CPOTEL Eric Clyde MORAN 19610

Born: 4th June, 1914 – Died 4th June, 2009

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,

My name is Warrant Officer Marty GROGAN and I have been asked by the MORAN family to say a few words about Eric’s Navy and Post Navy activities in support of Navy Veterans and their families.

I must state unequivocally that I have never met another person who has done more for the Navy family than Eric. Why Eric was not recognised for this volunteer service by either the previous British Award System or the current Australian Award system, I do not know. However, knowing Eric as well as I do and how humble he was, he probably was nominated for an Award and declined to accept same.

I have known Eric nearly twenty years and although young enough to be his Son we shared many interests and we were both principal Carers for our wives.

Eric’s Naval Career was extensive and varied beginning with his entry into the RAN on 3rd June, 1932 just one day before his eighteenth birthday. He initially signed on for a period of 12 years but this was extended because of the Second World War. Eric rose through the ranks quite rapidly and was promoted to a Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist just 10 years and four months after joining. A truly remarkable feat indeed. He was demobbed on 5th February, 1946 having completed nearly 14 years service.

His sea postings were extensive:

HMAS AUSTRALIA - 16DEC33 to 4JUL34
HMAS CANBERRA – 5JUL34 to 19APR35
HMAS BRISBANE – 20APR35 to 26SEP35
HMAS SYDNEY 27SEP35 to 29DEC37 (Comm crew in U.K.)
HMAS VAMPIRE – 1APR39 to 18MAY39
HMAS SWAN – 19MAY39 to 9MAR40
HMAS SHROPSHIRE 25JUN43 to 1945 (Comm crew in U.K.)

The only respite from arduous sea service was when he was posted to HMAS CERBERUS as a Petty Officer instructing in morse code.

Remarkably, 3 of the Ships he served on were sunk during the War, HMAS SYDNEY, VAMPIRE and CANBERRA.

Shortly after being promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1942, Eric was posted overseas to Chatham Dockyard standing by for the commissioning of HMAS SHROPSHIRE. Because of his skills he was seconded to HMS WOLFE which was a Depot Ship for support of the 3rd Submarine Flotilla based in the Clyde. Most appropriate bearing in mind that his middle name was Clyde.

Eric served with distinction onboard HMAS SHROPSHIRE particularly during the Naval Battle of Suriga Strait which is now known as the last Great Sea Battle in WW2. He was awarded a Mention in Dispatches on 1st January, 1945, for this action, his citation reading “For gallantry in the face of the enemy in HMAS SHROPSHIRE” During the period June, 1944 to June 1945 the Ship spent over 9 months at sea.

In 1947 he joined the Naval Association of Australia. From 1975 to 1990 he was the Federal Vice President of the NAA and was awarded Life Membership in 1983. He was still a financial member of the Melbourne Sub Branch at the time of his death. Over 60 years service.

In 1948 he was a Foundation Member of the HMAS SHROPSHIRE Association, Inaugural Vice President of the Association and still the Vice President at the time of his death. He has been the only Vice President the Association has ever had. He was awarded Life Membership for this dedication. Another remarkable 60 years of service.

In 1969 he joined the Committee of the Melbourne Naval Centre and was a Vice President for many years. He was awarded a Life Membership for this 40 years of service.

In 1992 he became a Member of the HMAS SYDNEY and V.L.S.V.A. (Vic) and this is the only Committee he never actually served on. Bear in mind he was 78 years of age when he joined us. He along with all other ex HMAS SYDNEY 2 Sailors were granted Honorary Life Membership from their date of joining.

You will have heard/or will hear of his other passions but one in particular always fascinated me and that is photography. I have here today a special photograph taken by him as HMAS BRISBANE was transiting the Suez Canal in 1935 on its way to the U.K. to pick up the Nuship HMAS SYDNEY. Eric took this photograph from the Ship and I believe it is very unique. I also have another couple from his private collection which I had blown up some years ago for various HMAS SYDNEY exhibitions we have held.

His real passion (particularly in later years when he was forced to slow down to about half pace) was his morse code for which he never lost the ability to perform. I believe he was still tapping out messages on his personal machine only a few weeks before his death.

Eric was one of the few remaining former HMAS SYDNEY 2 Sailors alive when the Ship was found last March, and, although not well enough to participate in the actual Commemorative Services I am sure he was certainly with us in spirit as we honoured those brave 645 men.

The Navy family has been blessed by his dedication and commitment spanning 60 years.

He was certainly a quite achiever and we are all going to miss him dearly.

I would like you all to be upstanding whilst we observe a minute’s silence:

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 NOT GROW OLD
AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM
NOT THE YEARS CONDEMN
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

LEST WE FORGET