HMAS MILDURA - Life on Board a Corvette
HMAS MILDURA Association.
More stories of life on board HMAS MILDURA
PUSS
IN BOATS
Allan
Waugh's Recollections
Sailors liked the company of pets and at various times in the MILDURA we had the odd dog and cat aboard. Those who have inspected the white ensign presented to Skipper Claude Guille in 1943 (and currently housed in a collection in Mildura, Victoria) will have seen the "paw print" of "Nig", a small dog that reigned supreme in 1943.
Nig's paw print, 1943
In 1945 we had a female cat (name forgotten) whose virginity was assailed when we tied up alongside another corvette which owned a massive ginger tom. My recollection is that the union was not successful, because our dear pussy sadly died giving birth to her litter.
Photo
from John Nelson, showing "Patch", 1942.
Water polo in MILDURA days got pretty fair dinkum at times, but no really bad blood that anyone can recall.
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Warm weather was perfect for watersports
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 The Water polo team 1945 Shark Guard: Snowy Moore Back Row: Paddy Doyle, Jack Sangster, George Bowyer, Ron King, Lofty Lowe Front Row: Jeff McFarlane, Ken Saunders |
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Water sports were particularly popular when the MILDURA spent time in 1945 at Mios Woendi, an atoll near Biak with a decent little harbour. After coming from Perth, WA, Mios Woendi had little to offer, but John Connor (STD 1941) was based there in HMAS BINGERA.
Recollection of John Connor
"BINGERA was anchored in the atoll. Moored to each side were large caisons holding respectively 1000 tons of oil and water. Vessels would come along side and take their fill. The atoll itself was huge and many ships called there from time to time. It was the forward base for US submarines with their depot ship USS ORION, a floating hotel with usually six or eight subs alongside with their crews accommodated in ORION. It was a favourite place for us to visit and provided regular movies. The 55th CBs, an MTB squadron, a squadron of Catalinas painted jet black were also based on the main island of Wundi."
Many sailors remember the cases of beer from the BINGERA. The distribution formula was "Two bottles per man per week per haps."
Various games were popular on board, especially if there was a chance of winning an extra couple of bob. Card games like" Pontoon" and the dice game "Crown and Anchor" are two that are specially remembered. Allan Waugh recalls that Lenny Melrose, a permanent sailor, would often volunteer to take an extra watch to let some of the young sailors get a good sleep. Lenny would be listening to the Morse messages on headphones with a long extension cord, taking messages, and still being able to shuffle the deck of cards.
MISSING
THE TRAIN
Recollection
of Norm Wells (Coder 1943-5)
"Leave ended at 8.00am. I went home to Nambour for a couple of days assuming we'd return to our tour of the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Dad, dressed in pyjamas and dressing gown, took me to Nambour Railway Station at about 5.00am to catch a rail-motor to Caboolture, and thence by train to Brisbane. Unfortunately the rail-motor didn't turn up, frost on the rails meant it couldn't get up the hill."
"So we set out for Caboolture in the car, a wretched 10hp Hillman single seater with a canvas top. And missed the connection. The result was Dad, still in his pyjamas, driving me to the wharf gate just on 8.00. And there they were, silly sailors running around with fenders looking daft. I jumped on board across a gap of a couple of feet and looked around. There was Fitzgerald, long legs, galloping along the wharf, with even a wider leap to the ship. Next stop, Adelaide and Fremantle because our Brisbane sojourn had finished."
Christmas during the war, away from loved ones and family, had to be endured. Usually the cooks put on a good show to compensate.
Christmas Card, 1944
© HMAS MILDURA ASSOCIATION Victoria Australia May 2, 2004
