Commemorative Plaque Dedication Ceremony
in recognitionof the sacrifice and service of members of the
Vendetta Veterans Association
Friday, 14 October 2011
Western Courtyard
Australian War Memorial
Order of Service
WELCOME
Major General Steve Gower AO AO(Mil) (Ret’d)
Director
Australian War Memorial
COMMEMORATIVE ADDRESS
Captain Benjamin G J Dunn RAN (Ret’d)
Commanding Officer, 1976-78,
Executive Officer, 1969-70
HMAS Vendetta
PRAYERS
Chaplain Stuart Hall RAN
Senior Chaplain
Director Chaplaincy Policy & Development - Navy
HYMN
Naval Hymn
Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
UNVEILING OF COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt AO RAN
Head of Future Submarine Program
and
Mrs Joan Johnston
Patron, Vendetta Veterans Association
Widow, Commodore Eric E Johnston OBE AM AO
(Commanding Officer, 1969-70)
DEDICATION OF COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
Chaplain Stuart Hall RAN
THE ODE
Murray “Titch” Turner
Secretary
Vendetta Veterans Association
They have no grave but the cruel sea.
No flowers lay at their head.
A rusting hulk is their tombstone.
Afast on the ocean bed.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Response – We will remember them
LAST POST
ONE MINUTE’S SILENCE
REVEILLE
Lest we forget
Response – Lest we forget
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing.
Advance Australia Fair.
BENEDICTION
Chaplain Stuart Hall RAN
THANKS AND FAREWELL
Mr Bill Krause
President
Vendetta Veterans Association (Qld)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chaplain Stuart Hall RAN
Leading Seaman Marcus Salone, Bugler,
Royal Australian Navy Band
Hall Village Brass Band
Australian Rugby Choir
For images from today’s ceremony please visit:
HMAS Vendetta(II)(1958-79)
The Australian built Daring Class Destroyer HMAS Vendetta(II)(1958-79) followed the traditions of HMASVendetta(I)(1933-45)during World War II and served with distinction in South East Asia during the Cold and Vietnam Wars.
HMAS Vendetta(II) patrolled the waters around Malaysia and Singapore during the Malayan Emergency in the late 1950s and the Indonesian Confrontation in the mid-1960s. The destroyer subsequently saw service with the Far East Strategic Reserve before being deployed “On the Gunline” with the US Navy 7th Fleet in 1969-70 during the Vietnam War.
Sydney, NSW. c.1943. Starboard side view of the destroyer HMASVendetta (I) after refitting following her return to Australia from Singapore. X gun has been landed. The 12 pounder AA gun formerly mounted in place of the after torpedo tubes has been resited abaft the funnel and its place taken by two single 2 pounder AA guns. A quadruple .5 machine gun is mounted on a bandstand just forward of them. Note the depth charge throwers near the after deckhouse. Single 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns have been fitted in the bridge wings. Her flag superior is now I rather than D. (Naval Historical Collection)
The RAN destroyer HMAS Vendetta (II) returns to Sydney, after being deployed on the gunline off the coast of Vietnam.
Vendetta was the first and only RAN Daring class destroyer to go to war. She also made Australian naval history by becoming the first all-Australian ship to serve in a combat zone. During her seven months deployment, HMAS Vendettaperformed credibly in a role for which she had been specifically designed, naval gunfire support. HMAS Vendetta also operated as a destroyer escort during the Vietnam War. During her five tours to Vietnamese waters, totalling 93 days, Vendetta fired 13,295 4.5 inch shells, plus over 400 rounds of 40mm, steaming 21,000 nautical miles in the process.