Some of ex LRO(G) Michael 'Spud' Murphys memories
© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library
Thanks to ex LRO(G) Michael 'Spud' Murphy who sent the the following images for inclusion in the Communications Museum/Library archives. By Spud:- "I have fond memories of Mercury from 58 up till 69 on and off with such varied tasks as Chaplain's Messenger (I had to check that the wine was OK prior to service !!), Home Fleet Pool for various loan drafts and to end my service in the Ratings Control Centre with other LRO's and RPO's sorting out accommodation and Rum Lists. One of my instructors was RS Richard "Nutty" Almond who was one of the few survivors from the Truculent disaster in the early 1950's.
My eldest daughter, Angela, was baptised on HMS Ausonia in Malta 1963 while my youngest daughter, Deborah, was baptised at HMS Mercury (St. Gabriels Church (Nissen Hut) in 1968. I moved out to Australia in 2013 and outside Bunnings DIY Superstore they have what are called Sausage Sizzles where for $2.50 you get a Banger in a bread slice with or without Onions or Sauses. A few years ago I went up to Bunnings for something or the other and doing the Sizzle was the Frankston Naval Memorial Club. I enquired of them if I could join and they said of course being ex RN and speak to "Harry". "Harry", as he likes to be known, turned out to be ex LTO Kime and was now a retired Lt. Cdr in the RAN having come out here when his time in the RN ended. He had to start again from scratch but got accelerated advancement through the ranks and was commissioned.
I am not a gambling man but wonder what the chances of meeting up with someone over half a century ago who you didn't know then but finished up having a sausage sizzle with them over half a century later and half a world away. "Harry" is now the Chairman of the Frankston Naval Memorial Club and a committee member or the RNA.(Click on an image to enlarge it).
My eldest daughter, Angela, was baptised on HMS Ausonia in Malta 1963 while my youngest daughter, Deborah, was baptised at HMS Mercury (St. Gabriels Church (Nissen Hut) in 1968. I moved out to Australia in 2013 and outside Bunnings DIY Superstore they have what are called Sausage Sizzles where for $2.50 you get a Banger in a bread slice with or without Onions or Sauses. A few years ago I went up to Bunnings for something or the other and doing the Sizzle was the Frankston Naval Memorial Club. I enquired of them if I could join and they said of course being ex RN and speak to "Harry". "Harry", as he likes to be known, turned out to be ex LTO Kime and was now a retired Lt. Cdr in the RAN having come out here when his time in the RN ended. He had to start again from scratch but got accelerated advancement through the ranks and was commissioned.
I am not a gambling man but wonder what the chances of meeting up with someone over half a century ago who you didn't know then but finished up having a sausage sizzle with them over half a century later and half a world away. "Harry" is now the Chairman of the Frankston Naval Memorial Club and a committee member or the RNA.(Click on an image to enlarge it).
 R12 Course HMS Mercury 1959: RO Mike Murphy, RO "Gabby" Hayes, RS Richard "Nutty" Almond, RO Mick Brooker, RO Gordon Cotton and kneeling RO Fred Gamble. |
 1st DS off Duty Comms. "Speaky" Lowe (Sgt Major in Bridge on the River Kwai) directly behind TO "Florrie" Ford holding the Camperdown lifebelt. Extreme left is CY "Arthur" English (Camperdown) and on that same row second in from the right is RS Dug Marks (Camperdown). 4 rows back I'm the one 3rd in from the right and 4 along is LRO(S) Rex Marshall, one above him is RO2 Phil Tarrant. To my right is LTO Kime (Saintes). |
 STC Manoel Island, Malta |
 FOST Divisions HMS Camperdown 28 May 1960 with RO1 Brown, RO3 Main, LTO Morton, RO3 Baker, TO3 Whiteside, RO3 Murphy, LRO Nichol, RO2 Tarrant, RO3 Lawson, TO2 Egan and CY English. |
 Comms Ball Malta 1964 : LRO Mike Murphy, Barbara Leppard, LTO Pete Leppard (Ex Main Gate Sentry, North Camp at Mercury). |
 On left: Barbara Leppard, LTO Pete Leppard, LTO Alfie Morecroft. On right: Emmie Morecroft, LRO Mike Murphy, Jean Murphy, RO or TO (can't remember) Jan Carthy. |
 HMS Terror Bar 25 Nov 1966 Back Row: RO Jock Leslie, ?, LRO Dicky Burd. Front Row: LRO Paddy Gaston, RO Dave Pye, LRO Tom Boltwood, LRO Mike Murphy, ?, RO Nuttall |
 My Cap Tallies, Hook and GCB's |
 My last Station Card. |
 My last Station Card. |
 My Discharge Note & Tobacco Permit. On the resettlement notice board there was an advert for Newsagent Managers available to CPO's and RO's. I took the bull by the horn, applied and got the job. |
 Lone Pine Sanctuary, Brisbane on a day out from HMS Bulwark 1966 |
 HMS Terror 1967 while HMS Bulwark undergoing maintenance. |
 At Msida Swings Area, Malta with eldest daughter Angela 1963 |
 Michael with young daughter Deb 1968 |
 Ausonia crest |
 Bulwark blazer badge |
 Bulwark crest |
 Camperdown crest |
 Drake crest |
 From 'The Mob' to 'The Job' (with a brief interlude as Newsagent Manager and a Postman in between) |
 Lion crest |
 Mercury crest |
 Old Sparkers never die, they become Pirates, Me on the left in Amateur Dramatics Panto |
 Phonecia crest |
 Raleigh crest |
 Self portrait |
 Signal School blazer badge |
 Tyne crest |
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