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Communications Branch Association

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Indonesian Frigate Flag Deck sailors aboard Anzac III
Seaman Communications Information Systems Melissa Vanderley recording log entries on the bridge of HMAS Darwin, during Exercise Ocean Protector 17.
Able Seaman Communication and Information Systems Steven Fry on HMAS Toowoomba's gun direction platform as they conduct a replenishment at sea with HMAS Success during their South East Asia Deployment 2018.
Signalman aboard HMAS Maitland

First published in 1998 with the primary aim of bringing former and serving Communications Branch members together in a spirit of communication and camaraderie.

 

Some of the secondary aims are to provide photographic content from times gone by, to keep members informed of events in the world of Naval Communications, to provide advice on policy changes or issues relating to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and to publish items of general interest.

 

The RANCBA was formed shortly after the Second World War and now has Chapters in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Southern Region (incorporating Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania).

 

The Chapters of the Association work together at regular intervals to organise a National RAN Communications Branch Reunion. The next National Reunion will be held in Sydney in 2022.

Please follow other menu links, particularly the ‘QSO the World’ forum and the ‘RANCBA Contacts’ menu. There is also a RANCBA group on Facebook. These links may assist you to make contact with long lost shipmates.

RANCBA HISTORY

Royal Australian Naval Communications Branch Association (RANCBA) was formed in 1945 post WWII and continues today.

 

Many of those marching today would be referred to as ‘Sparkers’ or ‘Tel’s’ Telegraphists. In the late 50’s the RAN changed their name to Radio Operators whose task was to send messages around the world using morse code.

 

With the advent of teleprinters and satellites the use of morse code was phased out in the military as a means of communications in the late 1990’s.

Although the Wireless Telegraphy branch no longer exists having been replaced by Communications Information Systems (CIS). The Association remains keeping members in contact with each other.

Leading Seaman Communications and Information Systems (LSCIS) Trent Nunn signals HMAS Westralia before a Replenishment at Sea (RAS)
Able Seaman Communications and Information Systems (ABCIS) Ben Dazkiw hoists flags during a replenishment at sea (RAS) with HMAS Westralia
Able Seaman Communications and Information Systems (ABCIS) Ben Dazkiw and Seaman Communciations and Informations Systems (SMNCIS) Mercieca on the flag bins of HMAS Warramunga during officer of the watch manoeuvres.
A Communications and Information Systems (CIS) Sailor passes semaphore to signal HMAS Adelaide.
ABCIS James O'Keefe performing Cemaphore onboard HMAS SUCCESS
Seaman Communications and Information Systems Jarrod Callander lowers the Australian White Ensign as he participates in rehearsals for the Centenary of Anzac Day on-board HMAS Newcastle's Flight Deck as the ship and crew transit to the Middle East region in support of Operation MANITOU.
Communication and Information System Sailors clear the flag hoist on HMAS KANIMBLA while conducting Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres. Mid Caption: Sailors and officers in HMAS Kanimbla hone their seamanship skills practicing manoeuvres in company with HMAS Manoora during Exercise Talisman Saber 2009. Opportunities such as this are made realistic by operating in simulated operational environments. The ships may be called upon at any stage during their manoeuvres to detach and conduct taskings as required by the Task Force Commander.
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HMAS Larrakia
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OUR HUMBLE BEGINNING.

A close-knit group of Communicators, whose origins were from Rushcutters’s Bay Naval Depot, who after surviving 6 years of conflict (World War II) were searching for that companionship and bond which does exist amongst Communicators.

 

Late 1945 – 1946 saw Veterans from WW II returning to civilian life, many went back to communication related positions in the Postmaster-Generals-Department (PMG), Maritime Service Board (MSB) Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) etc.

 

ANZAC Day 1947 brought many Communicators together again for the first time in Sydney, In 1948 they marched as an organised group behind an improvised Banner (a Church Pendant) which had the words. R.A.N. COMMUNICATORS in black print along the white section of the fly. After the March, a formal Constitution was drawn up by one of the Communicators, Mr. J.D. Button, a Solicitor

A Committee was appointed, comprising of J.D.Button, Ted Reynolds, Mike Mitchell, Doug Fraser, Rod Campbell, Eric Shirley, Tom Day and Merv May.
Ted Reynolds was elected the 1st President and Doug Fraser the Secretary-Treasurer.

 

In 1949, a Commonwealth Savings Bank Account was opened at the Wynyard Branch, and a Constitution was drawn up by one of the Communicators, Mr. J.D Button a Solicitor. A copy of the Constitution had to be lodged there for bank records. That account and Constitution although amended to comply with Dept. Fair Trading still exist there today.

 

Meetings in those early years were held at Max Middleton’s Newsagency, at the corner of King Street, next door to the Royal George Hotel, which in those days was at the corner of Sussex and King Streets. These meetings were held monthly and were open to all Members.

