Newsletter Incorporating NCCV’s newsletter Rogues’ Yarn Navy Victoria Network October 2014 Volume 4 Edition 10 Calendar Events (see calendar for details of all events) NVN current membership: 959 Editorial 27 Sep – NHS (Vic) AGM OUR FORGOTTEN SAILORS 02 Nov – RAN Recruits wreath laying Have you heard of the Dominion Yachtsmen Scheme 1940-1945 09 Nov – HMAS Sydney I centenary affectionately referred to as the Yachties? If you have, then you 11 Nov – Remembrance Day are one of a very limited number of people who have. 16 Nov – HMAS Goorangai service 19 Nov – HMAS Sydney II service Australia received a request from British Admiralty in early May, 1940, for arrangements to be made to appoint a limited number 24 Oct – NHS (Vic) end of year function of men to direct commissions in the Royal Naval Volunteer 01 Dec – Corvette Assoc. wreath laying Reserve (Known as Wavy Navy because of the distinctive gold lace curves on the sleeves of Officers to denote Rank, instead of ANZAC Centenary Events the normal straight gold lace) and accept a number of volunteers 14th Aug – 12th Dec 2014 as ordinary seamen with a view to their promotion to the “The Australian Red Cross in the Great commissioned ranks in the RNVR after a period of service. War exhibition” Royal Historical Society of Victoria The Naval Volunteer Reserve had originated in the late 239 a'Beckett St nineteenth century with a nucleus of men formed from Melbourne VIC 3000 yachtsmen and members of rowing clubs. While men from all 15th Aug 14 – 1st Mar 15 walks of life ashore were theoretically eligible, naval interests “Behind The Kitbag” and skills were considered desirable. At the outbreak of World 11:00am–3:30pm Creswick Museum, Town Hall Building War II the approximate strength of the Volunteer Reserve in the United Kingdom was 1000 Officers and 7000 Ratings. Many 30 Aug 14 - 30 Nov 18 - WW1: Love & Sorrow at Melbourne Museum were yachtsmen who had previous sea experience in the Royal 4 Oct - 07 Dec - Coming Home Navy or Merchant Navy but others were a mixed group of exhibition stockbrokers, barristers, bankers, authors, actors and other 01 Nov 14 — 2:00pm–4:00pm professionals all keen on sailing and the sea. Most temporary Knox Roll of Honour Memorial Project Officers came from the lower deck and had been marked as Tim Neville Arboretum ‘White Paper’ candidates by their Commanding Officers and 12 Nov 14 – 8 - 9:30pm recommended to the Admiralty. “Farewell, Dear People” – A special The Dominion Yachtsmen Scheme volunteers were recruited as potential Officers through this method. Without the Volunteer presentation by Ross McMullin Reserves, both from England and the Dominions, the Royal Etham Senior Citizens' Centre Navy would not have been able to continue the war at sea. For details of all Centenary events in Victoria go to: The first group of Australian Yachties of fifty-eight Ordinary http://anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au/ne Seamen and fourteen Officers embarked in RMS Strathnaver in ws-events/events/ September, 1940, as RANVR, although they went in civilian dress and were given no preliminary training in Australia. They were Latest News kitted out when they arrived in England and were on Australian rates of pay. Apparently the Officers (the ‘A’ Class) were able to Arunta and Parramatta visit have a flash, ‘Australia’ on the shoulder of their uniform if they Melbourne HMA Ships Arunta and Parramatta applied to do so and the Commanding Admiral agreed that the visited Melbourne 17-20 October, Ordinary Semen could have shoulder flashes but they had to coinciding with the centenary of the organise it among themselves. departure of convoys for the First World War from Port Phillip The work of Ken Halliwell, Bob Fotheringham and Roy Hall Bay. More..... during the 1980’s resulted in 467 Yachtsmen Scheme enlistments Further funding approved for local being identified. Later work by Clive Taylor and Keith Nicol has grants program increased the nominal roll to five hundred. The story board in The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the World War II gallery in the Australian War Memorial is Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, incorrect as it states 370 Yachtsmen Scheme Volunteers. Sadly today announced that a further 231 grants totaling $1.96 million have the exact figure will never be known as they generally all came been approved under the Anzac home and resumed their civilian careers. They never formed an Centenary Local Grants Program. Association. This brings the total number of grants approved to 605 grants across 123 While some were lucky to keep together, many ‘Yachties’ served electorates, with $5.5 million being as the only Australian on board. They were spread across the made available to date for Fleet in a variety of ships from Aircraft Carriers, Battle Cruisers communities to implement commemorative projects. More..... and Destroyers to Fairmiles. The theatres of war in which these men found themselves were