Person Page - 1940

Cyril George Parish enlisted in the RAN (Service Number 32690) on 24 Sep 1946 at age 17 years, 11 months for a 2 year period. He declared his place of birth to be Horsham, Vic, and his prior enlistment address was 19 Nicholas Street, East Brunswick, Victoria. His Next Of Kin was his father (Bill) William J Parish. George's previous trade was as a wood machinist. On enlistment he was 5 foot 8 1/2 inches tall, with fair hair , blue eyes and medium complexion. His weight was not recorded but it was noted that he had an appendix scar. His first ship was the land facility HMAS Cerberus, at Flinders, Victoria.
During his early period of service he met the love of his life and his wife to be, Velma Joyce Matthews (Ralph).
George subsequently served at Latrobe, Cerberus (where he was rated as Acting Able Bodied Seaman 24 Sep 1947), Penguin, Melville (28 Nov 1947 until 17 Sep 1948), Lonsdale, Flinders Naval Depot, and Lonsdale where he was due for demobilisation on 23 Sep 1948. Whilst serving in the Melville/Darwin area on unexploded mine recovery he contracted rheumatic fever. He was declared unfit for overland travel and received approval for civil air travel back to Melbourne, where he was admitted to Flinders Naval Hospital for an extended period. Owing to his continuing ill health he was not discharged until 10 June 1949 at Lonsdale (Port Melbourne).
His discharge address was declared as 19 Piera Street, East Brunswick.
In 2005 George was delighted to find that his RAN service was recognised as WW11 Active Service, (because of the hazardous nature of unexploded mine recovery), and he received the 60th Anniversary Medallion commemorating the successul end to WW11.¹