Commodore L.J. McInerney CBE

It is with regret to advise that Commodore L.J. (John) McInerney, CBE, RAN (RETD), a distinguished Supply Officer, passed away on Sunday 6 March, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Terri, and daughter Kerri-Ann and her husband Paul and their three adult children, Leonie, Jonathan and David. Commodore McInerney joined the RAN College as a Paymaster Cadet in 1944. After graduating later that year he served as a Midshipman in HMAS AUSTRALIA during the Leyte and Lingayen gulf Campaigns and in the the Nelson Class battleship HMS Rodney and the Queen Elizabeth battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth. He later served in HMAS Shropshire when she took the Australian Victory Contingent to UK and remained in the United Kingdom to undergo Sub-Lieutenant’s courses. Promoted Lieutenant in 1948 he served at HMAS establishments Rushcutter and Harman before proceeding to sea in HMAS Warrego. On completion of his sea time he was then posted to Darwin, HMAS Melville, as the Port Supply Officer and after two years and promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 1956 was posted to CERBERUS as the Secretary to the Commodore Superintendent of Training. He then returned to sea to the Battle Class Destroyer, HMAS Tobruk as the Squadron Supply Officer. After serving in Tobruk, he was posted to HMAS Leeuwin as the Base Supply Officer, when the Junior Recruit Training Establishment started in 1960. Subsequently he was posted to Scotland as the Maintenance Commander to Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland in Rosyth. In 1965 he graduated at the Joint Services Staff College, Latimer, United Kingdom. On return to Australia in 1966, he was the Supply Officer, HMAS ALBATROSS before going to India as the Defence Attaché for two years. The Australian High Commissioner at the time was Sir Arthur Tange, a former Secretary of the Department of Defence. He was promoted to Captain during the period.

On his return to Australia he was posted as Chief Staff Officer (Administration) to the Flag Officer Commanding East Australia Area, and after two years assumed command of HMAS KUTTABUL and Captain of the Port of Sydney. In February 1973 he was appointed CERBERUS in command and remained for three years. From Cerberus he was posted to Navy Office as the Director Navy Logistic Planning and on promotion to Commodore he served as Director General Navy Personal Services. In 1979 he was posted to Sydney as the Chief of Staff to the Flag Officer Commanding the East Australia Area and retired from the Navy in 1981 after 37 years distinguished service.
Commodore McInerney was a keen sportsman, he represented Navy in inter-service Rugby and played for Combined Services; inter-service Golf, squash, tennis and swimming.

His funeral service will be to-morrow, Wednesday 9 March at St Mary’s Cathedral, 6 Raglan Street Manly. The funeral Directors, Gregory & Carr, 850 Pacific Highway Gordon. POC Ms Belinda Smith, 0415 163 690.