Tom BURTON – passed away 18th May 2025 – 93years

Tom was born in Adelaide on 07 May 1932 and enlisted in the RAN for 6 years on 23 July 1951. After initial recruit training at HMAS Cerberus at Flinders Naval Depot near Melbourne, he was posted to HMAS Albatross on 30 October 1951 where he began training as a Naval Airman Mechanic in the Ordnance branch. On completion he was rated NAM (O)2 and undertook further training advancing to NAM (O)1 on 08 July 1953.

Next Tom joined 808 Squadron at Nowra on 18 May 1954 which operated Sea Fury aircraft, but the Squadron was decommissioned later in the year (to be re-equipped with Sea Venom 53s). Tom then transferred to Squadron 816, equipped with Fairey Firefly ASW aircraft, on 15 November 1954. Shortly after this the squadron embarked on the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney for a capital city cruise and exercises with HMAS Vengeance.

After his time with 816 Squadron, in May 1955 Tom was posted to HMAS Albatross where he spent the next two years working in the armament stores and repair workshops. On 22 July 1957 having completed 6 years’ service he was discharged engagement expired (DEE).

 After an unsettled time in civvy street Tom re-enlisted in the RAN on 15 July 1963. Due to the amount of time he spent away from the Navy Tom needed to go through recruit training again at HMAS Cerberus before arriving at HMAS Albatross on 05 September 1963 to take refresher training and being rated NAM(O)2 on 29 October 1963.

Over the next few years Tom had various posting to the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and at HMAS Albatross some of which were to squadrons and others to the armament workshops, also to further training for promotion. On 12 May 1967 he was promoted A/LAMW (confirmed in May 19 68) and then began training exercises prior to joining the first contingent of the RANHFV which served in Vietnam from September 1967 to October 1968.

Terry Brooks, who was with Tom in Vietnam, remembers him:
“In another time and another place, we shared laughter and serious moments in a canvas “home” during our 12month Vietnam tour. We had never met before this posting to an American base, but, being the affable bloke he was, he made sure all of us were as comfortable as was possible. Tom was admired by our American mates; so much so, that our “home” soon had a refrigerator installed for we thirsty sailors.
 It was my pleasure to have known Tom and I’m proud to say, and to know he was in my life”.

On 15 October 1969 Tom signed on for a further 6 years’ service with the RAN FAA. As service records were closed off in February 1970 no further details of his time with the navy are available. However, Tom is remembered as a genial and quietly spoken person who enjoyed service life.