equally varied and many were New training system for ADF initiated rapidly into the realities of life at sea during wartime. helicopter crews A modern helicopter training system However the majority of the Yachtsmen served on light coastal for Navy and Army personnel has forces craft ranging from Trawlers to Motor Launches (MLs) to, been approved by the Australian Government, Defence Minister later in the war, Landing Craft – Tank and Infantry (LCTs and Senator David Johnston announced LCIs) where their particular skills were important. Some today. More..... volunteered for Special Forces units. Tanker pumping with new life One group of the ‘Yachties’ were not posted to sea and they are HMAS Sirius is back out at sea doing what she does best, refueling ships for remembered for the incredibly courageous work they carried out the first time since February. More..... in mine disposal or rendering Mines Safe. These men were awarded the highest honours of either the George Cross and/or Australia lends a hand in the George Medal. Lieutenant James Kessack died in action Bougainville with Operation RENDER attempting to render a mine safe in April 1941. He was one of five who sailed with the first Yachtsmen Scheme mobilization in September 1940 in Strathnaver. He had in that short time in SAFE England dealt with ten unexploded mines. The only four George Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in Bougainville Crosses awarded to Australians during the Second World War to address a potentially deadly legacy all went to ‘Yachties’: posed by unexploded ordnance from past conflicts as part of Operation LCDR Leonard Verdi GOLDSWORTHY, G.C., D.S.C., G.M., is RENDER SAFE 2014. More..... Australian Navy’s highest decorated Naval Officer. (Died aged 85) Correcting the record on submarines – Opinion Editorial, Adelaide LEUT Hugh Randall SYME, G.C., G.M. and Bar (Died aged 62) Advertiser LCDR George GOSSE, G.C. (Died age 52) The first priority of the Abbott LCDR John Stuart MOULD, G.C., G.M. (Died age 47) Government is to ensure the safety and security of our country. Right Three of the four died at relatively young ages and it is now, the Abbott Government is wondered what impact their incredible brave service had on this. considering options for the Navy’s future submarines that will replace the Collins Class. More..... Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston and Air Commodore ‘Joe’ Vincent Iervasi, deliver the second briefing in the Australia room at the Australian Defence Offices in Russell, Canberra. Transcript..... DFWA - Media Statement - Defence Service Personnel Overwhelmingly Reject Government Pay Offer On 10 October 2014 all members of the ADF finally received advice via a message from the CDF that a pay offer of 1.5% per year increase would be taken to the Defence Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) for endorsement as No story of the Yachtsmen Scheme would be complete without early as Wednesday 15 October the mention of their contribution to D-Day. Keith Nicol believes 2014. More..... that about three hundred of the men must have served in the Message from the Chief of the Normandy landings in June 1944. Defence Force to all members of the Australian Defence Force regarding In summary, the young Australians recruited through the the proposed Workplace Dominion Yachtsmen Scheme to be trained as Officers in the Remuneration Arrangement Royal Navy were successful in achieving their ambitions. They Please click here for the full message were a highly selected group whose level of education and social from CDF. skills qualified them for acceptance within the RN. The ADF pay claim progresses achievement of gaining a commission gave them a sense of The Government today confirmed the privilege and status. They were welcomed by their fellow continued progress on the Australian officers and the men with whom they served and succeeded in Defence Force (ADF) Workplace Remuneration Arrangement acquiring the skills and professional competence necessary within the RN in various theatres of war in the northern (WRA). More..... hemisphere. Certainly Lord Louis Mountbatten believed the First LHD accepted by DMO Australians had special qualities and reputedly requested some The Defence Materiel Organisation of ‘those hot-shot Australian’ for his destroyer flotilla and (DMO) has accepted the first LHD, Combined Operations. They earned respect, acceptance and NUSHIP Canberra, from contractor acknowledgement. Their presence in Britain was noted and they BAE Systems. A ceremony took place in Canberra's hangar to mark the were aware how important this was to public morale. Many of significance of the signing of the the men recorded the positive comments they received from the acceptance certificate. More..... British public. They were proud to be Australian and were Speech in recognition of the men and welcomed also, as Dominion servicemen supporting the mother women of the Royal Australian Navy country.