Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Mac Gregory
03 May 2008

This site is dedicated to all "Who went down to the sea in ships" in World War 2, in whatever capacity they may have served the cause of freedom, but especially to the Eighty Four Officers and Men who died in H.M.A.S. Canberra at the Battle of Savo Island, on the 9th of August, 1942.  

There are The best way to reach me is by e-mail at: macden@melbpc.org.au.  If you'd like to check the time in Melbourne and in Atlanta,click here.

Here are my latest 12 articles.  See the article list, letters archive, or site map to see all of them or to get your bearings. Links to the main features are in the right hand column. If you can't find what you are looking for, try this search page. There is also a search link on each page. 

New Zealand Hospital ship Maheno winds up a wreck on Fraser Island A few days later, on July 9th 1935 she drifted ashore and was beached on Fraser Island. During the Second World War, Maheno served as target bombing practice for the RAAF. Read the article.

Australian Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney 11, her Life, Death, and Finding the Wreck The families of the 645 Officers and Sailors lost on November 19, 1941, at long last they can put to bed where their loved ones lay in peace. Read the article.

A Brief history of Ships Bells Bells have a centuries-long tradition of varied use in the navies and merchant fleets of the world. They have been used for signaling, keeping time, and providing alarm. Their functional and ceremonial uses have made them a symbol of considerable significance to the United States Navy. Read the article.

Ten Interesting events in a Long Life Here are ten interesting events from my past, in no particular order. Read the article.

Australian Navy chaplain Fr William Evans rescued at the Battle of Savo Island the destroyer USS Patterson Fr William Evans' desired to commemorate in some permanent way the friendship between Australia and the United States. The Regina Coeli Memorial church in the Sydney suburb of Beverly Hills was the realisation of Fr Evans’ dream – dedicated as a memorial to “Australian American Friendship in War and Peace”.      Read the article.

Batons of The Duke of Wellington Absolutely amazing that the Iron Duke would be so honoured by the crowned heads of Europe, I cannot cite any other Field Marshal who managed to be awarded any Baton other than his own country's one. Read the article.

Memorial Plaque for HMAS Canberra, sunk at the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942 to be replaced The new Labor Government, via the Veterans' Department have now made a grant available that will enable the Canberra/Shropshire Association to go ahead and make arrangements for a replacement plaque to be designed, cast, transported to Honiara, erected, and dedicated. Read the article.

TSS Letitia, sister ship to ill fated Athenia, had a checkered career  Read the article.

Britain launches first mammoth Submarine in the Astute Class of 4 new boats Britain launched a massive sub that can hear a ship from across the Atlantic in June 08, 2007. She is four years late and a massive $900 million over-budget. (Wonder what Total Cost is?)  But when the Royal Navy's super-sub HMS Astute finally arrived, she made for an awesome sight. An incredible new submarine to break all previous records in size, equipment, armament etc. Read the article.

HMAS Penguin exercises their right to Freedom of Entry to the City of Mosman  Read the article.

Extracts from James Dixon's Diary, a WW1 sailor serving in HMAS Australia, flagship of the RAN WW1 service men and women have died, and with them their stories that helped to shape our nation in its early days after Foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1st. 1901. I strongly believe that a record such at this one from James deserves to be preserved, hence this attempt to pay tribute to a young RAN sailor who soon found himself and his ship mates serving in the unforgiving North Sea, far from home and family,with the ever dreaded coaling ship always  looming close by. Read the article.

Field Marshal Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus ( 1890- 1957 ) Promoted to Field Marshal in unusual circumstances, and made Military history by being the first to hold that rank and be captured, never to be forgiven by Hitler. Read the article.

See all the articles.

A new site about the Bismarck and the effort to present crew members in
portraits and biographical sketches in German and English

This counter represents hits on the home page: