A Facebook link was sent to me by fellow 13th Intake MOBI Terry Gunton, regarding the passing of one of our own...

"Royal Australian Navy Writers Association · ·

Many thanks to George Kitchener who reached (out to) let us know that ex Warrant Officer Writer Denis Benfield passed away earlier this week. Denis is survived by his wife, Denise.
Funeral details to follow. On behalf of the President and RAN Writers Association we extend our condolences to Denise and family.
RIP Denis."

Denis began his Naval career as a Member of the 13th MOBI Intake of July '62, but transferred to JRs shortly thereafter, to finally end his successful Naval career as a WO Writer...

For the short time he was part of our 13th MOBI Intake, he was well liked by all and from memory, a bit of a stirrer...

I caught up with Denis once, after he left the Navy, when he was back on his 'home turf' in Grafton, where he was the General Manager of the local bowling club.

The Benfield family is well known in Grafton as market gardeners and nurserymen specialising in roses...

VALE Denis, rest on your oars, Matey, your journey is done... R.I.P.

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

Vale, Denis Benfield, I did not know him that well at Nirimba, even though we were the same intake but I met him a few times in later years and found him to be a nice bloke.

_________________
Bob Moult
R42629
Ex-CPOMTH
13th MOBI Intake
1962 to 1982
Nirimba, Sydney, Melbourne, Tarangau, Penguin, Albatross Kuttabul, Harman, Hobart, Platypus, Duchess, Brisbane, Moreton

RIP Denis.

_________________

John Kelly (WEBMASTER)
R42620
Ex-WOMTH
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'83
Nirimba x3 - Rushcutter - Sydney x2 (Carrier) - Melbourne (Carrier) - Penguin - Kuttabul - Creswell x3 - Stalwart x2 - Brisbane.

I also took the liberty of posting the following on the RAN Writers Association's Facebook page under the many tributes to Denis...

"Rick Pengilly
Before he was 'one of yours', he was 'one of ours'... Denis joined the Navy in July '62 as a fellow Member of the 13th MOBI Intake of Naval Artificer Apprentices at RANATE, HMAS Nirimba, o/n R42582,
but transferred to JRs early in his 1st term, before going on to eventually complete his Naval career as a WO Writer... Denis was well liked by all and I'm sure will be sorely missed by all who knew him...
VALE Denis, R.I.P."

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane