H.M.A.S. CANBERRA

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 86, 5 January 1940, Page 10

H.M.A.S. CANBERRA

Flagship Of Australian

Squadron 10,000-TON CRUISER Arrival At Wellington Fixing the Hag of Rear-Admiral |. G. Craee. H.M.A.S. Canberra lias arrived at Wellington and is berthed at Aotca Quay. The Canberra is no stranger to Wellington, which she has visited several times with her sister-ship, H.M.A.S. Australia. Her last visit to this port was in April, 1937. when she came in company witli the Australia and Sydney, the escort ship Swan and three destroyers, after carrying out exercises in the Tasman Sea witli lI.M. ships Achilles, Wellington and Leith. On that occasion the Achilles went, to tbe assistance of the coastal ship Holmglen, whose engines were broken down. In response to a signal from the Achilles, the Australian squadron sent the destroyer Waterhen to stand by the Holmglen and escort her to an anchorage in Queen Charlotte Sound. Tbe Canberra and Australia were built in 1927-28 by Joint Brown and Co., of Clydebank. After tier trials the Canberra in October, 1928, served will) the Atlantic Fleet for some mouths before proceeding to Australia. Eight-inch Guns. The Canberra, which has a standard displacement of 9850 tons, measures 630 feet in length by 68 feet 4 inches in bread di. She is propelled by gearedturbine engines of 80,000 horse-power, giving her a speed of 32 knots'. She is armed with eight 8-inch guns, four 4-inclt anti-aircraft guns, and a number of smaller weapons, and mounts eight torpedo-tubes. The Canberra also carries one aircraft. Including the Canberra and Australia, 13 of the 10,000-ton S-inch-guu cruisers were built for the British naval forces. Their immediate successors were the sister cruisers York and Exeter, which on a displacement of 8390 tons, mount six 8-incli guns and four 4-incli anti-aircraft guns. These ships were followed by the G-incli gun cruisers of the Leander class, which includes the Achilles and Ajax. The Canberra, which is largely manned by Australian officers and ratings, carries several much-prized treasures, including a silver plate from Lord Nelson’s dinner service. This carries the inscription:—•‘Presented' by the Navy League in appreciation of the great-services rendered by H.M.A.S. Sydney during the World War, 191418.” Above it appears Nelson's famous signa], ‘‘England expects that every man will do his duty." Near it is another silver plate presented to the ship by the city of Canberra, and around tlie walls are several other objects of Australian interest. Rear-Admiral Grace's Career. Rear-Admiral John Gregory Grace, A.D.C., who Hies 'his flag in H.M.A.S. Canberra, as commander of lI.M. Australian Squadron, was third on the list of captains, and received his promotion to Hag rank shortly after tlie war started. He was then appointed to liis present post in succession to RearAdmiral W. N. Constance, C. 8., who was in ill-health, and who died recently on his way to England. Rear-Admiral Grace was first associated with the Australian Navy during the Great War, for most of which lie served as torpedo officer in the battlecruiser Australia. Subsequently lie served in the mines ' department of 11.M.5. Vernon. In 1918 he became the lirsit torpedo officer of 11.M.5. Hood, from which ship .he was promoted commander in 1920. He was executive officer of 11.M.5. Danae, which was one of the light cruisers of the Special Service Squadron during the world cruise of 1923-24.

After service at tlie Anti-Submarine School lie served as fleet torpedo officer in H. M. Ships Warspite and Queen. Elizabeth in Hie Mediterranean, being’ promoted captain in June, 1928. Then followed a year as Captain (D.) in tlie Atlantic destroyer division, liis ship being H.M.S. Valhalla. In April, 1930, lie was appointed to 11.M.5. Osprey as captain in commawl of tlie Anti-Submarine School at Portland. Ilis next appointment came in May. 1932, us* Director of tbe Tactical Division at tiie Admiralty. In June, 1931, he took command of H.M.S. Emerald on tlie Hast Indies Station. Iho first cruiser in which be bad served for 10 years, in April, 1937, lie was appointed naval assistant to tlie Second Sea Lord at Hie Admiralty, this being liis last post prior to liis promotion to Rear-Admiral. Flag-Captain Patterson.

Captain W. It. Patterson. C.V.0.. of lI.ALA.S. Canberra, who is flag-captain and chief staff officer, is now 45 and lias been 32 years in the Royal Navy. As a sub-lieutenant during the Great War he served in torpedo-boat No. 32 and the torpedo-gunboat Jason, and as a lieutenant in the cruiser -Lowestoft and the destroyer flolilla-leader Sau-m.-trez up Io February. .1918, when he was selected to specialize in gniinerv. Ill’s ships as gunnery ollieir included Ike battleship King George V in the Mediterranean, the cruiser Dauntless, in which lie made the world cruise with tlie .Special Service Squadron in 1923-24, ami the battle-cruiser Hood. As a commander from 1928 to 1933 he was squadron gunnery officer on the First Battle Squadron, ami executive officer of 11.M.5. Kenl. flagsnip on the China Station. Promoted captain in June. 1933. lie afterward commanded 11.M.5. Folkestone on the China Station and the cruisers Eflingham ami Hawkins, flagships of the Reserve Fleet. He was appointed to liis present post on April ,1. 1938.