1962/63 "WOULD ROLL ON WET GRASS"' = H.M.A.S. WAGGA

H.M.A.S. WAGGA in 1943
the gun was removed for R.A.N.R. purposes.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, H.M.A.S. WAGGA was assigned to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve for training purposes.I have already recounted how we worked to make her properly ready for our use. 

60 of these 1,025 Tons Corvettes were built in Australia during World War II, 5 were lost during the War.They had a normal crew of 85 and they had a Maximum Speed of 15 Knots.It was said of them that they "would roll on wet grass".

After we had WAGGA ready for service,   plans were made for  her first two week Training Cruise   . This took us North to Brisbane and a little beyond. It proved largely uneventful, except that on the approach to Moreton Bay we saw the Whaling Fleet in action. This activity ceased in 1962 so that tends to date the Cruise to some extent. 

Aerial view of part of Moreton Bay

On a subsequent occasion we took WAGGA on a rather more memorable Cruise to Tasmania,more precisely to Launceston. Several factors made the Cruise memorable. First was the adverse weather on the way South. A gale blew up when we were well on our way, it was quite powerful and caused our dear old WAGGA to commence "pile driving", that is to say, her Bow was repeatedly coming out of the water at the crest of a wave and crashing back down , sending a shudder along the length of the keel.Our  hammocks were swinging wildly and numerous of us were being seasick. I had taken the precaution of taking Dramamine which someone had recommended, but I knew that if I stayed there the stench would make me ill So I rolled out of the hammock with difficulty and struggled against the motion of the Ship out onto the Main Deck then back up the ladder to my work station in the Ship's tiny Office  and slept - as best I could on the deck curled up tight in misery.At least there was no shortage of fresh air!!

Lt.Cdr. DENOVAN RANVR
The very model of a Ship's Captain

Next morning, the Storm had passed, the wind and sea  were abating, and our crew of mostly amateurs struggled to get themselves and the Ship "shipshape and Bristol fashion ". We had an outstanding example in our Captain Lieutenant Commander Denovan R.A.N.V.R. who was a Second World War veteran and ramrod straight as he came down the steep ladders facing forward - which was no easy feat even in Harbour, let alone when the old girl was corkscrewing her way through the aftermath of a gale! But there he was, clean shaven, Uniform and Cap impeccable! We all felt scruffy, and vile - a situation not helped when the desalination plant went on the blink while many were having their showers!

When we had brief breaks  to ourselves, groups of us would gather on the quarterdeck and stare out at the Ship's wake , which at her slow speed , would tend to look slightly wobbly at times. The main noise, apart from the wind would be the occasional whirrr of the steering engine as the course was adjusted.

WILSON'S PROMONTORY

We were told that during that nightmare passage we were the only ship on the Coast. Early in the morning we rounded Wilson's Promontory the Southernmost tip of Australia (EXCEPT FOR TASMANIA!!!) and it was quite impressive. Then we headed into Port Phillip Bay and up to Williamstown where we were to take on oil. This exercise went very well, including the arrival bit which involved bringing our little ship about and docking Starboard side to, in order to simplify our departure. That was the intention in any case.

When the fuelling was  completed, we were all still in our No1 Uniforms for manning the side as we had done coming in. I happened to have my position in the line on the Starboard side in the Waist. Now, when it comes to getting away from a berth at a wharf, a Ship firstly singles up all her lines, then lets go fore and aft until she is held by what is called a Spring - a line running diagonally from the wharf to the ship. The idea is that , depending on the current, if any,  steady turns on the propeller at low speed will bring the Ship's Bow away from the Wharf and an increase in speed will send her away from the Wharf altogether. That is the theory. Well, what actually happened was that Wagga came off the wharf, and the Spring was brought aboard, but,perhaps on account of tide or some chance of the current,she came to run parallel to the wharf about half a metre away from it! This was exceedingly dangerous and risked a collision with it. Suddenly the Officer of the deck barked the Order : "OK you lot onto the wharf and push her off!"

The effect on me at least, was as if he had ordered us to drag the Sun down to Earth! It sounded ridiculous! There was some hesitation on our part....but then one , two ,three and all ten of us were up over the side and onto the Wharf and running along beside the Ship and pushing her off the Wharf . To my utter surprise she began to move away from the Wharf and then came the next order "Ok Jump back aboard!"We did not hesitate, fearing to be left behind. I have no idea how we , more especially me, managed it.Because I have never excelled at matters athletic! My Guardian Angel deserves all the credit!

The picturesque City of Launceston,  nestled in the Tamar Valley

Here we were on our way to Launceston! The often troublesome Bass Strait lay before us, but on this occasion provided no great difficulty.

We sailed up the the Tamar River and moored at Launceston for our visit. Apart  from the pleasantness of the City of Launceston, two things stay firmly in my memory,I shall mention the more formal first, in order to let you finish the paragraph with a smile. We had to attend a memorial service at at a War Memorial in a Park. Was it Anzac Day? Armistice Day? I don't recall. What I do recall is that we all sang the Navy Hymn : 

"Eternal Father strong to save, Whose arm doth bind the restless wave...."

it is always moving...at least I find it so. But never so much as on this occasion  and particularly the lines:
 

 "O Holy Spirit Who didst brood ,
upon the waters dark and rude, 
Who badst its angry tumult cease 
and gave for wild confusion , Peace..
Oh Hear us when we cry to Thee 
for those in peril on the sea!"  

After our voyage down I understood what the Hymn so well recognises.

The following day some of us had invitations to lunch with Launceston families. I was the guest of Mr & Mrs Eastaugh and their children and very kind and generous hosts they were, their hospitality was splendid. However in the course of making conversation, I managed the ultimate faux pas in Tasmania and, at least in my view, I did not succeed in redeeming the situation. 

In the course of furthering a comment on some subject, while making a response to something that had been said, I came out with "Oh well, back in Australia...the air froze......"I instantly realised what I had said. That made it worse. The desperate search for a formula of words to get me out of the hole my mouth had dug. The failure to find it. Their kind attempt to cover the hurt...It still causes me pain. I would gladly meet them again if I thought I could recover the situation. But Alas! What can you say to people whose home State is occasionally left off the map! 

Really after all that , the voyage home was quite routine .It had been in several respects memorable, but I did not mind coming home. 

That was my last Cruise aboard WAGGA, though not the last time I boarded her for various routine work sessions.