Roderic Bell Abernethy was born on 7th December 1909 at Old Wellington District Hospital, Wellington, New South Wales to Harold and Ida Abernethy.

He began his education at Wellington Public School, continuing on to Wellington High School before embarking on what could be termed an ill-fated career in the Royal Australian Navy at the age of 14.

His first posting was as a boy sailor 2nd Class on the HMAS Tingira - which was a sailing ship built in 1866 as a Tea Clipper called Sobroan. It was taken over by the RAN in 1911 and used as a boys' training ship until 1927.

During 1925-26 he was stationed at HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Platypus, two RAN training establishments, where he progressed from Boy Sailor First Class to Ordinary Telegrapher 2nd Class.

He then joined the crew of HMAS Sydney I, as an Ordinary Telegrapher 2nd Class, in late 1927.

The HMAS Sydney I was famous for sinking the German raider SMS Emden in November, 1914 in the Cocos Islands. During his time on Sydney I he was promoted to Ordinary Telegrapher.

In May, 1928 he became a crew member on the Heavy Cruiser Canberra I where he received his next promotion to Telegrapher, transferring to the Battle Cruiser Australia I in April 1929.

From August 1929 to January 1930 he resumed training at HMAS Penguin before being assigned to the Seaplane Carrier HMAS Albatross I until April 1931.

More training was carried out at HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Penguin from April 1931 to January 1933, at which time he returned to his station on HMAS Albatross I.   More...

In April 1933, Rod returned to HMAS Canberra I, as HMAS Albatross I was paid off into Reserve and for the next five years remained at anchor in Sydney Harbour.

He spent most of 1934 training at HMAS Penguin, where he was promoted to Acting Leading Telegrapher.

HMAS Stuart I was his next assignment, commencing with her in February 1935, remaining there until April 1935 before returning to HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Penguin for further training, during which he was promoted to Leading Telegrapher.

From January to April 1936 he served on HMAS Yarra II, which was involved in patrol and minesweeping duties along the Australian coast.

More training at HMAS Cerberus occupied him from April 1936 till January 1938, when he had his first taste of life on the modern cruiser HMAS Sydney II.

April 1938 saw Rod training at HMAS Penguin, during which he was demoted from Leading Telegrapher to Telegrapher due to an "indiscretion". The following story of the indiscretion was related to me by his grandson, Mark Corcoran.

'Rod had been in the Navy for a long time, was tired of naval life and was keen to get out as employment prospects had improved greatly since the Depression, the main reason he had remained in the Navy.

He is reported to have had an altercation with a senior officer who had upset him, luckily only being demoted instead of discharged as was normal for striking a senior officer. This was due to the fact that he was held in such high regard by his fellow crew members and officers.'    More...

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