Henry
"Nobby" Hall was one of
the most decorated naval combat veterans of WWII, and after,
in a long permanent navy career. His service spanned 1938
until 1981. He joined the Royal Australian Navy as an
ordinary seaman second class and retired as an officer after
43 years of loyal and distinguished service. He was a member
of the "vanishing present", one of the great generations,
who dedicated his life to the naval profession. That same
good citizenship continued with his active involvement as he
contributed to the wider local community.
"Nobby" is the sobriquet given to all Halls who joined the
services. Short of stature, intelligent and wise, he was
feisty, as the occasion demanded, but no less effective or
efficient. His speech was clear and direct, and his bark and
bite were moderate in their application, often deservedly
so. He was widely respected as a personality who was the
very embodiment of the navy.
Henry was born in Sydney on April 4, 1922, joining the
pre-war RAN at 16. After four years service, as an able
seaman, he found his baptism of fire in one of the crucial
battles of WWII. It was during his draft to HMAS Canberra
that he was a witness and participant at Savo Island in
1942. He was a range taker in the foremast of Canberra when
it was crippled and sunk on August 9. For his heroic
actions, he was mentioned in despatches (MiD).
for his
skill, resolution and coolness during operations in the
Solomon Islands.
In his own words, Hall peppered his recollections with salty
epithets. One can only imagine the fear and visceral terror
he faced during a naval night engagement, when the Japanese
warships took the best of luck and fortune available to
them.
"Everything is awfully wrong. I'm in the midst of
madness, sounds never heard before. Screams of horror and
pain, flying glass, shrapnel whistling through the air …
tearing into flesh and bone."
This young sailor temporarily transferred to USS Barnett,
where he again performed exemplary duties in the sick bay as
an untrained medical assistant. He assisted with amputations
and took care that the wounded were not over-dosed with
morphine, daubing their foreheads M, in their blood,
signifying that they had already been "shot up". It was a
veritable cauldron of sea and fire. The war had still to be
fought and won so Hall reslung his kit bag and hammock to
serve in a succession of ships to war's end. Nobby was
honoured as a gallant survivor when HMAS Canberra III was
recently commissioned.
CanberraI, had been deep-sixed so he later served in HMA
ships Hobart and Shropshire, among other ships. The war took
him to Balikpapan, Brunei, Tarakan and the Philippines. For
the latter campaign he, with other participants, was awarded
the Philippine Liberation Medal. He was serving in HMAS
Shropshire at the Japanese surrender in 1945 when many
Allied ships sailed into a silenced Tokyo Bay. Hall had a
good war, if any war can be good, as he survived. It was a
defining experience in his formative years, shaping his
character. For his generation, he also judged that wars are
not marked by what they achieve, but what they prevent, the
threat to national sovereignty.
In 1948, the RAN grew wings, as its new aviation branch was
established. Nobby transferred to the Fleet Air Arm and
advanced through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer in the
early 1950s, specialising in meteorological duties. He had
lost a first good conduct badge soon after the war but it
was later restored along with his character rating. It
proved no handicap to his ongoing superior service, and he
was awarded a long service and good conduct medal in 1955,
before being commissioned.
Lieutenant Commander Henry Hall
at an Anzac commemoration in 2012. Credit: Karleen
Minney
Hall was a proverbial medal magnet, a source of awe to many
young sailors, and not a few of their seniors as they were
similarly impressed. His life and service carried the sense
of naval pageantry. Loyally he served, providing an
inspiration to the naval and local community in equal
measure. In 1953, he was part of the official contingent to
attend the coronation of the Queen. Among other Australians,
he received a Coronation Medal, a rare distinction at the
time. He was proud of that link with the past, for he had
taken an oath on entry, never relinquishing it but for his
death.
Henry 'Nobby' Hall | Credit: | South Coast Register | Nowra, NSW
As an officer, heavily immersed in the air world, Nobby's
sea service also meant a return to the deep draught ships,
namely the aircraft carriers HMA ships Sydney and
Melbourne. Promoted
to Lieutenant, in 1957, he made Lieutenant Commander in
1970. Henry served in Melbourne during the Malaysian
Confrontation and in the Vietnam War in 1966. Malaysia
awarded him a medal for serving in its conflict with
Indonesia.
