28 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007
Tribute paid to crash victims
THE reception afforded by
NAS collided at 800ft, and the Handler OS Tony Timmons (19), after the accidents, and it seemed
the city of Melbourne had
wreckage plunged into Port Phillip who was killed on the spot. right to him to celebrate his 80th
Bay with the bodies of four aviators And another aircraft which crash-
been outstanding, and the
in Australia, so the memorial
– Lt Cdr Nathaniel Hearle, Lt Ken landed on the flight deck of HMS service was organised for the 60th
departing Royal Navy carrier Sellars, Lt Raymond Walker and Glory, sailing in company with
anniversary of the incidents.
group had one final event for
CPO Bill Lovatt. Theseus, injured Air Mechanic
None of the victims was married,
their hosts.
Only Lt Cdr Hearle’s body was Terry Sadler (19) so badly that he
so there were no immediate
As the ships sailed for Sydney
recovered, and he was buried at sea died soon after.
descendants to contact – at 32, Nat
the following day. Six deaths in one day, which
on Sunday July 20 1947, Fleet
Hearle was the oldest, but had spent
But that was not the end of the left their mark on Bill Grice, who
Air Arm aircraft took off for a
most of the war as a PoW.
death toll for that black Sunday. in 1947 was serving as an Air
But an article in his home-town
farewell display. A Seafire of 804 NAS crash- Mechanic (Engines) with 812 NAS,
paper somehow got to Australia,
But as the planes formed up, it all landed on returning to HMS part of the 14th Carrier Air Group
where a second cousin, Wendy
went horribly wrong. Theseus, and its arrester hook on its deployment to the Far East
Stace, was delighted to hear of the
Two Fairey Firefly FR1s of 812 smashed the skull of Aircraft and Australasia, and witnessed the
service, and promptly rounded up
tragedies first-hand.
Some 50 years later Bill wrote
all the Hearles she could find.
● Bill Grice in Port Phillip Bay,
Melbourne, where two Firefl ies collided
a book on his Naval career, and
Bill, accompanied by his
in 1947, killing four RN airmen
started to contact old shipmates,
granddaughter, joined the party
using whatever media he could,
on a cold, drizzly and thoroughly
including the internet.
miserable day on the Challenger,
Then in January 2004 Bill received
which took them out into the bay.
an email from a Paul Roadknight in
Wreaths were laid on the water
Australia, saying he and his fellow
above the wreckage, and a plaque
diver Steve Boneham had found
was taken down by the divers.
the wrecks of two aircraft which he
At 2.05pm, the exact time of the
believed to be the ill-fated fighter-
accident, the clouds parted and in
reconnaissance Fireflies, and asking
the wintry sunshine two aircraft, led
Bill for any more details.
by a Spitfire, roared over the site,
The divers took video footage and
the wartime fighter performing a
examined the wrecks, while Bill filled
victory roll to add to the emotion.
in the gaps in their knowledge. The event was televised on
And as there were presumed Australian TV.
to be human remains still in the Bill is still looking for relatives
wreckage, a memorial service was or friends of the victims – contact
organised, supported by the Royal him at 01924 892246, at wgrice@
Australian Navy. blueyonder.co.uk or through the
Bill had celebrated his 20th website www.hmstheseus.co.uk
birthday in Sydney, eight days
● A bugler from HMAS Cerberus
during the memorial ceremony in
Port Phillip Bay (right) and (below)
the tranquil scene on the day of
the service
● A lone Spitfi re salutes the six victims (above) while the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay are lit by a ray
of sunshine as the ceremony takes place (right)
Shipmates
march to
Cenotaph
THE Association’s Biennial
March to the Cenotaph in
London saw some 51 standards
being paraded alongside about
200 marchers.
The parade was led by the
Band of HM Royal Marines,
Plymouth, while the Act of
Crane agents
Leamington
Remembrance was led by
plan for
the Chaplain of the Fleet and A GROUP of veterans from HMS Having passed the first stage
Hon Chaplain of the RNA, Crane have visited a pioneering of training, the birds are now in
anniversary
Archdeacon The Venerable wildlife sanctuary to cement a link ‘secondary school’ to learn about
John Green QHC.
ROYAL Leamington Spa
with their old ship’s namesakes. predators. Staff who have been
Association National
branch will celebrate its 60th
Nine former shipmates travelled wearing crane costumes to avoid
rsary with a
President Vice Admiral John
anniversary at a dinner dance
● Reading branch celebrated its 70th annive
to the Slimbridge site of the dangerous familiarity, can discard
rededication of their standard at a Drumhead Service, at which 28
McAnally took the salute, and
next February.
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust the false beaks and other regalia
standards were in attendance, including the National Standard of
Plans are well in hand to
the parade commander was (WWT) in Gloucestershire to meet while undertaking noisy tasks
the RNA and the National Submariners Standard. Shipmates came
make it a special occasion,
National Ceremonial Officer students of the Crane School. which the cranes dislike.
from branches as far apart as Falmouth and Coventry, and from
and Association General
S/M Alan Robinson. They took with them a ship’s It is all part of the Great Crane
all parts of Area 6 with their standards. The Naval Volunteers Band
Secretary S/M Paddy McClurg
The event attracted badge as a passing-out gift to Project, a partnership between
led the parade. The events were organised by branch secretary
has accepted an invitation to
considerable public support ‘students’ learning to survive after Pensthorpe Conservation Trust,
S/M Daphne Wyatt
be principal guest.
from spectators. hatching out in the summer. the RSPB and the WWT, which
It is hoped that other events
aims to re-establish a breeding
will be staged throughout the
population of cranes in Britain.
special year.
Roy Lidgett, who served in the
Last year the branch
modified Black Swan-class sloop
received a Lottery grant of
from 1957-59, said: “When we
£10,000 to re-establish a galley
heard about WWT’s plans to
to replace one destroyed by
reintroduce cranes to the UK we
the floods of 1977.
were keen to get involved.
Members gave their time and
“WWT and their partners need
skills to assist in the project,
to raise funds for rearing facilities
which is now complete.
– adopting a crane is just one of
In addition, what was a
the ways ordinary people like us
large storage room has been
can help.
renovated and refurbished,
“It is important that organisations so that the facilities offered
like the HMS Crane Association for ship reunions and other
support a charity which is helping community users have been
save habitats around the world for considerably upgraded.
future generations. Contact S/M Maurice
“Sir Peter Scott, the founder of Williams on 01926 881391
WWT, served in the Navy during or email leamingtonrna@
World War 2, and was responsible btconnect.com for details.
for our camouflage.”
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