A Farewell to those with whom we served...

tafmo · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:03 am

I find that hard to believe - would have imagined Adrian going out charging a terrorist unit in Bahgdad or something, or attempting to initiate WW3 on the high seas.

Lou Butcher · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:54 am

I think thats how old Adrian would have liked to have gone.

He was sort of the General George Patten of the Royal Austrailian Navy, nand like George, he would have stood in the street blazed away at some passing terroist, with his pearl handled pistols.

The one thing I can say about Adrian Cummins he knew how to handle a ship. The man had no fear when it came to pushing destroyers around.

:drinkers:

nid · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2005 8:57 pm

I served with Adrian on the Perth.
One 'hell' of a skipper, probably the best I ever served with.
Had the Perth and the crew tuned to almost perfection.
He may have been gung-ho but I would have sailed with him anywhere into anything.
Because you knew if there was trouble he would get the ship and the crew back.

NID

bobcat · **Posted:** Mon Jan 24, 2005 7:31 pm

Seejay,

My condolences on the loss of your mate Mike "Fawlty" Towers. Another "Riders of the Storm" in the Big Sky.

Now WRT "Uncle Adrian" ... :prayer:

QUOTE:
DTG: 241415Z JAN 05

UNCLASSIFIED

ROUTINE

From: CN AUSTRALIA

002 ALL SHIP 002 ALL SHORE 002 ALL OVERSEAS
AUSTCOM KUALA LUMPUR,WELLLINGTON,HONIARA,SINGAPORE,AUSTCOM
SUVA,AUSTEMB SEOUL(FOR DEFENCE ADVISER),AUSTEMB BERLIN, MANILA,
PARIS EMB,TOKYO,ROME,BANGKOK,PHNOM PENH (FOR DEFENCE ATTACHE),
AUSTCOM LONDON(FOR HADS),AUSTCOM PORT MORESBY(FOR HADS PNG),
AUSTEMB JAKARTA(FOR NAVAL ATTACHE),AUSTCOM NUKU ALOFA,APIA,
PORT VILA (FOR RAN ADVISER),AUSTEMB POHNPEI (FOR MSA/FMS/RMI)

SUBJ: PASSING OF COMMODORE A.R. CUMMINS, AO, RAN (RTD).

1. IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I INFORM THE NAVY OF THE PASSING OF THE LATE COMMODORE ADRIAN CUMMINS ON THURSDAY 20 JAN 05 IN SANTA FE USA.
2. COMMODORE CUMMINS SERVED 39 YEARS IN THE RAN WITH SERVICE IN MOST PARTS OF THE WORLD. HE WAS AWARDED A BRITISH ADMIRALTY COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT WHILST ON EXCHANGE SERVICE WITH THE ROYAL NAVY IN 1962. HE COMMANDED THE MINESWEEPER HMAS IBIS DURING INDONESIAN CONFRONTATION AS A TASK UNIT COMMANDER IN THE GULF OF KUCHING. HE ALSO COMMANDED HMA SHIPS SWAN AND PERTH WHICH BOTH RECEIVED THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER CUP FOR THE MOST EFFICIENT SHIP IN THE FLEET DURING HIS TIME IN COMMAND.
3. COMMODORE CUMMINS GAVE MUCH TO THE NAVY AND REMAINED CLOSELY CONCERNED WITH ITS WELLBEING AFTER HIS RETIREMENT. HE WILL BE LONG REMEMBERED AND MISSED BY ALL WHO SERVED WITH HIM. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE BENEDICTE VALENTINER, AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS.
4. COMMODORE CUMMINS WILL BE CREMATED IN THE USA LATER THIS WEEK AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT THE DUNTROON CHAPEL IN THE COMING WEEKS. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE WILL BE SIGNALLED WHEN FINALISED.
5. REQUEST THIS MESSAGE RECEIVE WIDEST POSSIBLE DISSEMINATION
UNQUOTE

Hope this clears it up for all members who served with or knew Adrian. Certainly a one-of-a-kind Officer. :prayer:

Calm seas and fair winds.

