 years. Naval service 5 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Arunta and B ataan in the Pacific war theatre. Born
in Glasgow and went to Australia at age of 6 years.
Leading Stoker W.F.Harrison. Age 24 years. Naval service 6 years.
Served in H.M.A.S.Swan, Napier, and Heros in South China and Pacific
Oceans.

LONDON VICTORY MARCH CONTINGENT

HMAS SHROPSHIRRE

SUEZ

16 JUL 46

Military History Section

Queens Road

South Yarra

MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIA

Subject - WAR DIARY - LONDON VICTORY MARCH CONTINGENT

1. Attached is a copy of the War Diary of the LONDON VICTORY
   MARCH CONTINGENT covering the period from 22 May 46 till 15 Jul 46.
2. It is not intended to forward a duplicate copy of the War
   Diary as this will be available when the Contingent returns to
   MELBOURNE.

3. The following Appendices are attached:-

   A. Entertainments

   B. Routine Orders.

4. Owing to their size Appendices:-

   C. Standing & Routine Orders KENSINGTON
   GARDENS

   D. LONDON VICTORY MARCH ADM AND ORDERS OF
   MARCH

will not be attached, but will be available when the Contingent
reaches MELBOURNE.

Kenneth William Eather

Maj-Gen

CO LONDON VICTORY MARCH CONTINGENT