Hall also served in the stone-frigate navy, our
establishments ashore, where he applied his expertise and
background to good effect. On his retirement, he was created
a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
For service of a very high order to the RAN,
particularly as Beecroft Range Officer. Responsible for the
safety and security of all on the Range, liaison with local
residents - who often took exception to Navy's use of it -
and clearing off sightseers, vagrants and fishermen on
scheduled firing or bombing days. Henry's conscientiousness
ensured there were no instrusions to disrupt exercises and
that the fragile peace with local residents was preserved.
Another honour followed when in June
2010 he was awarded a medal in the Order of Australia (OAM).
For his tireless work for the naval and civil
community, especially for veterans in the Nowra-Greenwell
Point area where he was fondly regarded as a local hero and
distinctive identity who brought people together and shone
as a role model and exemplar. He was active with Legacy,
Rotary, the RSL and the Naval Association of Australia
within the Shoalhaven.
He led the Currarong Anzac Day march every year since 1968,
in later years in the "motorised corps", on a mobility
scooter, riding but no less proud. He developed a close
relationship with Shoalhaven High School, participating in
their Anzac Day service every year, becoming an honorary
school captain. Age had not yet condemned him. He was a spry
"Energiser Bunny", who always hopped to it, showing the
initiative expected in any leaders.
For years Nobby was a most welcomed guest at Navy activities
and events across the Illawarra and South Coast regions and
wider when the occasion called. It often did.
He cherished his involvement with the commissioning of HMAS
Canberra III, all those years after that fateful period with
her namesake at the Battle of Savo Island. He was very
proud to be referred to as ‘Father of the Met’ (meteorology)
Branch.
Nobby had many, many friends – serving and ex serving – in
uniform and out. Sailors, Officers, Admirals, Chiefs
and young Seaman, Commanding Officers and their crew, ship’s
drivers, stokers, bosuns and more. He knew all the
Commanding Officers at Creswell and Albatross everyone knew
Nobby.
Along with his generosity and vast knowledge, he
particularly valued accepting invitations to attend Official
Receptions and Graduation parades at the Royal Australian
Naval College.
Indeed, his professional affinity with junior officers under
training at the College was something to behold. He
was always encouraging our new trainees to strive for their
best. He was well known for his palm cards that he
would hand out to anyone within earshot. These cards
held words of wisdom for a junior officer, they always had a
leadership message, they were snippets of gold.
While avidly sharing his knowledge and encouraging juniors,
Nobby was equally passionate about Navy’s future and what
should be done, particularly with the ongoing development of
Navy people.
Nobby was a Flag Man – a vexillologist and a very
knowledgeable one at that.
He always had a flag or pennant flying at the main mast at
‘Spin Drift’, the family home at Currarong. Mind you,
not any flag – predominantly naval flags and pennants that
any ‘Bunting Tosser’ (signals yeoman) worth their salt would
be proud – the Royal Standard was a favourite.
Nobby had a wonderful way with language – language from a
bygone era.
Not only ‘JackSpeak’ which readily rolled off his tongue,
but with the Queen’s English. He was well read and was
sharp as a tack. He was also prolific with the pen and
had beautiful, beautiful writing. Moreover, each piece
of correspondence was often accompanied by a meaningful
message.
Henry was aged 95 when he died at Currarong, NSW on 25th
June 2017. A private
funeral service was held at HMAS Albatross, Nowra
and a public celebration of his life was held at the
Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.
The late Nobby Hall looks
over his daughters Gwyneth and Jenny as they present his
eulogy at the public celebration of his life at the
Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre. Credit: South
Coast Register
The RAN
gave him a ceremonial send-off with gun salutes and a fly
past. He left two daughters, Gwyneth and Jenny, and many
relatives and close friends. His wife predeceased him
by 12 years and
he later made an abiding friendship with a young female
companion (aged 90). Joyce survives him. It is said
that no one person is irreplaceable. Yet by his naval and
civic leadership, he left his small world a better place.
