WA Chapter – Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker David Nicolson speaking on: “HMAS Canberra I, her life in service, the Battle of Savo Island and the ensuing controversy”.

Here are the details of the May 20th 2024 NHS meeting at 6pm at the Claremont Tennis Club.

THE TOPIC:   “HMAS Canberra I, her life in service, the Battle of Savo Island and the ensuing controversy”. 

Although the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra I, built between 1924 and 1929, reputedly never fired big guns in anger. She did sterling service with convoy duties protecting Australian and New Zealand troops on their way to the battlefields. However, the loss of the HMAS Canberra I at the disastrous Battle of Savo Island in 1942, raised many questions about how she was sunk and if she could have been saved.  The controversy continues to this day and this will be explored in the talk.

THE SPEAKER: David Nicolson, RANR (ret’d)

David was born in Scotland and his father was in the Merchant Navy during World War II. Ater moving to Perth, David completed an engineering degree at UWA and worked for the WA Railways as an electronic engineer. David joined the Royal Australian Navy reserve in 1972, initially serving as an officer in the engineering branch and subsequently in naval intelligence. He was assigned to gather information which included taking photos of the antennas on Soviet and Chinese ships berthed in Fremantle. In 1981, David joined the Perth communications company Omnitronics Pty Ltd. David retired in 2010 and is now the publicity officer for the WA division of the Navy League and the HMAS Perth 1 Memorial Foundation.

The talk is on Monday May 20th at 6:00pm at the Claremont Lawn Tennis Club, Shenton Road, Claremont. Parking is at the Tennis Club and in the public car park on Davies Road. There is a $5 Admin fee, and a cash bar is open before and after the talk. To attend, you must register with the Secretary, Heather Rogers: secretary.nhs.wa@gmail.com, or

Mobile: 0407-912-781.