Lieutenant Commander Henry Albert Longdon (‘Nobby’) Hall MBE OAM MiD RAN Retd

Lieutenant Commander Henry Albert Longdon (Nobby) Hall MBE OAM RAN Retd. 

 Died on 25 June aged “95 and a half” after a short illness in Currarong, NSW. 

An irrepressible character who had a long and distinguished naval career and then another as a tireless contributor to the NSW South Coast community through Legacy, the RSL, the Fleet Air Arm Association and anonymously. 

He was appointed MBE in 1981 in the post Vietnam War Honours list and awarded an OAM in 2010 for services to veterans and their families. 

As a 20 year old Able Seaman, he was a rangetaker in the foremast of HMAS CANBERRA when she was lost in the Battle of Savo Island on 8/9 August 1942 and was Mentioned in Despatches for his skill, resolution and coolness.  He was probably the last RAN survivor of the Ship.   He was feted and dined during HMAS CANBERRA III’s Commissioning and entry into service. 

He served in the corvette HMAS MILDURA in the Pacific and was Patron of the HMAS MILDURA Association up until his death. 

In HMAS ALBATROSS, where I was the Gunnery and Air Weapons Officer from September 1969 to December 1971, Henry, though much senior to me as a Lieutenant, and as a Lieutenant Commander from April 1970, was responsible to me for ceremonial, the band, the armoury and air weapons storage and the training of Helicopter Flight Vietnam contingents in small arms and the aircraft mounted .50 cal machine guns.   It was very much a father/son relationship, which we enjoyed and for which I will be forever grateful. 

His use of the ABR 1834 Street Lining drill to “throw out” the ALBATROSS berthing party, accompanied by the ALBATROSS band, to secure HMY BRITANNIA in Port Kembla in April 1970 will long be remembered. 

In his long retirement, he wore uniform on every appropriate occasion, presumably with successive CNs’ blessings.