On Sunday my Father Capt A M Downes LCDR RN/RAN (ret) died.

He used to do the compass on the yacht "Nirimba" and some of the chippies would had met him around the Sydney Waterfront.


Mike Downes was born in 23rd July 1921, Surry England and died aged 96.

In 1937 he started his nautical career at the Thames Nautical Training Collage HMS Worcester. During his time at HMS Worcester, Mike was privileged to have sailed the Cutty Sark when it was made its final trip from Falmouth to the collage at Greenhithe. It was our understanding that Mike Downes was the “Last Man Standing" of those cadets who sailed on the Cutty Sark under full sail in 1938.

In August 1939 he was called up for war service with the Royal Navy as a midshipmen RNR, serving on HMS Botlea (alias RFA Lambridge) a Q-ship operating in the Atlantic, Indian oceans, the Middle East and the Red Sea. In 1941 he was posted to HMS Walpole an old V&W class Destroyer operating around the English Channel, here Mike was involved the chase of German battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and the Prince Eugen during their daring dash up the English Channel to Germany.

From 1942 to 1945 Mike Downes was posted to HMS Tay a River Class Frigate assigned to the B7 " Escort Group" under Capt Peter Gretton. Mike Downes (LT RNR) was the HMS Tay's Navigator and the ships anti-submarine officer. The most famous convoy he was involved in, was ONS5 in April/May 1943.It was a slow convoy from Liverpool to Halifax with 44 ships, during the proceeding battle over eight days, the convoy was attacked by 4 German wolf packs with a an strength of over 50 U-Boats. The convoy escorts, including the B7 Escort Group sunk 7 U-boats with the loss of 13 merchant ships. During the course of this battle HMS Tay assumed the duties of the Escort Commander when Capt Peter Gretton's ship HMS Duncan ran low on fuel and had to leave the convoy. This convoy was regarded as the turning point of Battle of the Atlantic.

In 1945 Mike Downes was posted to HMS Patroller (a American built Ruler class Escort Carrier) as the Navigating Officer, deployed to the British Fleet in the Far East. Mike remained on board until he was discharged in March 1946.

During WWII Mike Downes gained not only RN qualifications such as a graduate of the RN's Long Navigation Course and other Warfare related courses, but his civilian tickets as 2nd mate, 1st Mate and Masters Certificate in the Merchant Navy.

Post World War II (1946 to 1951) Mike Downes returned to the Merchant Navy serving on various Shaw Savills ships sailing mainly on the UK to Australia run, and then on the Adelaide Steamship Company ships sailing between Fremantle to Cairns.

In late 1951 Mike Downes returned to the UK for reserve officer training, returning to Australia by September 1952 to join the Royal Australian Navy (1952 to 1960) as a LCDR RANR, here Mike served in a number of positions, including as Assistant & Master Attendant of Garden Island, Deputy Captain of the Port of Sydney & Senior Pilot. He also became Commanding Officer of HMAS Kookaburra, HMAS Sprightly, HMAS Woomera, and HMAS Emu.

In 1960 Mike Downes left full time service with the RAN to set up business as a Marine Surveyor and Compass Adjuster, Capt A M Downes and Associates, a business he ran for 40 years. Mike was a well-known figure along the NSW waterfront. One of his job included inspects the tiles for the Sydney Opera House. Mike was in constant demand for compass work, all over Australia and even as far away as Fiji, Mike for many years swung the compasses for many of Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race boats. One year he nearly ended up heading to Hobart, because he was still on board the yacht minutes before the start gun.

Mike Downes continue to serve the RAN in a reserve capacity until the late 1970's. During his time with the reserve be did training on ships such as HMAS Queenborugh, HMAS Sydney (III), HMAS Supply, HMAS Stalwart as well at various shore bases such as HMAS Waterhen and Kuttabul.

In 2000 he retired from business, through to continue to do compass work well into his 80's.

Mike Downes was a keen swimmer, swimming both summer and winter, until winter of 2017 where it had became too cold for him to get the water, but this didn’t dampen his spirits. He was also keen sailor and a Life member of RANSA where he crewed for many years. He especially enjoyed skippering the Naval Whalers for regatta events.

Mike Downes was a sailor who loved being at sea and took delight with any opportunity of a day on the water, no matter what type of vessel, weather it was a cruise ship, cargo ship, a small fishing vessel or a Naval warship.

On a personal note, In 1953 Mike Downes married Joan Gaffney in Melbourne and they had five children, Peter, Bruce, John, Kim and Alan. Joan died in 2012.

Mike Downes is survived by his five children.

He was a loving father and a beloved husband to Joan.



Bruce D

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Bruce Downes
Ex-AMTL / LSETP3
2nd Muppet Intake
Jan 73 to Jan 94
Nirimba, Duchess, Kuttabul, Stalwart, Leeuwin, Stirling, Vampire, Stirling, Waratah, Adelaide, Platypus, Adelaide, Sydney, Platypus, Adelaide, Cairns, Melbourne

My condolences for your loss, Bruce.

_________________

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!

Thanks for sharing your Dad's life with us Bruce, he was a great man. My condolences.

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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.

So sorry to hear of your family's loss. Mike certainly had a full and active life.

RIP Mike

_________________
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).

Commiserations Bruce ........ he had a good and interesting life by the sounds of it. Well done that man.

The sad loss of a gentleman who lived a very full life!
Consolences to you and your family Bruce, an obviously well loved and respected father who will be sadly missed by many.

RIP Mike

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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.

Sorry to hear of your fathers passing Bruce.

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Trevor A Davies
R43007
Ex CPOETW3
18th Mobi Intake Jan 65
10th Jan 65 to Jan 77
Nirimba, Sydney, Vendetta, Melbourne, Waterhen, Cairns, Stalwart.

So sad to hear that your dad has left his loving family. Those deeds that he has done can never be erased and thanks for sharing you Dad with us.

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Peter Sneddon
R95971
Ex CPOMTH4
18th JR Intake
23rd MOBI Intake
Jan 67 to July 91
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Sydney, Perth, FMP-W, Stuart, Penguin/Ships Divers course, Stuart, Lonsdale, Melbourne, Kuttabul, Cerberus, Stuart, Swan, Nirimba/ Q course, Cerberus, CPSO-M

My condolences for the loss of your Dad, Bruce, for you and your family... Clearly he enjoyed a very full and satisfying life...

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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

A measure of mans life is not only what he has acheived or accomplished but in the quality of his children. Your father must have been a great man.

_________________
Mark Sullivan
R106204
Ex-CPOETC3
28th MOBI Intake
Jan 70 to Jan 82
Nirimba x 2 , Cerberus , Derwent , Stalwart , Yarra , Platypus , Watson , Vampire