Rest Your Oars ... both "Fawlty" and "Uncle Adrian".

Cheers,
Bobcat :cat:

Lou Butcher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 24, 2005 7:51 pm

Thanks for that information Bob Cat.

I willing to bet that Adrian Cummins fought like the dickens to hold onto live. He wouldn't have gone easily.

I may not of agreed with his way of doing things but I have to respect the guy for what he was.

Another Veteran who served his country well is now at peace.

:drinkers:

tafmo · **Posted:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:02 am

More on Adrian from Ron Clark who has been in touch with his widow, which is a little at odds with the official detail.............

'Don't know if you know or not, but he had a fatal heart attack whilst out ski-ing with a friend near his home at Santa Fe on Thursday 20 January.

I have spoken this morning to his widow Valentina, who naturally is not too happy. She tells me she is planning to have a memorial service at the Naval Chapel in Canberra ACT and then later a scattering of ashes off a warship. No dates have been set yet - she is waiting for Adrian's daughters, one of which is in Beijing. Valentina asked for my e-mail address so she could send details when they are made.'

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:22 am

I just received the following message from Mark Mobley.

FM: CN AUSTRALIA

SIC Z4P/WUA 070623Z FEB 06

SUBJ: PASSING OF THE LATE REAR ADMIRAL G.J.H. WOOLRYCH, AO RAN (RTD)

1. IT IS WITH MUCH REGRET THAT I INFORM THE NAVY OF THE DEATH OF RADM GEOFFREY JOHN HUMPHREY WOOLRYCH, AO, RAN (RTD) ON MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2006.

2. RADM WOOLRYCH JOINED THE RAN IN 1944. HE TRAINED WITH THE RN FROM 1948 - 51 AND COMPLETED THE ANTI-SUBMARINE SPECIALIST COURSE IN THE UK IN 1955.

3. HE SERVED AND COMMANDING OFFICER OF HMA SHIPS DERWENT AND VAMPIRE. HIS TWO FINAL APPOINTMENTS PRIOR TO RETIREMENT IN 1985 WERE AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF AND FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING, HMA FLEET.

4. HIS FUNERAL WILL BE HELD IN BOWRAL, NSW ON TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY. DETAILS OF THE SERVICE WILL BE ADVISED WHEN FINALISED.

BT

I served as Secretary to Geoff Woolrych in VAMPIRE as a brand new Leading Writer and always found him to be a thorough gentleman. He was one of the first senior officers to appear human.

Mark MOBLEY
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER NAVAL POLICE
DIVISIONAL OFFICER / REGULATOR
NAVY TECHNICAL TRAINING UNIT – EAST

bobcat · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:10 pm

Yes, I already put this post under "Departed Shipmates" earlier today ... :roll:

Bobcat

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:15 pm

Sorry Liz, I missed it. My "oranges" must have disappeared while I was doing a bit of Admin stuff.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2007 11:55 pm

Received this via Peter Maher, Secretary, HMAS Brisbane Association:

G'day Peter,

Sadly, RADM Peter H DOYLE CBE RAN (Retd) crossed the bar on 2 May after a long battle with prostate cancer.

He was resident in Cabrini Palliative Care Unit in Brighton VIC for a few weeks prior to his death.

RADM Doyle was the CO of PERTH(2) for her first Vietnam Deployment back in 1967.

Regards,

Darrell H

=====
Darrell HEGARTY
Merimbula NSW 2548
Ph: 02 6495 1401 (h)
02 8004 5401 (VoIP - local Sydney #)
0427 95 1401 (m)

Visit the HMAS Perth National Association web site http://www.hmasperth.asn.au
also
The PussersGreenies web site http://www.pussersgreenies.org

VALE RADM Doyle... [-o<

A Farewell to those with whom we served...

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