Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Mac Gregory
23 July 2008

This site is dedicated to all "Who went down to the sea in ships" in World War 2, in whatever capacity they may have served the cause of freedom, but especially to the Eighty Four Officers and Men who died in H.M.A.S. Canberra at the Battle of Savo Island, on the 9th of August, 1942.  

There are The best way to reach me is by e-mail at: macden@melbpc.org.au.  If you'd like to check the time in Melbourne and in Atlanta,click here.

Here are my latest 12 articles.  See the article list, letters archive, or site map to see all of them or to get your bearings. Links to the main features are in the right hand column. If you can't find what you are looking for, try this search page. There is also a search link on each page. 

Unveiling a picture of HMAS Shropshire at the Ringwood RSL Club on July 9th. 2008 July 9th. 2008, I unveil a replica of a HMAS Shropshire painting, at the Ringwood Returned and Services League Club, and here is the brief unveiling speech: Read the article.

Pacific Fury, new book on WW2.in the Pacific. Pacific Fury, a just published hardback by Random House in June 2008, and written by Peter Thompson, an Australian journalist and writer who lives in London. Read the article.

The Wonderful County Class 8 inch Gunned Cruisers We salute the sterling service of all 13 County Class Cruisers in WW2, and out of my time at sea or overseas for all of WW2, I spent 4 and a half years in this class of heavy cruiser, and I remember them with affection, they brought me home safely, and at last it was all over. Read the article.

Signal to British Pacific Fleet by Admiral Bruce Fraser on the day of signing the Japanese Surrender My friend Kevin O'Neill ( we served together in the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide back in WW2 in 1942) was the Warrant Officer Gunner in HMAS Nizam, part of the BPF. In that destroyer, the Officers drew lots as to whom would win their copy of this signal, and Kevin was the winner. Read the article.

New Zealand Hospital ship Maheno winds up a wreck on Fraser Island A few days later, on July 9th 1935 she drifted ashore and was beached on Fraser Island. During the Second World War, Maheno served as target bombing practice for the RAAF. Read the article.

Australian Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney 11, her Life, Death, and Finding the Wreck The families of the 645 Officers and Sailors lost on November 19, 1941, at long last they can put to bed where their loved ones lay in peace. Read the article.

A Brief history of Ships Bells Bells have a centuries-long tradition of varied use in the navies and merchant fleets of the world. They have been used for signaling, keeping time, and providing alarm. Their functional and ceremonial uses have made them a symbol of considerable significance to the United States Navy. Read the article.

Ten Interesting events in a Long Life Here are ten interesting events from my past, in no particular order. Read the article.

Australian Navy chaplain Fr William Evans rescued at the Battle of Savo Island the destroyer USS Patterson Fr William Evans' desired to commemorate in some permanent way the friendship between Australia and the United States. The Regina Coeli Memorial church in the Sydney suburb of Beverly Hills was the realisation of Fr Evans’ dream – dedicated as a memorial to “Australian American Friendship in War and Peace”.      Read the article.

Batons of The Duke of Wellington Absolutely amazing that the Iron Duke would be so honoured by the crowned heads of Europe, I cannot cite any other Field Marshal who managed to be awarded any Baton other than his own country's one. Read the article.

Memorial Plaque for HMAS Canberra, sunk at the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942 to be replaced The new Labor Government, via the Veterans' Department have now made a grant available that will enable the Canberra/Shropshire Association to go ahead and make arrangements for a replacement plaque to be designed, cast, transported to Honiara, erected, and dedicated. Read the article.

See all the articles.

A new site about the Bismarck and the effort to present crew members in
portraits and biographical sketches in German and English

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