A sail down memory lane

Currumbin Palm Beach RSL Sub Branch Secretary and District Deputy President Roger Collins recently experienced the voyage of a lifetime. After serving on HMAS Vampire from 1964-1965, he shares the nostalgia and exhilaration of sailing aboard her once more. 

Life at sea

Roger Collins joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1963 

In January 1963, Roger joined the Navy as a 16-year-old Junior Recruit. After completing his training, which included time serving on HMAS Rushcutter, he was drafted to HMAS Vampire. 

“You could say our classes of junior recruits were an experiment at the time, as boy sailors hadn’t been sent to sea in this category since 1923 on the HMAS Tingira,” Roger explains. 

At sea, Roger worked on diving, infiltration patrols, shipboard maintenance and regular exercises with other military units. He forged unbreakable friendships and gained valuable life skills. Although it was challenging at times, Roger looks back on the experience fondly. 

“My mates and I were basically boys going to operate in war zones, so we quickly became familiar with what was required to keep a ship running 24 hours per day. It made us able to cope with life at a young age,” he says. 

“It was a very happy time for me and, I’m sure, all my shipmates. The Navy was a disciplined process and environment, which I personally enjoyed and am grateful for.” 

The Jewel of the East

HMAS Vampire in 1974 (image courtesy of Defence Australia)

Roger’s positive experience in the Navy can be attributed to his time on HMAS Vampire, known as the ‘Jewel of the East’ in her heyday. She served as one of Australia’s last big gun ships, and one of our first all-welded steel hull vessels.  

Commissioned for 27 years, Vampire sailed over 800,000 nautical miles, inherited battle honours for wartime services in WWII and earned battle honours for her service in the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. 

“I’ve spoken to a number of sailors and ex-sailors over the years, and if they served on Vampire they have all felt that it was probably the best ship they served in. She was truly formidable,” Roger says.  

Vampire sailed around Asia from 1964-1965 as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve, which formed part of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation. The Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation commenced in this time, sadly claiming 23 Australian lives. 

“The Confrontation was very political and to this day there’s not a lot of knowledge or information out there, because it was recorded as an undeclared war,” Roger explains. 

“HMAS Vampire’s involvement included patrolling different areas around Malaysia, Borneo, the Malacca and Sunda Strait to intercept and search boats for possible infiltrators coming from Indonesia. 

“In 1965 we were also part of the escort of HMAS Sydney with 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) into Vietnam.” 

A lesson in leadership

Enroute to Garden Island for maintenance 

If HMAS Vampire formed the setting for this positive chapter of Roger’s life, then serving under the leadership of Captain David Hamer was its highlight. Awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf during WWII, Captain Hamer ran a tight ship but always looked after his crew. He would later become a Federal Member of Parliament and advocate for Defence veteran benefits. 

“Captain Hamer had a big responsibility with 60 of us young fellows on board, looking after our welfare and operating in war zones while ensuring Vampire operated efficiently,” Roger says.  

“She was a good, happy ship due to his leadership, so much so that we won the Gloucester Cup for topping four out of seven divisions of efficiency, and the Pakistan Shield for fleet sporting success.” 

When Roger joined the Queensland Police Service later in his career, he endeavoured to model his leadership style on that of Captain Hamer’s.  

A voyage to remember

Roger was joined by three other Navy recruit veterans on HMAS Vampire's latest voyage

HMAS Vampire was decommissioned in 1986 then loaned in 1990 (and gifted in 1997) to the National Maritime Museum at Sydney’s Darling Harbour. The Museum is now responsible for her maintenance and periodically cold moves her to Garden Island’s dry dock to be refitted and painted. On her latest journey, Roger and three other junior recruit Navy veterans were invited on board. 

“I felt so fortunate to ‘crew’ Vampire back from Garden Island to her berth in Darling Harbour. Being back on board for this shift was fantastic. We were treated like VIPs, and I loved every minute of it,” Roger says. 

With free rein on deck and nostalgia brimming among shipmates, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity brought back many memories for Roger. He also made new memories, one of which was a stand-out. 

“Sailing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge on board Vampire was an extraordinary experience, and one I never thought I would experience in my lifetime. Hopefully, in another five years I’ll be able to do the next refit cold move as well.” 

Roger thanks National Maritime Museum Fleet Manager Scott Grant for facilitating this wonderful experience.

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