{"id":39630,"date":"2019-11-09T11:12:29","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T11:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=39630"},"modified":"2021-12-13T08:45:22","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T08:45:22","slug":"vale-hilary-by-des-kelly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/vale-hilary-by-des-kelly\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;VALE&#8217; HILARY&#8221; \u2013 By Des Kelly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #10e6c2;\">&#8220;VALE&#8217; HILARY&#8221; \u2013 By Des Kelly<\/span><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zt_lZXic2iA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000000;\">He was a genuine Navy mate of mine, and this tribute to him is richly deserved. The ultimate &#8220;family man&#8221;, to my knowledge, he looked after Maureen, his beloved wife &amp; his daughters, and, was in turn, loved to the max, by them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000000;\">There are very few of us ex-Royal Ceylon Navy boys left now<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000000;\">but Hilary was known to all of us, as a good friend, and, speaking for myself, it was always a pleasure to have a chat with him from time to time. Hilary, it was a privilege to know you, and you will be sorely missed by your family, your many friends, among whom, I was just one. Rest in peace now, and may the good Lord bless &amp; keep you, as the song says, and I humbly add to your tribute. This beautiful song is dedicated especially to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29910 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Desmond-Kelly-9.jpg\" alt=\"Desmond Kelly\" width=\"125\" height=\"178\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000000;\">Desmond Kelly.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000000;\">\u00a0(Editor-in-Chief) eLanka.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39632\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hilary-Mervyn-Berenger-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"291\" \/>\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39633\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hilary-Mervyn-Berenger-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"351\" height=\"288\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\"><em>VALE &#8211;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\"><strong>Hilary\u00a0 Mervyn\u00a0 Berenger<\/strong>\u00a0 joined\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Navy\u00a0 in\u00a0 1959\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 among\u00a0 the initial\u00a0 intake\u00a0 of\u00a0 recruits\u00a0 in\u00a0 the \u00a0then \u00a0recently\u00a0 constituted\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Navy,\u00a0 soon\u00a0 after\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 became\u00a0 an\u00a0 independent\u00a0 member\u00a0 of\u00a0 Her\u00a0 Majesty\u2019s\u00a0 British\u00a0 Commonwealth . It\u00a0 would\u00a0 be\u00a0 no\u00a0 exaggeration\u00a0 to\u00a0 state\u00a0 that\u00a0 he , and\u00a0 all\u00a0 of\u00a0 us\u00a0 of\u00a0 his\u00a0 era, were\u00a0 founders\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 present\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 Force. The\u00a0 rules\u00a0 and\u00a0 standards\u00a0 of\u00a0 recruitment\u00a0 were\u00a0 very\u00a0 high\u00a0 and\u00a0 strict.\u00a0 This\u00a0 was\u00a0 the\u00a0 beginning\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 manpower\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy\u00a0 then\u00a0 was\u00a0 much\u00a0 less\u00a0 than\u00a0 a\u00a0 thousand\u00a0 sailors\u00a0 and\u00a0 Officers , the\u00a0 highest\u00a0 ranking\u00a0 Officer\u00a0 being\u00a0 a\u00a0 Commander !<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">Hilary\u00a0 had\u00a0 his\u00a0 secondary\u00a0 education\u00a0 at\u00a0 St. Joseph\u2019s\u00a0 College , Darley Road, Colombo , which\u00a0 was\u00a0 one\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 largest\u00a0 and\u00a0 long\u00a0 established\u00a0 Catholic\u00a0\u00a0 schools\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 island. He\u00a0 was\u00a0 a\u00a0 good\u00a0 student , both\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 studies\u00a0 and\u00a0 in\u00a0 sports , particularly\u00a0 swimming\u00a0 which\u00a0 was\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 the\u00a0 foundation\u00a0 of\u00a0 his\u00a0 later\u00a0 career\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 slim\u00a0 and\u00a0 wiry\u00a0 in\u00a0 physique,\u00a0 and\u00a0 had\u00a0 a\u00a0 very\u00a0 pleasant\u00a0 and\u00a0 congenial\u00a0 personality\u00a0 which endeared\u00a0 him\u00a0 to\u00a0 his\u00a0 friends\u00a0 and\u00a0 mates\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy. He\u00a0 had\u00a0 a\u00a0 very\u00a0 liberal\u00a0 \u201c live\u00a0 and\u00a0 let\u00a0 live \u201c\u00a0 policy\u00a0 and\u00a0 made\u00a0 friends\u00a0 quite\u00a0 easily\u00a0 which\u00a0 was,\u00a0 an\u00a0 essential\u00a0 requirement\u00a0 while\u00a0 working\u00a0 in\u00a0 confined\u00a0 areas on\u00a0 a\u00a0 ship\u00a0 or\u00a0 Patrol\u00a0 vessel\u00a0 . He\u00a0 took\u00a0 all\u00a0 the\u00a0 hardships, inconveniences\u00a0 and\u00a0 discomfort\u00a0 of\u00a0 Service\u00a0 life\u00a0 when\u00a0 on\u00a0 duty\u00a0 on\u00a0 the\u00a0 high\u00a0 seas\u00a0 or\u00a0 during\u00a0 sudden\u00a0 emergencies\u00a0 ashore\u00a0 when\u00a0 called\u00a0 to\u00a0 do\u00a0 the\u00a0 work\u00a0 of\u00a0 strikers\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Harbour, Oil\u00a0 Installation\u00a0 etc.