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Battle Honour Board – HMAS Kanimbla

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Subjects
Ship histories and stories, WWII operations, Post WWII
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Honour board
RAN Ships
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Publication
December 2010 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

At a recent ceremony held onboard HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR Tim Byles, RAN) the ship’s recently refurbished Battle Honour Board was re-dedicated by Chaplain Col Acton, RAN.

Former Commanding Officer of HMAS Kanimbla (II) in 2001-2003 (Capt David McCourt, OAM, DSM, RANR - Far left) and Mr Keith Bray and Mr Don Sykes from HMAS Kanimbla (I) join with Cmdr Tim Byles (Current CO of Kanimbla - second from left) for the HMAS Kanimbla Battle Honour Board Re-Dedication Ceremony. Joining them were members of Kanimbla's current crew who also served onboard on 2001-2003. Kanimbla was recently was recently awarded new honours for Borneo 1945, Persian Gulf 2001-2003, and Iraq 2003.
Former Commanding Officer of HMAS Kanimbla (II) in 2001-2003 (Capt David McCourt, OAM, DSM, RANR – Far left) and Mr Keith Bray and Mr Don Sykes from HMAS Kanimbla (I) join with Cmdr Tim Byles (Current CO of Kanimbla – second from left) for the HMAS Kanimbla Battle Honour Board Re-Dedication Ceremony. Joining them were members of Kanimbla’s current crew who also served onboard on 2001-2003.
Kanimbla was recently was recently awarded new honours for Borneo 1945, Persian Gulf 2001-2003, and Iraq 2003.

The Battle Honours Board had been updated to include newly awarded honours for BORNEO 1945, PERSIAN GULF 2001-03 and IRAQ 2003.  Invited onboard for the ceremony were Mr. Keith Bray and Mr. Donald Dykes who had served in HMAS Kanimbla (I) during World War II and Captain David McCourt, OAM, DSM, RANR who was Commanding Officer of Kanimbla (II) during 2001-03. Captain McCourt was accompanied by his wife Julia who is also a serving naval officer.

Captain McCourt addressed the ship’s company and provided a history of Kanimbla with particular reference to the ship’s role in the Middle East during 2001-03 and emphasised the linkage with Kanimbla (I) which had served in the Persian Gulf in 1941 as an Armed Merchant Cruiser.

A number of personnel currently serving in Kanimbla, who served in the ship during 2001-03, were also present to witness the re‑dedication of the Battle Honours Board. Following the ceremony in the ship’s hangar a tour of the ship was provided to the guests followed by lunch in the Wardroom.

CMDR Byles said that it was a great honour to have former members of Kanimbla (I) and Captain McCourt onboard to observe the ceremony and this helped strengthen the ties between the current ship’s company and those who had served in Kanimbla (I).

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