A Message from Commander Warwick Bracegirdle DSC
and 2 bars RAN (Rtd)
HMAS Shropshire -
A Fighting Lady of Real Class (1943-1945)
Any reader of Naval histories would do well to understand what a good,
efficient and happy ship is all about. A 'Happy Ship' in war time depends
on many variables and as Shropshire's first Australian Gunnery
Officer from dockyard refit, Commissioning in England (Chatham), work
up in Scapa Flow to bombardments and night battles I had a 'ringside'
seat.
As luck would have it, I was, after my Greece, Crete, Syria experiences
in HMAS Perth 1940 and 1941, quite an experienced 'guns'. I happened
to be, for a brief spell ashore at HMA Gunnery School, Flinders Naval
Depot, Victoria when the news of the gift to Australia of HMS Shropshire
from HM Government was released. I had a pal and ally in Draftie (the
Drafting Commander) so I was able to select for Shropshire's
advance draft, a real bunch of Perth veterans and some Canberra
survivors for the first party to proceed to Chatham, England.
These men were quite exceptional and together this first draft crossed
the Pacific in troopship USS Mount Vernon (ex US Trans Atlantic
Liner the Washington to San Francisco. Amongst them were some very
experienced ordnance staff, gunners' mates and gunnery ratings. All battle
hardened and ready to go. Keen, loyal and an honour to serve with. This
first draft team settled down in HMAS Shropshire in the
cold winter of 1942/43 in Chatham Dockyard and their enthusiasm was unstoppable.
Couple this with a splendid refit to an old but so proud 8" County
class cruiser fitted with up to date radar and all the modern equipment
that hard pressed Britain could spare, made a splendid start to commissioning
in an air raided Royal dockyard. Everyone of the crew during the refit
period (December l 942 -July 1943) that could be spared were sent on the
latest refresher courses in gunnery, radar, engineering, damage control
and enlarged their war experiences.
The Admiralty and Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser the C-in-C Home Fleet and later
to be C-in-C (British Pacific Fleet) gave Shropshire the
most splendid working up programme in Scapa Flow that any ship could dream
of. We even had 8" (yellow dye splash shells to fight the Japanese)
but the care and attention to calibration of radar on aircraft, radar
to guns and weapon training was quite amazing. The veteran ship's company
and the latest draft of youngsters took to this like ducks to water and
with a fighting captain (Captain John Collins) who had earlier in 1940
helped to sink the Italian cruiser Colleoni in the Mediterranean
campaign in HMAS Sydney this was the spur.
Packed with the latest lessons learned, the radar officer, Lieut. Brian
Castles, was alpha plus and some radar ratings (ex Sydney University graduates)
were loaned to RN East Coast (Harwich) destroyer flotillas to gain more
experience; so even before Scapa Flow they had seen action.
The welding of veterans and young sailors with keenness and the possibility
of retaliation to the King's enemies in the Pacific, was quite astounding.
The ship was happy and efficient from the very first. So with this fine
start Captain Collins brought a fine ship into Sydney Harbour ready for
battle and action.
Well, action we saw, and plenty of it. From Cape Gloucester, New Guinea
all the way up the New Guinea north coast (2000 miles) to Halmaheras,
we took part in nearly every landing and bombardment including Leyte Gulf
night action and the Lingayen Gulf landings and Corregidor. Experiencing
bombardments, kamikaze attacks, night actions and all in the very terrible
heat and humidity of the tropical Philippines. To do all this, and not
lose a man, means a spirit, discipline and teamwork that is quite exceptional.
A lot of this later good fortune was also due to having an exceptionally
cool Captain C.A.G. Nicholls, DSO, MVO, RN guiding
with God's help, a ship's company that made HMAS Shropshire
a true fighting lady to be reckoned with. Any Australian would be proud
to meet any of her crew. I was proud and honoured to be their Gunnery
Officer known as 'Guns' or 'Braces' and now at the age of seventy-four
I am still of that same strong opinion. I hope all readers realise the
effort Stan Nicholls has put into the research of this Shropshire
account of Australian Naval History.
Commander W.S. Bracegirdle
DSC and 2 bars, RAN (Rtd.)
Lodge Cottage
Gislingham
Eye
Suffolk UK
December 1985
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