On the 25th August, 2000, in a ceremony as dignified as the deeds of those that it honoured, the Royal Australian Navy paid tribute to the Clearance Diving Branch with the dedication of a permanent memorial to those Clearance Divers, “that have paid the ultimate sacrifice to their country.”
Before a large audience of serving Clearance Divers, former members of the Branch, family members and invited guests, the dedication ceremony took place in the grounds of the present RAN Diving School, at HMAS PENGUIN, overlooking Sydney’s Middle Harbour.
Constructed from sandstone blocks that once formed the retaining sea wall at HMAS RUSHCUTTER – home to the Navy’s first diving school – the memorial features the CD emblem of a diving helmet carved in high relief into the sandstone together with two brass plaques: One detailing the history of the Clearance Diving Branch; the other bearing the names of those to whom the memorial is dedicated.
ABCD Alan Dempster
ABCD Robert Donne
ABCD Wolfgang Sagorny
ABCD Colin McFarlane
Lieut. Edwin Callister
Petty Officer Neville Ingram
ABCD Bogdan Wojcik
ABCD Kelvin Creasey
ABCD Kenneth Hislop
ABCD Jeffery Hales
ABCD Thomas Alderidge
ABCD Walter Kolus
Proving that their motto, “United And Undaunted”, is more than empty rhetoric, those taking part in the service represented each chapter in the achievements of the Clearance Diving Branch; including former Lt. Cmdr. ‘Jake’ Linton, BEM, and CPO Bill Fitzgerald, OAM, both of whom completed the first of the RAN’s intensive Clearance Diver training programmes, in 1955.
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Although diving in the RAN dates back to the 1920’s when personnel were trained in the use of standard diving equipment, the concept of a separate and dedicated diving branch of the Navy evolved slowly.
In 1946, responsibility for diving was assumed by the RAN’s Torpedo Branch when Render Mines Safe divers were deployed around the Pacific to deal with unexploded WWII ordnance: Duties that reflected the diver’s growing role in bomb and mine disposal.
Appreciating the need to keep abreast of evolving technology and deep diving techniques the decision was taken to form the Clearance Diving Branch in 1951. Although Explosive Ordnance Demolition remained a primary function it soon became apparent that Navy divers were suited to an expanding variety of tasks beyond the scope of their civilian counterparts.
In 1961, both Linton and Fitzgerald were involved in averting a disaster when sluice gates governing the flow of water from the Lake Eucumbene dam – a key element in Australia’s most ambitious civil engineering project, the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme – jammed open. Working in pitch darkness at depths down to 270 feet, the team accomplished the seemingly impossible.
Since its formation in 1955 the Clearance Diving Branch has grown and the need soon became apparent for specialised highly mobile units. In1966 the RAN introduced the concept of the Australian Clearance DivingTeams. In that same year AUSCDT-Three was formed and trained in all aspects of EOD (Explosive Ordnance Demolition), small arms and jungle survival before going to Vietnam where they served with distinction.
After Vietnam the role of the Branch and the Teams became more clearlydefined. As well as serving with the fleet in sea-going berths, there are now two AUSCD Teams. AUSCDT-One – based in Sydney – and AUSCDT-Four – based near Perth, in Western Australia.
Each team is a self-contained, highly mobile unit consisting of about sixty personnel. Within each Team there are three distinct elements: Underwater Battle Damage Repair (UBDR); Mine Counter-Measures, (MCM); and Maritime Tactical Operations, (MTO), with Team members receiving instruction in all three disciplines.
UBDR are trained in the use of pneumatic and hydraulic tools and carry out salvage and emergency repair work in wartime situations. MCM is concerned with the disposal or disarming of mines and explosive ordnance – including IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) as favoured by terrorists. MTO carry out amphibious reconnaissance and are skilled in Escape & Evasion Techniques.
During the Gulf War, in January 1991, personnel were drawn from Teams One and Four to re-form AUSCDT-Three. On the 5th March the twenty-three man team joined fifty other divers drawn from the US and Royal Navies.
During the next seven days AUSCDT-Three searched and cleared over 450,000 square meters of sea-bed, (a feat that represented over 70% of the harbour area cleared by the total coalition forces!).
In the weeks that followed they were moved inland. During their time in the field they cleared four ports of explosive ordnance; dealt with 60 sea-mines and 234,986 other pieces of ordnance; and searched an amazing 2,157,200 square meters of sea-bed. They lost count of the number of booby traps that they made safe.
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Flanking the memorial twelve serving Clearance Divers stepped forward in turn to speak the name of each of those remembered on the plaque. Bill Fitzgerald recited the ‘Ode of Rememberance’;
“ They shall not grow 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.”
The echoes of the response, “We will remember them”, died slowly away, to be replaced by the haunting sounds of the ‘Last Post’ played by a lone bugler.
—ENDS—
Categories: History
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