Official book of HMAS Quiberon trip 1962

"Communications Capers"

Prior to completion of our refit in March, our crew numbered 12, these being CRS Taylor, RO Bishop, RO Caine, RO Patterson, ORO Kakoschke, CY Gellatly, TO Ison, OTO Barrow, OTO Wilson, OTO Hill, LRO(S) Bee, NA Ryan. OTO Wade joined in April.

On 28 April 1962 we were joined by OTO Wade, he was a late arrival due to a misdemeaner at HMAS Cerberus after 'passing out' celebrations. Which earnt him 14 days cells.

On 22nd May the sparkers welcomed ORO Paris Gord. He had spent 2 years in the Royal Navy at HMS GANGES (Junior Recruit Training depot) and transferred to the RAN on 11th January 1961. On arrival in Australia, spent 4 months at Flinders then joined Quibie, since being in Australia he has seen more of our wonderful continent than most would see in a lifetime.

He has made many new friends and thinks the RAN is Ok from all angles. ORO Paris was affectionately nicknamed "Frenchy" by his crew-mates

In Sydney the V/S department lost Yeoman Sid Gellatly who was drafted to Penguin for an operation on a cartilage in his left leg. The Yeoman wasn't very happy on leaving the ship after serving 2 1/2 years onboard with the past and present crews. Our new Yeoman, Roger Gaydon, is an ex-CPO and inter-service rugby player. This being his first sea draft since re-enlisting in pussers. Since being onboard he has done a marvelous job with the ship's 2 rugby teams, as did Sid Gellatly, who also did well as their coach.

The sporting activities started in earnest on arrival in Singapore on the 4th October, George, our PTI, doing a good job organising same.

We had 2 rugby teams, one volley ball team, one basketball team, one soccer team, one hockey team, one aussie rules team and a water polo team!!

The Comm's sportsmen included:
Water Polo - RO Patterson and RO Caine
Rugby - CY Gaydon, TO Ison and OTO Barrow
Hockey - LRO Hastings
Aussie Rules - RO Caine and OTO "Scruff" Gardener
Cricket - ORO Paris and OTO "Scruff" Gardener

On arrival back in Australia Terra Firma, which has been out of our sight for a fair while, there will be a few changes made owing to drafting forecasts as follows:

TO Strawhan to HMAS HARMAN
TO Ison to HMAS HARMAN
RO Caine to HMAS HARMAN
RO Bishop to HMAS ALBATROSS

RO Stanley P (Patterson) will be going on the big draft to Civy Street on the ships return to Sydney

All the best to RO Jack Caine who intends to marry June Garcia from the West and OTO Barrow who intends to marry WRAN Kaye Stanley, also from the West.

Best of luck also to Greg and Rena who are expecting the 4th addition to the family in April.

Communications at its Best

'Tis well known throughout the Navy
That sparkers and sigs are quite crazy
Flashing around with dits and dahs
Or flags close up on outer spars

Down in the BWO it's never slack
With Tace and Chiefy on our back
While on the flag deck on one knows
As it's always run by OTOs

Now on the bridge it's much the same
With officers there who drive us insane
With "Get this thing off, no, hold it a while"
And all we can do is stand there and smile

The MSO is really a shame
It's run by Bob Ison or so they claim
The signals pile high upon the desk
So he calls a junior to clear the mess

From the EWO there's never a sound
This makes us think no one's around
But of this we can never be sure
As "Keep Out" is written on the door

With shipside grey, white and black
We paint the mast abaft the stack
It happens so often that for the good or our soul
We'll put Jimmy and Buffer up that pole

Regardless of this lot the signals go through
You may not think so but we assure you they do
Signalmen, sparkers and (S) rates you'll find
All pull together as one branch combined.

Prose (??!!) by G E Paris and R A Wade

See Comms Branch photo