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Passage to Australia
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SLINGER at Aden with her destroyer escorts
VENUS, VOLAGE & ESKIMO.1 |
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The port of Aden.2 |
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The entrance to Colombo harbour.2 |
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Entering Colombo harbour.2 |
'Crossing the Line'
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King Neptune and his courtiers come aboard.3 |
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A crowd gathers to welcome the Royal guests.3 |
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The Royal carriage loaded with bountiful
maidens.2 |
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The Captain welcomes the visitors.2 |
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The Commander is decorated.2 |
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The King, the Princess and retinue.2 |
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H.M. King Neptune.3
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A last minute introduction to the guard of
honour.2 |
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King Neptune addresses the ships company.3 |
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Commander "Big Willie" Roberts is attacked by
the Bears.3 |
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The Commander waits for a ducking.3 |
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He’s had it!3 |
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Everyone completing the ceremony received a
certificate: this one was awarded to Able Seaman
Herbert Wilkinson.3 |
The British Pacific
Fleet
Arrival in
Australia February 1945
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February 25th 1945 the Corsairs of 1845 squadron
perform a fly-past overhead as they say farewell
to HMS SLINGER on her arrival at Sydney. The
Squadron flew ashore to HMS NABTHORPE {Mobile
Naval Air Base No 3} at Schofields N.S.W.1
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February 25th 1945 SLINGER entering Sydney
harbour with the aid of a tug.1 |
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February 25th 1945 SLINGER mooring in Sydney
harbour with the famous bridge as her backdrop.1
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February 25th 1945 view down the flight deck as
SLINGER enters Sydney harbour.1 |
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February 25th 1945 a stunning view as HMS
SLINGER passes under Sydney harbour bridge with
the remaining {unserviceable} Corsairs of 1845
squadron ranged on deck.1 |
Duty as replenishment carrier
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HMS SPEAKER sailing in company with SLINGER as
she steams towards the fleet refuelling area to
issue spare airframes during the replenishment
period April 2nd - 5th off the Philippines.1 |
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Replacement aircraft in the hanger of HMS
SLINGER, these were loaded in Sydney so that she
had a replenishment load aboard ready for her
first visit to the refuelling area off the
Philippines.2 |
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March 26th SLINGER at anchor in San Pedro Bay, Leyte where she became part of
Logistic Support Group Task Unit 112 .2 .3 which left Leyte on March 29th to
proceed to the replenishment area east of Luzon.2 |
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A load of external fuel tanks is taken aboard
from a lighter using one of the ship's A frame
hoists. These tanks considerably extended the
range of British aircraft types, in particular
the Seafire.1 |
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A Corsair leaves the deck bound for one of the
fleet carriers as a replenishment airframe
carried aboard SLINGER to replace operational
loses during a fleet replenishment period in the
Pacific - date not known.1 |
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A Hellcat sits ready on the accelerator running
up to full power in readiness for launch, it is
a replenishment airframe, one of many carried
aboard SLINGER to replace operational loses
during fleet replenishment periods in the
Pacific - date not known.1 |
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A Hellcat sits on the flight deck with its
engine running and chocks in place somewhere
North of the Philippines - date not known.1 |
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Above & Below: April 4th 1945 casualties are
taken on board by jackstay transfer from
destroyers. These are men from fleet carriers
hit by Kamikaze attacks; they are to be
transferred to the Hospital ship OXFORDSHIRE at
Leyte.
1&
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April 4th 1945 casualties are arriving on board
transferred from destroyers for onward transfer
to the Hospital ship OXFORDSHIRE at Leyte.
Replacement Avengers are parked on deck.7 |
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April 4th 1945Receiving Casualties from
Indefatigable are hauled aboard. Replacement
Fireflies are parked on the round down.7 |
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April 4th 1945 casualties are arriving on board
transferred from destroyers for onward transfer
to the Hospital ship OXFORDSHIRE at Leyte.
Replacement Avengers are parked on deck.7 |
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BURIAL AT SEA |
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April 6th a burial at sea is held for Petty
Officer Mitchell one the casualties taken off
the fleet carrier HMS INDEFATIGABLE, who died of
his injuries sustained in a Kamikaze attack
after being taken aboard SLINGER. |
Return to
Australia for repairs
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April 29th 1945 view from the bridge as SLINGER
enters the Cairncross Dry Dock at Brisbane for
repairs to her Low Pressure Rotor, part of her
propulsion system. This repair was to limit her
to 12 knots - too slow for flying operations so
she was redesigned a ferry carrier and
renumbered A452. |
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Newspaper report in the The Courier-Mail ,
Brisbane, Tuesday 15 May 1945 - no mention of
repair is made, only repainting the ship.3 |
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May1945 Members of the ship's company waiting to
be ferried back on board after shore leave in
Brisbane |
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May 1945 HMS SLINGER shortly after post repair
sea trials - redesigned a ferry carrier and
renumbered A452 she was now too slow to make
flying speed of 14 knots.3 |
Thanks to the following individuals for supplying the images; the
symbols identify which images belong to which donor, images with no
symbol are from the Royal Navy Research Archive collection:
1 From the collection of Mr. John Lawson former Coder who served on
SLINGER
2 Images taken from the photo album of the late Reg Hunt, Stores
Assistant. Reg served in HMS SLINGER 29 August 1943 to 8 November
1945.
3 Kindly supplied by Mr. David Yates, part of a collection of materials
that belonged to his grandfather Able Seaman Herbert Wilkinson who
Served on HMS SLINGER September 1944 to December1945.
4 Kindly supplied by Mr. Mike Roshier; Mike kindly loaned two rolls of
film negatives shot by his father Alan John Roshier while serving on
HMS SLINGER in the ship's photographic department 1945.
5 Kindly supplied by Mrs. Maureen Corfield, daughter of Arine Edward
Badham of MONAB 8.
6 Thanks to Mr. E.M. 'Mac' McCarthy a former Writer who served with HMS
NABCATCHER. MONAB 8. and took passage to Hong Kong on SLINGER.
7 Kindly supplied by Mr. Cyril Davies who served as an Able Seaman,
D/JX651199, on SLINGER in 1945.
Page last edited:
02 December 2018
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