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Letters
Leading Seaman Robert Terry - 10955 served in Canberra Dear Mac, Have read all your stories and articles on the HMAS CANBERRA since I have become computerised, with intrigue. It would be a very long time to remember any of the crew, but thought you might have rembered my dad, who sadly passed away in l968. He was Leading Seaman Robert Terry -10955 who was I suspect in the gunnery section as my sister still has the gunnery patch which he wore on his arm. He never spoke about the war very much and I think he was called Blue or bluey because of his coloring and he was born in England in 1900. I know it would be a
Thank you for your E-Mail, we are just back from Perth where we attended the decommissioning ceremony for taking HMAS Canberra 11 out of service after 24 years in the RAN. When did your Dad serve in Canberra 1? I have a list of all her crew when we were sunk in 1942, and I could not find him listed. I joined the ship in December 1941, and served until we were sunk, but cannot recall your Dad in that time. But as you say, its a long time ago, but one does remember most of the seamen, one served with, especially if they were in your Division, and I was involved with the Quarterdeck Division, as a Sub Lieutenant. Nice to hear from you.
I have finally heard from sister, who has contact with another Canberra survivor in the Wollongong area where she lives. His name is Alan Keys,who like my Dad was on the 4"guns. He remembered Dad when my sister said his nicknames of Blue & Tank as this Alan was only l7 or l8yrs of age and always looked up to the older chaps on board. My sister says she has some notes of our late Mum who said Dad was helping out the medicos on the ship with the injured, giving comfort and injections and transferring them onto the American ship when they suddenly set sail leaving my Dad and others stranded and floundering in the water for approx. 2 hours which he promptly had bronchitis and couldnt serve on any ship without a doctor. Would that be an explanation of not having my Dad's name on your list? My sister would like to know if we can get a list of survivors or where can we obtain one from? My Dad arrived back home in Sydney in an American sailor suit and nobody recognised him at first! He had a short stint on the Arunta & Shropshire and then was sent to gunnery school to teach the young ones at Wooloomooloo. Dad had 3 red stripes with a Q above them on his sleeve, if that helps at all. Thank you for being patient with me
Dawn, The USS destroyer Patterson, was alongside, and we were transferring wounded to her, a large cruiser loomed up and opened fire on us, but fortunately no hits, Patterson cut her lines and with a " Don't Worry I will be back," dashed off to take on this suspected enemy, turned out to be USS Chicago, who miss took us for a burning Japanese ship. I also found Alan Keys, listed as an Ordinary Seaman 11 which means he was under 18 at the time, his O/N S6308, the S shows he had joined up from Sydney for the war. Your Dad was a member of the Permament Navy from his O/N, and must have passed for a Leading Seaman after leaving Canberra. His three red stripes were three good conduct badges earned over 15 years, the Q indicating he was a Gunnery rating. Give me your home address, I will copy the total list of Canberra's crew when we were sunk, and mail to you Dawn. I am happy to help any relative of an old shipmate from Canberra. Regards, Robert Terry:
Alan Keys:
Dear Mac, sorry I havent answered you before this as I have had computer trouble, but luckily I have been able to read with interest your Web log on the Canberra. My sister is very interested in the information and with your permission I will post it on to her to peruse. I thank you once again for your help and wish you and yours a Healthy and Happy festive season.
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