1.Clifford, Leslie Edward Stuart (Signalman, b: 1901) 2.Bowyer-Smyth, Sir Philip Weyland (Commodore, b: 1894 d. 1978)

Places
Accession Number MSS1226
Collection type Manuscript
Measurement 1 wallet: 1cm
Object type Papers, Poem
Maker Clifford, Leslie Edward Stuart
Date made 1939-1945
Access Open
Related File This file can be copied or viewed via the Memorial’s Reading Room. AWM315 419/039/061
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of J90808 M602 Signalman Leslie Edward Stuart Clifford, HMAS Stuart, and Captain Sir Philip Weyland Bowyer-Smyth, HMAS Perth, 1941.

Wallet 1 of 1 - Contains a poem titled "The Grey Old Lady" by Leslie Edward Stuart Clifford that outlines the service of HMAS Stuart up to mid-1941. The 73-stanza poem covers the First World War origins of HMAS Stuart, her early Second World War service in Australia, her role in the Mediterranean and many of her most notable contributions as leader of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla. The poem references events including the Battle of Bardia, the Western Desert Campaign, the Battle of Calabria, scuppering the Italian submarine Gondar, hosting Prime Minister Robert Menzies at Alexandria, the Battle of Cape Matapan, the evacuation of Allied troops from Greece and Crete and the "Tobruk Ferry Service".

The collection also includes a typescript farewell letter from Captain Philip Bowyer-Smyth to the Officers, Petty Officers and Men of HMAS Perth dated 2 September 1941, the day after Bowyer-Smyth relinquished command of the ship.