Frank Larbalestier, aged 92 years, passed away on 5 December 2017.
Frank was born in Plymouth, England, in 1925 and joined the Royal Navy as an electrical apprentice in 1941 at the age of 16. In 1945 he graduated from his apprenticeship as a PO in the Fleet Air Arm and was posted to the ship HMS Beauly Firth but VE Day came before the ship could get into action. As the war was continuing in the Pacific Theatre, the ship sailed for Singapore but VJ Day arrived. The ship then sailed to Australia, repatriating POW’s, before returning to the UK. Frank returned to Australia a second time in 1948 “on loan” from the British Royal Navy to the Fleet Air Arm RAN at HMAS Albatross in its preparation for the arrival of the Australia’s first aircraft carrier, HMAS Sydney. He met and married Shirley Daly in Sydney and took his bride back to England in 1951.
Frank was again posted “on loan” from the Royal Navy as an Electrical Instructor to Australia (HMAS Cerberus) in 1955. He retired in Sydney from the Royal Navy in 1957, and joined the Reserve of the Royal Australian Navy in 1959 as a Sub-Lieutenant. He became a Mathematics Master with the NSW Department of Education from 1959 to 1985. Frank retired from the Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander in 1977.
For many years Frank Larbalestier was “The RSL” in Hunters Hill and he will be missed by many locals from Riverview and Lane Cove. His wife, Shirley, predeceased Frank in 2012, but he is survived by his five sons, ten grandchildren and a young great grandson. 
