DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 274/10
Friday, 02 July 2010
Sailor remembered by his mates
Leading Seaman Andrew Wakely of Bentley, Western Australia has today been
remembered by family and fellow sailors of the Royal Australian Navy, at a moving
memorial service held at Fremantle Maritime Museum.
28 year old Leading Seaman Wakely was on shore leave in Tonga from HMAS
Warramunga when he went missing while swimming on 16 June. After an extensive
search conducted by HMAS Warramunga’s helicopter and Tongan authorities,
Leading Seaman Wakely is missing-presumed-dead.
The crew of HMAS Warramunga
mourned the loss of Leading Seaman Wakely at a
memorial wreath laying ceremony off the coast of Tonga and today sailors from
HMAS Stirling gathered with Andrew Wakely’s family to remember him.
Commander Bruce Legge, Commanding Officer of HMAS Warramunga
said it was
important that shipmates both past and present had the opportunity to reflect on their
loss and remember Leading Seaman Wakely.
Leading Seaman Wakely served in the Royal Australian Navy for ten years, with the
majority of his service undertaken at HMAS Stirling
and ships based at Fleet Base
West, Rockingham. Leading Seaman Wakely undertook two tours to the Middle East
Area of Operations during his service.
Captain Brett Dowsing, Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling
attended the
memorial service in Leading Seaman Wakely’s honour. “This tragic accident has hit
the Navy very hard and particularly HMAS Warramunga and Stirling Navy members,
as there are so many sailors here who have served with Andrew Wakely in the past
ten years. The West Australian Navy community has lost one of its own. Our
thoughts are also with his family and friends,” Captain Dowsing said.
Leading Seaman Wakely’s family is being provided with continued support by Navy
and the Defence Community Organisation.
At this time, the family has requested the media to continue to respect their privacy.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
