Two Naval Dogs of the 1930s

Author

A.N. Other

Subjects

History - general

Tags

None noted.

RAN Ships

HMAS Leeuwin (base)

Publication

September 2024 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

By Robert Curran

Everyone loves a dog, particularly sailors. In the Australian War Memorial’s collection there are many photos of ships’ mascots of the canine variety to testify to this. This is the story of two naval dogs from either side of Australia. Their long service of over 15 years each was memorialised in published obituaries – the sign of a great naval dog.

‘Admiral Digger’ was a chestnut coloured stray of doubtful parentage. He was brought to the Cliff Street Naval Depot in Fremantle from the Perth city pound in 1931. Initially he was the dog of Chief Petty Officer Wolsey, caretaker of the Depot.

‘Nugget’ was the dog of Mr William Cox, the resident Armament Supply Officer at Spectacle Island in Sydney. His colour was unrecorded but on the basis of his name is presumed to have been black … or perhaps tan? He arrived on the island in 1935.

‘The Admiral’, as he was usually known, was reputed to be a fighting dog, who loved sailors but detested other dogs and landlubbers.  He was solicitous of men attending drill nights, and was always at Fremantle railway station to meet them. At the end of drill, he saw them back onto the train.

On the other hand, due to his isolated island life, Nugget was untested in dog vs. dog contests. He probably led a more genteel life around the residence and garden on Spectacle Island. There is no doubt he was pampered by Mr and Mrs Cox, their daughter Betty and the island’s staff and visitors. But if his master was off the island, he stood the duty watch at the wharf so he could welcome him back on his arrival.

Both dogs had something in common – they loved taking passage on boats. It’s said of The Admiral that in his youth he several times achieved his aim of going to sea by stowing away on minesweepers and motor launches. He was invariably present in any working party sent to the wharves.

On one occasion he was taken into quarantine by Customs and it required high level naval representations to secure his release.

Nugget was only allowed off Spectacle Island when permitted to accompany his master up the Parramatta River to the Newington Armament Depot, either on board the launch Onyx, or on special occasions, on the VIP launch Garnet. He enjoyed those outings.

In his youth, Nugget would run well ahead of his master. This gave warning to the staff that the boss was on the prowl. As he aged, Nugget gradually slipped further and further behind his master, who was thus allowed to make unannounced visits of inspection. And finally, Nugget was reduced to minding the office.

The Admiral had a change of scenery in 1942 when he ‘commissioned’ the new HMAS Leeuwin at Preston Point and it is said that afterwards he never missed a parade. He saw out the hard years of World War II but in 1946 was beginning to feel his age and the decision was taken for him to be euthanised. He was buried at the Dog Cemetery at Shenton Park. A guard of honour of men from Leeuwin led by the Master at Arms was present at the burial.

A memorial, paid for by the Leeuwin canteen fund, and comprising a plain white cross with an engraved plate was erected. The inscription on the plate reads:

In Memory of

‘ADMIRAL DIGGER’ R.A.N.

Died 14th August 1946

SERVED IN R.A.N.

1931 – 1946

Nugget also saw out the hustle and bustle of wartime but by 1951 Mr Cox worried about what his own looming retirement and departure from the island meant for his dog. Nugget had never lived ashore. Fortuitously, Nugget died just before the dreaded day and was buried on the island – most likely in the residence’s garden.

The Admiral’s obituary and memorial arrangements appeared in the Perth Daily News of 14 August, 25 October and 2 November 1946. Nugget’s obituary appeared in the RAN Armament Depot Sydney Newsletter of August 1951. This story is loosely adapted from those sources.

Unfortunately, no photos of these dogs have been located, despite a newspaper appeal for photos of The Admiral that was made in 1946.

If intending to pay your respects to The Admiral, the Dog Cemetery is at the Dogs Refuge Home at 30 Lemnos Street, Shenton Park.