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The Canberra Ship's Bell
On September 10th, in Washington, DC, a ceremony was held to donate the ship's bell from U.S.S. Canberra, to the Australian Government. Part of the ceremony was a wreath-laying ceremony in the Arlington National Cemetary. As one of the few survivors from the sinking of HMAS Canberra on August 9, 1942, Mr Gregory was in Washington to participate in this historic event. At the time of the sinking, Mr. Gregory was a sub-lieutenant. He retired from the RAN in 1954, as a lieutenant commander. In 1964, the Canberra visited Melbourne. Mr. Gregory was able to have his son baptized on board, utilizing the ship's bell as a font. In 1981-82, the Canberra was dismantled and the bell kept in storage, in Virginia, until Australia's ambassador to the United States heard of the bell's link to Mr. Gregory. President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard participated in this ceremony to, once again, remind our two nations of the strength of their shared heritage. The ceremony was made even more meaningful with the presence of shipmates of both the H.M.A.S. Canberra and the U.S.S. Canberra. From World War Two, through the Viet Nam War, both Canberras sustained the tradition of honor and service.
A strange and interesting twist of fate connects this ceremony with the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Click on "Swabbie" to read the complete, fascinating story.
Revised: Sunday, May 12, 2002 |
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