Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

July 18, 2010

Hi there

I was delighted to come upon your web site unexpectedly while looking at WW 2 naval history.

I was interested to see the book written called A Stoker's Journey written as a labour of love by his son.

I am doing a similar thing which has been ongoing for 10 years. It is not for publication only for my granddaughters, so they will know why their ( great) nana was a bitter about war/Govt/navy, and to know their great grandfather---- his hopes, his fears and his love for their Nana, my dear mother.

I have an album of photos from the Mediterranean that my father kept and am considering giving them to the War Memorial but at present, I am hanging on to the past.

My father Alan LF Cunnington was a Petty Officer 4th class and died on HMAS Sydney Nov 1941.

He and I were born in Melbourne, my mother in Launceston.

Anyway... I have all of  his letters, possibly boring to some -- about everyday life at Crib Pont, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Hobart in the Mediterranean and the 2 months on HMAS Sydney. I never knew my father so typing each one makes me nearer and to know him, and to understand my mother's unhappiness and longing throughout her life.

I was disappointed to find all trace of Port Lonsdale gone when I went there in 2007 as my father worked there for 6 months after HMAS Hobart before joining HMAS Sydney. When I  made enquiries  there did not seem to be even any pictures.

If you saw the ABC documentary about the Sydney before she was discovered by Mearnes, I was the biddy reading my mum's letter, at the Geraldton Memorial, and standing looking out over the Indian Ocean at the end.  ( I was pounced on by the ABC unexpectedly when I arrived from Toronto in Geraldton, -- just like Mack din at the memorial in 2001 cant imagine why... but I did stand out like a sore thumb with my "bling' and dyed hair!!!!!

Best regards
Jessie Cunnington

Hello Jessie,

How lovely to hear from you. Do endure with your work on your Dad, as the years slip by and all the WW2 combatants die off ( I am now 88 ) if their stories are not recorded for family members they will be lost for all time.

In case you do not have a copy, here is your Dad's WW2 Certificate of Service:     
     
      Ordnance Artificer 4th Class
            ALAN LEONARD FYFFE CUNNINGTON
            22983
                  Service Royal Australian Navy
                  Date of Birth 16 April 1913
                  Place of Birth BRUNSWICK, VIC
                  Date of Enlistment 14 March 1939
                  Locality on Enlistment SANDRINGHAM, VIC
                  Home Port/Port Division MELBOURNE, VIC
                  Next of Kin CUNNINGTON, YVONNE
                  Date of Death 20 November 1941
                  Posting on Death HMAS Sydney

If you go to this URL: http://www.hmassydney.com/ Scroll down to the C's you will find your Dad's brick of
memory on the Memorial Wall on the HMAS Sydney site.

Should you decide to dispose of your photo album, may I suggest you do not send it to the AWM, it will be lost there, send it to the Museum at Flinders Naval Depot where Warrant Officer Marty Grogan is the curator, he is also President of the present HMAS Sydney Association, mention me, we know each other well.

Here are my articles about 

• The loss of Sydney in her fight with Kormoran, including a complete crew list for Sydney
• Inquiry into the Sydney sinking
• International Naval Reunion Melbourne
• Remembrance Exhibition about Sydney at the Shrine of Remembrance at Melbourne 
• Naval Heritage Foundation of Australia and picture HMAS Lonsdale 

I have visited your city of Toronto on a number of occasions and enjoyed it.

Jessie, I guess I have rabbited on long enough, do keep in touch.

Best wishes and regards,
Mac.


back to letters index