A Farewell to those with whom we served...

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:59 am

It is with regret that The HMAS BRISBANE Association advises of the passing of a shipmate and friend.

R55300 POME Anthony Oliver “Blue” Boxsell, Age 71, in Brisbane after a long illness, 2nd March, 2009.

LME Blue Boxsell was part of the Bay City Family and commissioning crew of BRISBANE.

As a PO Stoker, Blue saw Vietnam service on the gunline in HMAS HOBART in 1970

A funeral service will be conducted on Monday 9th March, 2009 at

The Lakeview Chapel

Albany Creek Crematorium in Brisbane

All former shipmates are invited to attend.

May you always have blue skies and gentle breezes

Wherever you may roam shipmate.

Rest in Peace.

Peter Maher

Secretary

HMAS BRISBANE Association

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:39 pm

Graham Charles MARTYN [OS/EM] - R67034, HMAS SYDNEY 1968, also known as PIGPEN by his mates in the VVMC [Melb Chapter] has crossed the bar.

There will be service for him in Dandenong Sth at the Bunurong Memorial Park at midday on March 5th 2009.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:09 pm

It is with regret we note the passing of LEUT Christopher Butcher on 25th February 2009.

He originally joined as an MTP and changed over to NPC. After making CPO he jumped the fence to the upper deck in 2006.

A funderal service will be held in the GID Chapel on 5th March 2009 commencing at 10.00am.

Ray Lawrence · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:34 am

Found this on another forum,

Quote

It is very sad for me report the passing of Good Mate and Work Mate for many years Wayne "Speed" Rogan.

Speed passed away peacefully 6th March.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

1300 Thursday 12th March, Hogbin Drive Crematorium, Coffs Harbour.

Regards,
Blue Cullen

Unquote

Speed paid off as a POETC and worked with Telecom/Telstra in the NT for many years, I am sure quite a few of the members here would have served with him during the '70's and '80's as I did.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:54 pm

For ex-HMAS Hobart crew... The following was receiveved via Bill Krause...

Bill

It is my sad duty to inform you that my good mate
Graeme Sculley, DSM, R65336 passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning 11th April 2009 - aged just 60 years.

Graeme saw active service in Vietnam on HMAS Hobart on two occasions - March 68 to July 68 and again from March 70 to October 70.

I have also attached the funeral details should anybody wish to attend.

I can be contacted on the below phone numbers should anybody need further information.

Graeme was a fine man and very good friend and it was sad to see him so ill, he was strong and defiant to the end as I know his shipmates would expect.

Warm Regards

Bill Dobell

Phone 03 5336 1538

Mobile 0417 616 759

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:45 pm

UNCLASSIFIED

Personal Message for the RAN Retired Senior Officer Community

Gentlemen,

I am sad to advise that the Office of the Chief of Navy has been informed of the passing over Easter of ME (Engineering Mechanic) Graeme H Sculley DSM in Ballarat after a battle with cancer. Fellow HMAS HOBART shipmate of ME Sculley, Rear Admiral David Holthouse, contacted me and requested that I inform the RAN Senior Retired Community via my normal means - it is an honour and my privilege to do so. I apologise for this late notice however I am aware that many Navy colleagues who served with or who new Graeme are already aware of this sad news and details of the funeral arrangements in Ballarat VIC tomorrow, Wednesday, 15 April 2009. A copy of the funeral notice is attached.

Rear Admiral Holthouse mentioned to me that ME Sculley was serving with he and Captain David Blazey in HMAS HOBART when she came under missile attack by a USAF F4 on the night of 17 June 1968. ME Sculley's action station was Repair 5, located close to where two Sparrow missiles (one in each of two passes by the aircraft) exploded and cut through the superstructure. Chief Electrician Hunt was killed in the near vicinity of ME Sculley who was himself severely wounded including a broken leg. He refused to be evacuated to a dressing station. Instead, since he could not walk he volunteered to take over Repair 5 communications as "Talker", freeing the designated Talker to engage in the more physical side of battle damage repairs. ME Sculley remained at his post until the ship stood down from Action Stations. Pertinently, ME Sculley's was the only decoration awarded to a member of HOBART's company during her deployment.

Captain Blazey and Rear Admiral Holthouse both spoke to Graeme a week or so ago and share that he was dealing with his long-running battle with severe illness with the same courage and fortitude that he exercised on the night of 17 June 1968.

The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, and all the men and women serving in the Royal Australian Navy today, join together in paying our respects to a distinguished Navy Veteran and pass on our thoughts to Graeme's family at this sad time.

Engineering Mechanic G.H. SCULLEY, DSM
Photograph courtesy of AWM Collection Record: P01002.125

Warm Regards, Bob Morrison

R.G. MORRISON
Captain, RAN
Chief Staff Officer to the Chief of Navy

BC · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:41 am

This was passed to me this morning.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

It is with deepest regret that I pass on this information on the loss of a Voyager shipmate and survivor.

