Global Defence Solutions - Sandy Freeleagus

GDS has a proud history of supporting Defence and ex-Defence service organisations and personnel. Sandy Freeleagus is one such person.

In July 1961, at age 16, I "ran away" from home and joined the Royal Australian Navy. I was accepted into the apprentice scheme at HMAS NIRIMBA, the RAN's Apprentice Training Establishment as a fitter and turner, specialising in Ordnance Engineering, hydraulics, pneumatics and servo systems. I spent 4 years doing this formal trade at NIRIMBA. My 5th and final trade year was spent at HMAS CERBERUS learning AC and DC electrical theory and electrical supply and distribution systems, due to the changing nature of the Ordnance Branch.

After a course in mines, minesweeping, torpedoes and anti-submarine weapons, I joined HMAS VAMPIRE when she was Captain "D" 10th Destroyer Flotilla. I was "X" turret maintainer for the 2 years I served on her. We traveled the Coral Sea, the Tasman Sea, visited New Zealand and were deployed for 9 months to the Far East Strategic Reserve based in Singapore. During this time, we escorted HMAS SYDNEY into Vung Tau twice.

I volunteered for submarines and departed with Hi Rob (now my wife) for the UK where I studied at HMS DOLPHIN (Fort Blockhouse), Gosport and did my formal sea training in HMS/M OPOSSUM in the Bay of Biscay, the English Channel, the North Atlantic and the east coast of Canada and America.

I returned to Australia where I served in HMAS PLATYPUS (the S/M base), HMAS/M's OVENS (4 months), OTWAY (5 years) and OXLEY (2 years). I took HMAS OTWAY on a 6 month Far East and Hawaii deployment as the electrical Chief of the Branch.
I was promoted to Warrant Officer in 1979 and was drafted to HMAS HARMAN (Navy Office) to the Directorate of S/M Maintenance and Repair where I was the Security Officer and the Special Projects Officer. Part of these duties included the (then) new Submarine Construction Project where I received and collated all the technical and operational data of all the contenders to this project.

I paid off in August 1981 after 20 years in the RAN.

Whilst in the RAN, I submitted cartoons under the signature "Sandy Hi Rob" to Navy News who published them quite regularly until I inadvertently upset a rather high ranking officer, who subsequently had my cartoons "censored" out of circulation.

I still draw and have over 300 strip cartoons on a S/M theme with more to come. I also illustrate the various ships and aircraft of the RAN under a Naval Heritage banner.

I have retired with Hi Rob and live on Macleay Island in southern Moreton Bay in Queensland.