HMAS Whyalla (I) was one of sixty Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War II in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government’s wartime shipbuilding programme. Twenty (including Whyalla (I)) were built on Admiralty order but manned and commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-six were built for the Royal Australian […]

HMAS Castlemaine was commissioned at Melbourne on 17 June 1942 under the command of LCDR Philip J. Sullivan RANR (S). After commissioning Castlemaine proceeded to Sydney for completion and working up exercises, the latter comprising three days in Broken Bay, and escorting convoys from Sydney to Melbourne until she sustained damage in a collision with […]

SHEEAN, Edward ‘Teddy’ (1923-1942), sailor, was born on 28 December 1923 at Lower Barrington, Tasmania, fourteenth child of James Sheean, labourer, and his wife Mary Jane, née Broomhall, both Tasmanian born. Soon afterwards the family moved to Latrobe. Teddy was educated at the local Catholic school. Five ft 8½ ins (174 cm) tall and well […]

Wrench, Alfred James (1904-1987), seaman, was born on 4 May 1904 at Airly, in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. He was the son of George Wrench, a miner, and his wife Anna Knight. Wrench joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a Stoker 2nd Class in July 1926. He completed marine technical training […]