Sydney’s Senior Sailors Enjoy Victory
14 July 2009
Northern Trident 2009 and Portsmouth will hold a special significance for the Senior Sailors of HMAS Sydney after they recently attending a memorable mess dinner on-board Nelson’s famous flagship, HMS Victory.
Forty-five guests including Sydney’s Commanding Officer, CAPT Peter Leavy, Executive Officer, Bill Waters and guest speaker retired Royal Navy Vice Admiral John McAnally, CB, LVO enjoyed pre dinner drinks in the Senior Rates Mess followed by dinner on the Gun Deck on long tables and benches amongst the cannons.
"The atmosphere was incredible," said President of the Chief Petty Officers Mess, WO Bob McCann.
"Just to be in a ship with such a famous history was humbling. To eat where battles had taken place was a once in a lifetime experience and truly memorable. I don’t think anyone who attended the dinner will ever forget just what a great venue it was, and it was certainly all anyone could talk about in the days that followed," he said.
HMS Victory was Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. She is the oldest Royal Navy ship still in commission, and now sits in dry dock in Portsmouth, England as a museum ship. The Senior Sailors were fortunate to receive a personal tour that took them to places on board Victory that the public do not usually get to visit. Many took the opportunity to be photographed sitting in the Great Cabin at the very same desk that Nelson penned his last prayer, the day before Trafalgar.
"It was amazing that the ship is still relatively intact however it is certainly well looked after. Apparently when they do a repair they never throw anything away so that way they can recycle the timber to ensure authenticity," said WO McCann.
After dining on traditional English fare such as Roast Beef and Spatchcock, the assembled guests were entertained by guest speaker, retired Vice Admiral John McAnally who regaled them with stories of his time in Australia serving in both HMAS Melbourne (II) and HMAS Torrens (II) in the 1970’s. He also spent two years as Navigating Commander of the Royal Yacht Britannia and in all, served in 17 ships and commanded five of them.
"The Admiral was a fantastic guest speaker and told us some hilarious tales. He enjoyed himself so much that he didn’t leave until the early hours of the morning, which for someone in his late sixties was an impressive effort," said WO McCann.
Among other invited guests were three Royal Navy Chiefs posted to Victory, who presented Sydney’s ‘Senior Rates’ with a piece of timber and copper plaque from Victory. The plaque is to be kept in a display cabinet in Sydney’s Chief Petty Officer’s mess.
After a very late evening, the dinner finally concluded with many agreeing that it was certainly one to remember.
"The evening was extremely successful and had just the right mix of formality, tradition and atmosphere," said CAPT Leavy.
