Honouring those who rest far from home

11 August 2009 By LEUT Jemma Power

On the occasion of the first visit to Port of Spain by a Royal Australia Navy warship, a group of HMAS Ballarat ship’s company led by Commanding Officer, CMDR Kevin Turner, travelled to St James Military Cemetery to pay tribute to the service of three Australian’s who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. The three Australian service men who rest in the cemetery overlooking the Port of Spain are PLTOFF Alan Arthur Morris, FLGOFF Geoffrey Thomas Risbey and FLGOFF Jack Walker.

HMAS Ballarat's Leading Seaman Electronic Technician Tremayne East plays tribute to fallen World War Two comrades at a memorial service held in Port of Spain, during Northern Trident 2009

In the thick humidity of Trinidad and Tobago’s wet season the group of officers and sailors from HMAS Ballarat, accompanied by Acting High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Mr James Holgate and Naval Attaché, Washington, CDRE Vince Di Pietro gathered to conduct a memorial service, including the playing of the last post for the three Australian service men whose graves were amongst the other Commonwealth war graves located at that site.

Commodore Vince Di Pietro lays a wreath of flowers at the grave of a fallen World War Two comrade at a memorial service held in the Port of Spain, during Northern Trident 2009.

At the time of their death all three Australians were members of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) 53 Squadron, a squadron flying anti-submarine patrols to protect the eastern seaboard of the United States from German U-boats following the entry of the United States into the war. The men, of county Victorian origin, were just three of the 30,000 Australian airmen who enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force but who served with the RAF despite their Australian nationality.

Ship’s Chaplain Russel Smith who led the Australian memorial service, asked those gathered to remember the contribution of these service personnel who volunteered themselves to protect the way of life that we ourselves hold dear.

The Acting High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago noted during his address that “this is the first time the opportunity has arisen to hold such a ceremony by visiting Defence Force Personnel and it is no doubt comforting for friends and families of these young men to know that although they lost their lives so far from home, they will never be forgotten and we remain forever deeply in their debt. We are in debt to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force whose meticulous care of the graves maintains the dignity and honour of those who rest here”

Prayers were offered by Able Seaman Marine Technician Adam Martin whilst Acting SBLT Brett Schulz read the Ode before the Last Post rang out across the hillside, played by a Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force bugler.