 

In those times, they were called the “days of wine and roses” or to be more precise, “beer and prawns”. Max at considerable expense and effort attended the fish markets for seafood purchases.

 

On ANZAC Day, prawns were supplemented by blocks of ox tongues, pig trotters, cheese, gherkins, pickled onions and buttered rolls. The venue was also transferred to the Royal George Hotel, both for convenience and that the membership had increased considerably.

 

Mid-year Reunions were held at such places as Whale Beach and Max’s home at Epping.
One very wet and windy ANZAC Day, we simply took over the “Amethyst Room” at the very “posh” hotel AUSTRALIA in Martin Place. They all arrived with the victuals as previously mentioned and proceeded with the Reunion.

 

The “Maître De commented on the good fellowship amongst the Communicators of the Navy.


In 1959, Tom Day was elected Secretary, soon after the Hotel AUSTRALIA incident, and Ted Reynolds passed over the reins to Frank Tregurtha, who then remained at the helm for about 5 years Since then, there has been many changes, however, they have in many ways maintained the task of the running the Association, as their predecessors would have wished.

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 26, 2020) A photo illustration highlighting the participation of the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Arunta (FFG 151) in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020 (RIMPAC). Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from August 17 to 31 at sea around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC is a biennial exercise designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is a unique training platform designed to enhance interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy graphic illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Natalie M. Byers)
SAN DIEGO (Aug. 26, 2020) A photo illustration highlighting the participation of the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Hobart (DDG 39) in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020 (RIMPAC). Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from August 17 to 31 at sea around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC is a biennial exercise designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is a unique training platform designed to enhance interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy graphic illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Natalie M. Byers)
SAN DIEGO (Aug. 26, 2020) A photo illustration highlighting the participation of the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020 (RIMPAC). Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from August 17 to 31 at sea around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC is a biennial exercise designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is a unique training platform designed to enhance interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy graphic illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Natalie M. Byers)

The first real Banner was designed by Eric Shirley with the words “Ex COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH RAN”. Eric also won a prize for designing our next Banner, omitting the Ex.
Since then we have had a mini-Banner made which is used on other occasions, Commemoration Services, and if necessary, at Funeral Services within a Chapel.

 

Some years later, with morse code no longer being used the committee endorsed combining the Communications Branch Association to one that embraced the latest Later,
Communication Information Service (CIS) At that meeting a new Banner was required to incorporate the new rate but also maintaining the previous rates of both V/S (Visual signalling) and W/T (Wireless Telegraphy). Allan Moffatt designed the Banner and with permission from the RANCBA Committee (NSW) given permission to have the Banner that is used today made up.

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Leading Seaman Communication Information System Julian Upton lines up the Big Eyes binoculars onboard HMAS TOBRUK on a surface contact as the ship returns to Sydeny after recently being employed in Operation Astute. For the Ballarat Courier and Navy Reserve News. Leading Seaman Communication System Operator Julian Upton (30yrs) joined the Royal Australian Navy from the Greater Ballarat region of Lake Bolac, Vic. Julian completed his schooling at Lake Bolac Secondary College after which he then decided to join the Navy, which took him to the Naval training base of HMAS CERBERUS where he trained as a Signalman. Julian left the Navy one month short of completing his nine years of service with the RAN. It wasn't long after Julian's discharge from the Navy that he returned as a Reservist on the invitation of a work colleague to join HMAS TOBRUK for the ships South East Asian and South West Pacific Deployment for 2006. The Deployment involved Julian in Operation Peringatan that supported the memorial dedication on the first anniversary of the Shark 02 helicopter accident on Nias Island, Indonesia. From Nias Island, HMAS TOBRUK sailed on to the popular tourist hub of the Orient, Singapore, for a short rest, then on to French New Caledonia to participate in Exercise Croix Du Sud, a multinational amphibious exercise. The ship was enroute to Manila, Philippines, when she was retasked in preparation to provide assistance to stabilise the situation in Timor-Leste, which became Operation Astute. When asked if there were any career highlights with his time in the Navy, Julian quickly mentions the first Timor operation in 1999-2000 that he was involved with and also the humanitarian relief effort resulting from the Boxing Day tsunami tragedy in Aceh, Indonesia, onboard HMAS KANIMBLA. To get away from it all, Julian likes to indulge in some of life's recreational activities such as golf, skiing, lawn bowls and intends to pursue his love of travel.

The Reunions after the March where initially held in the Royal Naval House, or Johnnies as it was known and attended by many, but with the pending closure, now the Futures Exchange in Grosvenor St. Since then we have maintained our tradition of holding a reunion following the March.

 

Our aims and objectives are to maintain that friendship and comradeship that we had all known whilst serving in the RAN and more so, within the Communications Branch.

 

We endeavour to give support to fellow Communicators in times of hardship or the passing of a relative, give full support to Veterans of WW II, Korean War, Malaya, Indonesian – Borneo Confrontation, Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and all Peace Keeping operations that this Nation has been involved in.