Parramatta lays ex-servicemen to rest

3 September 2008

Just a day after farewelling loved ones before a six-month Operation Catalyst deployment, HMAS Parramatta (CMDR Jonathan Sadleir) returned to the sea six former Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Navy (RN) service men.

As the sun rose on a cold and windy morning approaching Bass Strait, the ashes of four Australian sailors, ABBM Blanksby, ABBM Kelly, OAM, Mechanician 1st Class Price and PO Radio Electrical Mechanic Douglas Robson along with the ashes of Canadian sailor PO 1st Class Derek John Yeoman and RN officer LCDR Anthony Rafferty were spread at the request of their families.

The service, conducted by Chaplain Christine Senini, was held with a gathering of Ship's Company and a formal guard. The service histories of each of these servicemen were read by Parramatta officers and sailors prior to their ashes being scattered across the sea.

Parramatta's Commanding Officer, CMDR Jonathan Sadleir, detailed the long and remarkable service of LCDR Rafferty. Born in the United Kingdom on 05 July 1920, he enlisted in the RN when he was just 16 years of age as a Boy Seaman. He served in HM Ships IMPREGNABLE, APOLLO, MAORI, HOOD, FURIOUS, ILLUSTRIOUS, CERES, DRAKE, WHELP, EXCELLENT, WIDEMOUTHBAY, SNIPE, DRAKE, ST. AUSTEL BAY, SAMSONIA, EXCELLENT, SKOMER, and LYNX. LCDR Rafferty retired in 1958.

LCDR Rafferty's family gathered on Port Jackson's South Head to watch Parramatta depart Sydney Harbour bound for the Persian Gulf, with the ashes of their family member embarked. The Australian chapter of LCDR Rafferty's life commenced in 1944 when he sailed through Sydney heads and his family felt it would be fitting that he also left in this way.