It is my sombre duty to advise that LCDR Henry Hall,  aka ‘Nobby’, slipped away on 25 June 2017 after a period of ill health.   He was 95.

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The funeral was held on Wednesday 05 July 2017
 at the HMAS Albatross Chapel, followed by a ‘Celebration of Life’ event at the Nowra Entertainment Centre. 

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A Royal Australian Navy bearer party from HMAS Albatross carries the casket of the late Lieutenant Commander Henry ‘Nobby’ Hall, MBE, OAM, MID, RAN (RTD) from the HMAS Albatross Chapel on completion of the funeral service. (ADF image)

HENRY ALBERT LANGDON HALL MBE, OAM RAN (Rtd)

O1519  LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
DOB:   04 APRIL 1922
ENTRY TO RAN: 13 DECEMBER 1938 (ORDINARY SEAMAN SECOND CLASS)

After completing initial training at HMAS Cerberus he served in HMA Ships Vampire, Australia, Adelaide, Mildura, Canberra, Hobart, Shropshire, Penguin, Kuttabul, Kanimbla, Sydney.

He was involved in the Battle of the Savo Island and saw further active service at Balikpapan, Brunei Bay, Tarakan and Philippines. He was serving in HMAS Shropshire at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

He is believed to be if not the last, one of the final survivors from Canberra which was heavily damaged and sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942.  In 1943 he was ‘mentioned in dispatches’ for his skill, resolution and coolness during operations in the Solomon Islands.

He earned the title of ‘The Unsinkable Henry’ after one of his ships (Hobart) was torpedoed and two others (Adelaide and Mildura) were involved in collisions.

In 1948 he transferred to the new the Fleet Air Arm, and he was the Leading Seaman in charge of the draft comprising Courses 1, 2 and 3 of Naval Airmen sailing to the UK for initial technical training.  He was promoted Petty Officer Airman Meteorological in 1949 and then Chief Petty Officer in 1951.

He commissioned in early 1957 and served in Albatross, Penguin, Harman, Melbourne, Kuttabul, Creswell (Beecroft Range) and Navy Headquarters.

He was a former Flight Deck Officer and Aircraft Control Room Officer in HMAS Melbourne.

He was awarded the MBE in 1979 for his exemplary service as Beecroft Range commander and he transferred to the retired list in 1981.

In 2010 he was awarded the OAM for his service to veterans and their families through the Nowra-Greenwell Point RSL sub-branch.

By way of a Tribute, here is an article in “Flying Stations” (courtesy Glen Hartig) that remembers just a little bit of Henry’s remarkable life, and the Eulogy delivered by CDRE Bob Morrison, who was a close friend to Nobby.  

May he rest in peace. 

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Flying Stations Article on Henry Hall

 

Eulogy by CDRE Bob Morrison, RAN