George ( Duke ) Harold Wellington. March 19, 1921-April 7 2012. George ( Duke ) Harold Wellington. March 19, 1921-April 7 2012.
Members of George's family, shipmates, ladies and gentlemen.
Members of George's family, shipmates, ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of the Victorian Division of the Canberra/Shropshire Association may I extend our sympathy to
George's family on this their sad loss.
George was born at Long Gully on March 19 in 1921, and lived to be 91, having just had this birthday last
March.
He joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Steward on February 19, 1942, and served until February 1946, being discharged at HMAS Rushcutter in Sydney.
He was the Captain's steward in HMAS Shropshire, a position not lightly awarded, one needed to be at the top
of your craft to gain such an appointment.
George travelled to UK in one of the early drafts in 1943 to help crew the 8 inch gunned heavy cruiser HMAS
Shropshire, a gift to the RAN by Winston Churchill to replace HMAS Canberra, sunk at the Battle of Savo Island in the Solomon Islands on August 9, 1942.
We served together in Shropshire, a really efficient and great ship who never lost a man to enemy action.
Post war, George preceded me as President of the Victorian Division of the Canberra/Shropshire Association, and served in that role with distinction. He had also served as President of the Ex Naval Men's Association.
He organised visits of our members to the USA to renew old wartime friendships.
Our wartime Captain C A G Nichols Royal Navy, died aged 87 on June 20, 1986, and with Commander Bracegirdle, George represented the Association in UK at his funeral.
We remember George (Duke) Harold Wellington with great affection, he served his country and our Association well.
He will be much missed, your flag has flown at full mast, vale George, we wish you calm seas and a safe harbour.
