Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

HMAS Shropshire

Mac

I was surfing the web, as you do, and bumped into your excellent site. First, let me introduce myself.

My name is Michael Ryan, and I am a 36 y.o. civil engineer, currently living in Brisbane, formely coming from Young, NSW.

One of my main hobbies and interests in life in military history, and the collecting of military medals. It is both that now bring me to you. I was recently lucky enough to win at auction the medal group to Lt George Jack Hartley, formally Warrant Gunner, HMAS Shropshire, and Mention in Dispatches for his work in the Leyte Gulf battles.

Whilst I have been fortunate enough to find his files at the National Archives, I have yet to find any more personal information on him, or even better, a photo of him. Since, as I see, you were an officer on the Shropshire, perhaps either you may be able to help me, or at least point me in the right direction.

I have located the reason for his mention in dispatch, which is great.

One thing that bugs me about his group is the lack of a LSGC medal. From his file, he should be easily up for one, as there are no charges against him, and conduct always listed as VG. He joined in 1926 as a Boy, and served through to 1960. He ought be close to a bar to his LSGC. Could you shed any light on this? A friend reckons that the Captain must have not liked him. Perhaps.

Anyway, look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks in advance.

Michael Ryan
KENMORE, QLD

Michael,

Thank you for your nice comments about AHOY, a joint effort with Terry Kearns, my web master from Atlanta Georgia. My research and writing on various topics is converted by Terry into our AHOY site that is up there for people to surf onto on the net, and we trust visitors such as your good self might something of interest.

We are always pleased to get feedback good or bad, naturally we prefer the former.

Now I certainly knew Jack Hartley as a Warrant Gunner in Shropshire, I am not sure I have a photo of him, but he would be in the ship's company photo taken in Lingayen Gulf in January of 1945. I will take a goodlook at that and see if I can find him. There would have been something like 30+ WO's who served in the ship over her time in the RAN.

Now to Jack's lack of a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, he would need 15 years service from the age of 18 as a sailor to qualify, time as an Officer would not count. If you have his record you can see where and when he served from age 18 for the next 15 years, and when he was promoted to Gunner. In his record, the VG for conduct, and Satisfactory or Superior for his ability was usually pencilled in at the end of each year by his Divisional Officer, as a rule, his Captain would use that guide, unless he had particular reason to alter it.

MY Dad served in the RAN from 1919 to 1945, became a Chief Steward, usually looking after the First Naval Member, Captain D of the Destroyer Flotilla, or the Flag Officer Commanding the Fleet, he was awarded his LSGC Medal, and always referred to it as Fifteen Years of Undetected Crime.

I know I have not been of much assistance to you, but I will contact an old friend who was also a Gunner, but not in Shropshire, he would know of Jack, may have done courses with him, and perhaps Kevin O'Neill has a photo with Jack in it.

More anon.
 
Best regards, 
Mac.

Michael,

Here we go!!

Kevin O'Neill says that Jack in Number 4, the WO on the RH side as you look at the picture.

You must seek permission to reproduce this image.
Search for image 112196 for more information.

So at last we have solved your problem.

Best regards,
Mac.

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