Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

I found your Canberra stuff whilst researching HMAS Canberra.

My interest is that my Uncle ( now deceased) served aboard her as an Ordnance Artificer His name was John Henry Rimmer. I would love to contact any shipmates etc. I also have a lot of Photos of Canberra that belonged to him.

I have one of her entering Port Stephens for the last time before her sinking.

Incidently it was taken as a fact in our family ( and with some resentment ) that the sinking resulted from being torpedoed accidently by the USN.

I would love to discuss some of this with you and maybe show you what I have from Canberra including an original ships pennant.

Rgds 
Allan Young

Ex Artificer also

Hello Allan,

Thank you for your message, I have a complete list of all who served in Canberra at the time of her sinking.

Your Uncle appears on Page 7 of my records, listed as Ordnance Artificer IV John. H. Rimmer 23535 ( his official number, meaning he was a member of the Permanent Naval Force, anyone joining up for the war has initials of the state where they joined in front of their ON eg PM 4562, for Port Melbourne )

Where do you live? I am in Melbourne, we do have active Canberra/Shropshire Associations in most Australian States.

If convenient, could you scan or have a scan sent to me of the Port Stevens photo of my old ship? we would put it up on AHOY on my account of her being sunk at the Battle of Savo Island. 

In case you do not have it, here is John's RAN Certificate of Service.

Great to hear from you, and I look forward to your next E-mail.
 
Best regards, 
Mackenzie. Gregory.

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. Yes my Uncle was a PNF man. He joined in March 39 after completing his trade as a Fitter and Turner.

I will scan in the Photo for you. It has been in my families possession for some time as indeed other Canberra memorabilia.

It was taken by a Pharmacist from Stockton.

My Uncle went on to become a Chief Ordnance Artificer before going to the UK on some sort of work for the Admiralty in 1951. He died there under strange circumstances and his repat file is closed on security grounds. The family realy doesn't know the whole story. I hope to find out some more while his sister ( my mother) is still with us.

I live in Brisbane and in fact did March with the Canberra/Shropshire assosciation in Sydney on ANZAC day in 1972/73 whilst an Articer Apprentice myself.

I am having a scanner problem so I will try to get it away in the next few days.

Rgds 
Allan Young

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