Terry Brooks has passed on the very sad news that Keith Wardle passed away on Thursday night, 11th June 2026, at the North Epping Palliative Care.
Keith, a Lancashire man born in Bolton (UK) on 30 October 1945, joined the RAN in January 1962 and after a brief period at HMAS Leeuwin undertook further training at Cerberus as a Naval Airman. He spent most of his time at HMAS Albatross, but served as an Armourer on the first Helicopter Flight Vietnam (1967/68). He was medically evacuated back to Australia during this deployment.
“In August of 1967, a mob of sailors from different parts of ship were notified that they were to be trained in some form of confrontational actions with an enemy in a foreign country. This mob ended up in a classroom at HMAS ALBATROSS and was given lessons on how to escape and survive …. and also how to understand what role each of us would play. We were also trained in the use of the M60 machine gun. In September, half of the contingent flew to Vietnam and the rest followed mid October. All were deployed to Vung Tau Base and it is there that Keith and I got to know each other. I cannot remember the exact place of our connecting, but, suffice to say, Keith had the same sense of humour as I had, and, he didn’t mind taking the piss. I can guarantee it was hard to get the better of him but I could only try.
We shared many yarns and explored the many clubs on the base so we could sample their wares. Of an evening we would consider ourselves toffs, and partake of a Vodka and lemonade. At the American PX, a very large canteen whereat one could buy, shall we say, from peanuts to a motor vehicle, one of us would stroll over and buy a 26 ounce Smirnoff Vodka .. that’s 750mils .. for one dollar American… fair dinkum … that’s about 90 cents Australian the then going rate .. and also a carton of Leeds Lemonade which cost us 14cents a can; that’s a miserable 4 dollars 36 cents outlay. During the working day we worked assembling rockets and ammunition for the Huey choppers. Then a few beers to wash the dust and sand away, a trip to the PX, argue as to whose shout it was to buy the Vodka because 4 plus dollars would break him or me, and sit in the hootch with Keith on bongo drums .. inverted Sunshine Milk tins .. my trying to sing Christmas Carols .. or, a requested Waltzing Matilda by some American cousin .. I can only say we treated being away as just another day in the life of a sailor.
We knew it wasn’t really a holiday but I reckon we did what we did to take away any worrying thoughts. The American unit in which we were embedded was the 135th Assault Helicopter Company. Our base was changed from Vung Tau to a place called Blackhorse, some 20 minutes flight north of the Australian base, Nui Dat. The unit flew to this new base New Years Eve and not long after, on 12th Jan 1968, Keith was severely injured in the crash of his helicopter. It was en route to Blackhorse returning from Vung Tau, and Keith was returning with a replacement part for a grenade launcher. The injuries were so severe, he had to be given morphine and this was dosed to him several days after the prang. I hitched a ride on a chopper to Vung Tau and visited him. I remember he was pretty well doped up but his humour still came through… or the morphine had him going. Anyway, the following month I came home for a weeks R&R, and on the way back Maureen and I called in to Concord Hospital say goodday. He was still coping with, and coming to grips with, the injuries. I recall his telling us how he had the withdrawal symptons from all the doses of morphine.
I returned after completing 12 months, and Keith and I reunited. Because of his injuries, he no longer wanted to ride his motorcycle and he sold me his Triumph Tigercub. He taught me the pleasures of riding it, but I wasn’t an avid rider so it went to a mate across the road from me when I left the Navy in 1969. Later, February 1970, I went north to Darwin but remained in touch with my old mate. I made a few trips down to Toongabbie to stay with Keith and Kaye, so Keith and I could still talk crap.
When I look back I can say I’ve had many acquaintances and friends, but, there are true friends; these you can count on just one hand. Keith was one such true friend. Because of the distance between Darwin and Sydney, there was so much time we couldn’t catch up to talk “ship”. By the way, we also tried to best each other with our u-beaut knowledge of the English language and literature. Sometime while I was talking he’d interject with, “You just split the infinitive..”. Of course I had my own comeback to this… I would come up with, “Huh?”
Matt has been in touch over the years to keep me informed on Keith’s progression. Keith was my true friend. I shall miss him.
— T.E.BROOKS…Ex RAN…(VD & SCAR/WC & CHAIN) EX-NTPF…OAS BIS/LIB/NAP”
Keith’s family have advised that his funeral and life celebration will be held Monday June 29, 10am at The All Souls Chapel Rockwood located at Hawthorne Avenue Rookwood Cemetery and afterwards at the Village at Rookwood at 11.30am Cnr of Memorial Necropolis Ave Rookwood Cemetery.
