Lt. Cmdr. Laurie McCracken

Born 26 April, 1923. A shipwright officer who once headed the Fleet Maintenance Party at Garden Island. Served in HMAS Melbourne in 1965. Veteran of Confrontation and Vietnam, presumably WWII for his age. Another non-specific naval officer death was reported recently in Melbourne’s Age. Rank & service not given. Said to be a David Aquila Smith, much involved with the HMAS Castlemaine heritage restoration project.