- Author
- Swinden, Greg
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, WWI operations
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- March 2010 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
No one was more pleased than Chief Boatswains Mate, CPO Boyd, who had contributed a great deal to the fact that the ship was heading north ready for any emergency. The experience born of his long career in the Royal Australia Navy in two wars was to prove invaluable to Westralia executive officers during the anxious months ahead.
As Chief Boatswains Mate, Erle Boyd was responsible for the safe conduct of all seamanship evolutions including the lowering and raising of Westralia’s landing craft as well as ensuring all seamanship equipment was serviceable. Westralia took part in seven amphibious landings during 1943-45 which included Arawe (December 1943), Hollandia (April 1944), Leyte Gulf (October 1944), Lingayen Gulf (January 1945), Tarakan (May 1945), Brunei Bay (June 1945) and Balikpapan (July 1945).
In November 1945 he was hospitalised and a few months later, on 8 March 1946, aged nearly 55, he was discharged from the RAN as Permanently Unfit for Naval Service (PUNS) suffering from diabetes and chronic retinitis. After leaving the Navy he again worked as a rigger before retiring. He lived with his wife and family in the Sydney suburb of Hillsdale.
Erle Boyd died on 6 August 1970 of a heart attack, complicated by diabetes and bronchitis, and was cremated four days later at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium. He was survived by his three children, his wife having pre-deceased him.
His medals included the British Empire Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1939–45 Star, Burma Star with Pacific Star clasp, 1939–45 War Medal, Australian Service Medal (1939-45), RAN Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Royal Humane Society of NSW Silver Medal.
Bibliography
- Atkinson J.J. By Skill and Valour – Honours and Awards to the RAN for the First and Second World War, Spink & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sydney, 1986.
- Daw C.E. & Lind L.J. HMAS SYDNEY 1913-1929, The Naval Historical Society of Australia, Sydney, 1973
- Gill G.H. Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942: Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1985.
- Gill G.H. Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945: Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1985.
- Jose A.W. The Royal Australian Navy: The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, Volume IX, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1928.
- Swan W.N. Spearheads of Invasion, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1953.
- Swinden G.J. A Short History of the Cruiser HMAS BRISBANE (1916-1935), The Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1996.
- Swinden G.J. A Short History of the Cruiser HMAS MELBOURNE (1913-1928), The Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1994
- Department of Education (NSW) The School Magazine 1 March 1917 (Vol II – No. 2), Sydney. Article – A Brave Australian
- ANF Service Record (AWM 266 Item 8) – 1646 Erle Alwin Greglach Boyd
- RAN/RAFR Service Record – 7358/S433 Erle Alwin Greglach Boyd
- Royal Humane Society of NSW Annual Report 1916
- Birth Certificate (Victoria) – Erle Alwin Greglach Boyd
- Marriage Certificate (NSW) – Erle Alwin Greglach Boyd
- Death Certificate (NSW) – Erle Alwin Greglach Boyd