Colin (Dinger) Bell crossed the bar today (29-4-2009).

Fair winds and calm seas shipmate wherever you voyage.

Lest we forget

Some info is now on the Website VALE page and the Voyager Forum. Further details will be posted when they come to hand.

Les Sheehan

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Thu May 07, 2009 11:37 pm

I received notification below re the passing of Bob Moule, Bob was one of our pioneers. It is extremely sad when one of the old and bold MOBI's hand in their beret, Bob was Skilled Hands member number 1132.

Rest in peace old buddy

It is with sadness that I advise the passing of Lieutenant Commander Robert (Bob) M. Moule - 42003. He went to Vietnam on Hobart (March to September 1967) and Torrens (February to March 1972). Bob was in the first intake of apprentices to attend HMAS Nirimba.

Bob passed away peacefully at home at Kuranda Qld this morning.

He is survived by his wife Kaye and his two daughters.

Funeral arrangements are to be advised.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:41 pm

UNCLASSIFIED - FROM CN

SUBJ: VALE LCDR MAX SHEAN DSO AND BAR RANR RTD

1. IT IS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SADNESS THAT I ADVISE NAVY OF THE
RECENT PASSING OF LCDR MAX SHEAN DSO AND BAR RAN RTD IN WESTERN
AUSTRALIA. LCDR SHEAN WAS A REMARKABLE NAVY VETERAN AND QUOTE AN
AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE HERO UNQUOTE WHO SERVED OUR NATION WITH
DISTINCTION DURING WWII AND REMAINED PART OF THE SUBMARINE COMMUNITY
AND NAVY FAMILY UNTIL THE END.

2. LCDR SHEAN'S LIFE WAS CHARACTERISED BY BOTH GREAT DISTINCTION IN
HIS SERVICE AND GREAT HUMILITY. IN1940, AT THE AGE OF 22, HE JOINED
THE RANVR, SERVING 15 MONTHS IN HMS BLUEBELL ON THE GIBRALTA-UK
CONVOY RUN, BEFORE VOLUNTEERING FOR QUOTE SPECIAL UNSPECIFIED DUTIES
UNQUOTE. THIS WAS MIDGET SUBMARINE SERVICE. LCDR SHEAN WAS FIRST
ASSIGNED AS DIVER TO X9 FOR A COVERT RAID ON THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP
TIRPITZ, BUT HIS CRAFT WAS LOST UNDER TOW TO THE AREA OF OPERATIONS.
HE WAS PRESENTED WITH HIS FIRST DSO FOLLOWING A SORTIE TO BERGIN
HARBOUR, NORWAY, AS CO X24 AND THE BAR TO THE DSO WHEN HE CUT THE
UNDERSEA COMMUNICATIONS CABLE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE OFF THE
MEKONG DELTA AS CO XE4 IN 1944. FOR HIS PACIFIC EXPLOITS, HE ALSO
RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR FROM THE UNITED STATES.

3. LCDR SHEAN CONTINUED TO SERVE AUSTRALIA IN THE NAVAL RESERVE UNTIL
1956 AS AN ENGINEER AND SEAMAN OFFICER, AND WORKED FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA THROUGH THE WA STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION UNTIL
1978. AS AN OFFSHORE SAILOR HE WON THE PARMELIA YACHT RACE FROM THE
UK TO FREMANTLE SOLO IN 1979, SHOWING THE SAME DARING AND COURAGE
THAT CHARACTERISED HIS WAR SERVICE.

4. A REGULAR GUEST OF HONOUR AT HMAS STIRLING, LCDR SHEAN CONTINUED
TO SUPPORT LEGACY AND THE SUBMARINE COMMUNITY UNTIL HE WAS
HOSPITALISED ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO. LCDR MAX SHEAN WAS THE
QUINTESSENTIAL NAVAL OFFICER- DETERMINED, FOCUSSED, COURAGEOUS AND
DEDICATED. HE HAD A METICULOUS MIND AND PLANNED IN DETAIL BEFORE
ACTING DECISIVELY, ACHIEVING EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS IN ALMOST
EVERYTHING HE DID. BUT THOSE THINGS WERE NEVER FOR HIMSELF PERSONALLY
, THEY WERE FOR HIS COUNTRY, HIS NAVY AND HIS FAMILY.

5. A REMARKABLE MAN WHO WAS PROUD TO BE A NAVY MAN AND WE ARE PROUD
TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM. LCDR MAX SHEAN WILL BE REMEMBERED.

6. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE ADVISED SEPARATELY.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:06 pm

A Farewell to those with whom we served...

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