A Royal Australian Navy
bearer party from HMAS Albatross carry the casket of the
late Lieutenant Commander Henry 'Nobby' Hall, MBE, OAM, MID,
RAN (Rtd) from the HMAS Albatross Chapel on completion of
the funeral service. A firing party from HMAS
Albatross escort the hearse carrying the casket of the Late
Lieutenant Commander Henry 'Nobby' Hall, MBE, OAM, MID, RAN
(Rtd) from the HMAS Albatross Chapel on completion of the
funeral service. Aircraft from 723
Squadron conduct a fly past in the missing man formation
during the funeral service
for the late Lieutenant Commander
Henry 'Nobby' Hall, MBE, OAM, MID, RAN (Rtd) at HMAS
Albatross.
The 9th August marks the anniversary of the
battle for Guadalcanal and the sinking of HMAS Canberra,
along with other warships of the USN and Japan. As it
is
proudly commemorated, for many relatives of those who have
died, their sorrow will grow wings. The death of Henry Hall
allows us to reflect on him and his young comrades who were
caught up in those tumultuous events. Their patriotic
wartime service and sacrifice ensured that Australians now
live in peace.
Blackboard image of the late
Henry "Nobby" Hall at the Hyper Hyper Coffee Shop, Nowra,
NSW
HMAS Canberra has committed
the ashes of Lieutenant Commander Henry Hall,
one of the last survivors of HMAS Canberra (I), to the sea
in Jervis Bay
IN BRIEF
HENRY ALBERT LONGDON HALL, MBE OAM MiD RAN
(Rtd)
O1519 Lieutenant Commander
DOB: 04 April 1922
Entry to RAN: 13 December 1938 (Ordinary Seaman Second Class
- R22689)
After completing initial training at HMAS Cerberus
he served in HMA Ships Vampire, Australia, Adelaide,
Mildura, Canberra, Hobart, Shropshire, Penguin, Kuttabul,
Kanimbla, Sydney.
He was involved in the Battle of the Savo Island and saw
further active service at Balikpapan, Brunei Bay, Tarakan
and Philippines. He was serving in HMAS Shropshire
at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
He is one of the final survivors from Canberra which was
heavily damaged and sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in
August 1942. In 1943 he was ‘mentioned in dispatches’
for his skill, resolution and coolness during operations in
the Solomon Islands.
He earned the title of ‘The Unsinkable Henry’ after one of
his ships (Hobart) was torpedoed and two others (Adelaide
and Mildura) were involved in collisions.
In 1948 he transferred to the new the Fleet Air Arm, and he
was the Leading Seaman in charge of the draft comprising
Courses 1, 2 and 3 of Naval Airmen sailing to the UK for
initial technical training. He was promoted Petty
Officer Airman Meteorological in 1949 and then Chief Petty
Officer in 1951.
He commissioned in early 1957 and served in Albatross,
Penguin, Harman, Melbourne, Kuttabul, Creswell
(Beecroft Range) and Navy Headquarters.
He was a former Flight Deck Officer and Aircraft Control
Room Officer in HMAS Melbourne.
He was awarded the MBE in 1979 for his exemplary service as
Beecroft Range Commander and he transferred to the retired
list in 1981.
In 2010 he was awarded the OAM for his service to veterans
and their families through the Nowra-Greenwell Point RSL
sub-branch.
He crossed the bar at Currarong, NSW, on
25th June 2017, aged 95
It's Different Today
This is a Royal Australian Navy recruitment film produced in
1979
featuring Lieutenant Commander Henry 'Nobby' Hall.
Henry
"Nobby" Hall was one of
the most decorated naval combat veterans of WWII, and after,
in a long permanent navy career. His service spanned 1938
until 1981. He joined the Royal Australian Navy as an
ordinary seaman second class and retired as an officer after
43 years of loyal and distinguished service. He was a member
of the "vanishing present", one of the great generations,
who dedicated his life to the naval profession. That same
good citizenship continued with his active involvement as he
contributed to the wider local community.
as
an untrained medical assistant. He assisted with amputations
and took care that the wounded were not over-dosed with
morphine, daubing their foreheads M, in their blood,
signifying that they had already been "shot up". It was a
veritable cauldron of sea and fire. The war had still to be
fought and won so Hall reslung his kit bag and hammock to
serve in a succession of ships to war's end. Nobby was
honoured as a gallant survivor when HMAS Canberra III was
recently commissioned.
