Sailor remembered by his mates
2 Jul 2010
The life of Leading Seaman Andrew Wakely was celebrated by around 200 family, friends and shipmates in a touching and emotional memorial service in Western Australia.
28 year old LS Wakely was on shore leave in Nuku‘Alofa, Tonga from HMAS Warramunga (Commander Bruce Legge) when he was tragically lost in a swimming accident on 16 June.
Andrew Wakely’s partner and family generously welcomed friends and colleagues to participate in the service as a way to honour Andrew’s life, lived to the full.
The crew of HMAS Warramunga mourned the loss of Leading Seaman Wakely at a memorial wreath laying ceremony off the coast of Tonga on 17 June.
Now sailors who had previously served with him, were given the opportunity to gather with Andrew Wakely’s family to remember him.
Chaplain Steve Gunther officiated the memorial service.
“Andrew served 10 years in the Royal Australian Navy, including two deployments to the Arabian Gulf. He was a much loved and respected member of our Navy family” CHAP Gunther said.
The assembled crowd was told that “Andrew loved the ocean and his family are sure that he would be happy to have the ocean as his final resting place.”
The harbour-side setting of the Western Australian Maritime Museum was particularly touching as family and friends of Andrew spoke about his love of the sea.
Andrew’s friends and shipmates spoke with great fondness about ‘Wakes’ and the kind of person that Andrew has been for them.
Two of Andrew's close friends from Warramunga flew in from Hawaii to represent the ship.
“Andrew was many things to many people. He was more than a friend. He was generous with his time and his friendships and he would do anything for a friend.”
One of Andrew’s shipmates recounted the story of how Andrew got the nickname ‘Ben Affleck’ for “his rugged good looks”, which eventually gained him the moniker ‘Hollywood’ amongst his friends.
These stories produced ripples of laughter from LS Wakely’s friends present, with small smiles at the fond memories.
Friends and shipmates of LS Wakely were invited to write personal farewell messages that were placed in a bottle, to be taken by the crew of HMAS Warramunga and dropped into the sea.
The Australian National Flag, LSCSO Wakely’s medals and cap were presented to Andrew’s family and partner by Commanding officer HMAS Stirling, Captain Brett Dowsing, on behalf of the Chief of Navy in recognition of his dedicated service and professionalism.
“This tragic accident has hit the Navy very hard and particularly HMAS Warramunga and Stirling Navy members, as there are so many sailors here who have served with Andrew Wakely in the past ten years. The West Australian Navy community has lost one of its own. Our thoughts are also
with his family and friends,” Captain Dowsing said.
Flowers were also presented to Andrew Wakely’s partner and family on behalf of the Commanding Officer and crew of HMAS Warramunga.
The wife of Commanding Officer HMAS Warramunga, Nancy-Lea Legge attended on his behalf.
“Like most aboard the ship, I sincerely wished I could attend the service. It was a very important event that I believe will help to ease the burden of pain that one experiences at times such as these. For the crew of Warramunga their memories of friendship and fellowship with Andrew Wakely will last their lifetimes” said CMDR Legge.
HMAS Warramunga continued her scheduled Exercise RIMPAC 2010 deployment and will return to Fleet Base West in October, on completion of Exercise KAKADU.
