I received the following sad news tonight regarding Ex CERA (RN) Les Darley, one
of our regular posters and a respected Member of RAN Skilled Hands since 27 Apr. 2004...

Dear All,

I am writing this email on behalf of Marion Darley (mum) to advise that Les Darley (dad) sadly passed away on Monday 23/01/12.

Les was admitted to hospital on Sunday afternoon where he was diagnosed with internal problems which required surgey. Unfortunately during surgery the doctors found other problems which were unable to be treated.

I apologise to those who will hear the news of Les' passing this way but due to it being so quick and unexpected this is the only way we can contact all friends and family.

If anybody requires any information please feel free to contact me on my email address listed below.

Many thanks Jeff Bryce - email: jandt_metalworks@y7mail.com


LESLEY JOHN DARLEY .............RIP............

You will be dearly missed by all, may you rest in piece
and be sure to shine down upon us once in a while.

Posting as 'Les D' and hailing from Port Kennedy, WA, Les' RAN Skilled Hands signature block reads:

Les Darley
Ex CERA RN (1955-76).
Ships: Crane, Palliser, Whirlwind, Undaunted, Endurance, Jaguar, Londonderry. Shore time in Chatham Barracks.
Worked in Australia at RANMEE on MK 48s, Support Craft Manager in PMSS and then FFGCLO. (1986-2000) Now retired.
my personal boast is that I had sailed on every ocean, most of the major seas and walked on all seven continents before I was 35.

Whilst we never actually met, I felt I knew Les through his posts and his regular e-mails to me.

On behalf of everyone on RAN Skilled Hands, I would like to offer Les' widow, Marion and his son Jeff our sincere condolences...

Rest on your oars Les, your voyage is done...

_________________

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

Sad to hear, he will be missed.

Never met him, but Les provided me with a lot of insight and humour with his posts.

Calm seas and following winds Les.

_________________
Mike (Pony) Moore
O42860
Ex-LT GLEN(ME)
16th MOBI intake
Jan 64 - Jul 88.
Anzac, Nirimba, Stalwart, Moresby, Creswell, Waterhen, Penguin, Vampire, GMGID (PJP), Coonawarra, Attack, Ardent, Cook, Kuttabull, Cerberus.

May your walls know joy; May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.

It's always sad when an old sailor crosses the bar. As Rick said, Les was a long term member of our website and contributed greatly with many amusing posts.

Our paths had never crossed, but I also felt I knew him.

Rest in peace matey, you will be missed.

_________________

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've found the following pics of Les from his Series 25 Class (RN) Website

HMS Caledonia Series 26 ERA’s Passing Out
December 1959 (2 photos)



[size=75]L to R back row:- Ken Beales, Brian “Gingerâ€

_________________

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 Les. Another good bloke gone too soon. My heartfelt sympathies to his family.

_________________

Chris O'Keefe
R43136
Ex WO Chippy
19th MOBI Intake
July 65 to July 85
HMAS Nirimba X 4 -Penguin-Sydney-Queenborough - Creswell - Moreton - Stalwart - Platypus - Coonawarra Reconstruction Team 76 - Platypus - Hobart - Cerberus - FHQ - Coonawarra.

Anyone can be ordinary. Shipwrights choose to be extraordinary!

Very sad news, my condolences to Marion and Jeff.

RIP Les, your watch is over.

_________________
Brian Carney
R43371
Ex-WOMTP5
22nd Mobi Intake
Jan 67 - Jan 89
RANATE, Sydney, Swan, Creswell, Stalwart (FMU), Cerberus, Derwent, Nirimba, Parramatta, Nirimba, FHQ (FMMO).

Sadly, another Tiffie off to that great boiler/engine room up above.
Vale Les, rest easy your work here is done

_________________
Graeme 'Smiley' Rhodes
R94714
Ex-CPOMTP(D)5
Jan'65 Leeuwin Intake (10th) - Jan'66 Nirimba Intake (20th)
Jan'65 to Mar '88
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Stalwart, Samarai, Lae, Penguin, Curlew, Buccaneer, Navy Office, Barbette, Cairns, RANTTU (based in Port Moresby), Stirling, Bunbury.

My condolences to Les's family at this sad time.

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

Vale Les...another legend passed on.
I'll bet that Instructor in the photo can tell some stories...he looks a "proper right' un"!!....and I'll bet those two Mick Harris's caused some problem as well.
A ton of stories in those two photos.

I send my sincere condolences to Les' wife Marion and son Jeff.

Never met Les but I will remember him for his contribution of humour to The Fisgard Association Forum.

Fair Winds and a Following Seas

RIP Les and God Bless

Norman (Nolly) Bland (Series 35)
The Fisgard Association Webmaster