\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 stride. He\u00a0 was , indeed,\u00a0 respected\u00a0 by\u00a0 his\u00a0 Juniors\u00a0 and\u00a0 trusted\u00a0 by\u00a0 his\u00a0 superiors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">In\u00a0 the\u00a0 latter\u00a0 years\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 1950s\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 Diving\u00a0 Unit\u00a0 was\u00a0 gradually\u00a0 established.\u00a0 Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 one\u00a0 of\u00a0 its\u00a0 pioneer\u00a0 members\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 contributed\u00a0 greatly\u00a0 to\u00a0 make\u00a0 it\u00a0 a\u00a0 much\u00a0 needed\u00a0 and\u00a0 respected\u00a0 unit\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Navy. They\u00a0 were\u00a0 engaged\u00a0 in\u00a0 several\u00a0 ship\u00a0 repair\u00a0 and\u00a0 salvage\u00a0 operations,\u00a0 and also\u00a0 during\u00a0 the\u00a0 aftermath\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Cyclone in\u00a0 the\u00a0 1960s, \u00a0and\u00a0 other\u00a0 floods thereafter. The\u00a0 Sri Lanka\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 Diving\u00a0 Unit\u00a0 today\u00a0 is\u00a0 a\u00a0 well\u00a0 established\u00a0 and\u00a0 vital\u00a0 part\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy\u00a0 boasting\u00a0 of\u00a0 an\u00a0 independence\u00a0 of\u00a0 its\u00a0 own\u00a0 coming\u00a0 directly\u00a0 under\u00a0 the\u00a0 command\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Admiral\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 feted\u00a0 in\u00a0 Sri Lanka\u00a0 by\u00a0 the\u00a0 Diving\u00a0 Unit \u00a0\u00a0during\u00a0 their\u00a0 Anniversary\u00a0 Celebrations\u00a0 a\u00a0 short\u00a0 while\u00a0 before\u00a0 he\u00a0 passed\u00a0 on. I\u00a0 had\u00a0 the\u00a0 privilege\u00a0 of\u00a0 sharing\u00a0 his\u00a0 pride\u00a0 of\u00a0 achievement .<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">Here\u00a0 in\u00a0 Australia,\u00a0 Hilary\u00a0 surprised\u00a0 his\u00a0 friends\u00a0 and\u00a0 contemporaries\u00a0 by\u00a0 proving\u00a0 that\u00a0 he\u00a0 was\u00a0 quite\u00a0 a\u00a0 capable\u00a0 technician\u00a0 as\u00a0 he\u00a0 had\u00a0 been\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 diver !\u00a0 He\u00a0 was\u00a0 employed\u00a0 by\u00a0 the\u00a0 Melbourne\u00a0 Water\u00a0 Board\u00a0 for\u00a0 several\u00a0 years\u00a0 and\u00a0 on\u00a0 early\u00a0 retirement \u00a0\u00a0set\u00a0 up\u00a0 a\u00a0 small\u00a0 workshop\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 backyard.\u00a0 He specialised\u00a0 in\u00a0 repairing\u00a0 the\u00a0 Petrol\u00a0 engine of \u00a0\u00a0Lawn\u00a0 mowers. It\u00a0 was\u00a0 indeed\u00a0 a\u00a0 specialised\u00a0 trade\u00a0 requiring\u00a0 a\u00a0 lot\u00a0 of\u00a0 skill\u00a0 and\u00a0 patience , handling\u00a0 intricate\u00a0 and\u00a0 tiny\u00a0 components\u00a0 and\u00a0 working\u00a0 within\u00a0 very\u00a0 fine\u00a0 tolerances. But\u00a0 Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 the\u00a0 master\u00a0 of\u00a0 precision,\u00a0 and\u00a0 precise\u00a0 he\u00a0 was\u00a0 in\u00a0 everything\u00a0 he\u00a0 did &#8211;\u00a0 even\u00a0 the\u00a0 flower\u00a0 beds\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 borders in\u00a0 his\u00a0 garden were\u00a0 maintained\u00a0 and\u00a0 trimmed\u00a0 to\u00a0 precision ! It\u00a0 was\u00a0 a\u00a0 treat\u00a0 to\u00a0 walk\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 front\u00a0 garden,\u00a0 and\u00a0 amongst \u00a0the\u00a0 vegetable\u00a0 beds\u00a0 at\u00a0 the\u00a0 back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\"><strong><em>The\u00a0 nearer\u00a0 one\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 Nature, the\u00a0 nearer\u00a0 one\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 God. I\u00a0 truly\u00a0 believe\u00a0 that\u00a0 this\u00a0 is\u00a0 Hilary\u2019s\u00a0 destiny.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\"><strong><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">Never\u00a0 an\u00a0 idle\u00a0 man, Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 involved\u00a0 convening\u00a0 all\u00a0 Ex\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 personnel\u00a0 in\u00a0 Melbourne\u00a0 to\u00a0 meet\u00a0 and\u00a0 form\u00a0 a\u00a0 group.\u00a0 From\u00a0 1977\u00a0 right\u00a0 up\u00a0 to\u00a0 date,\u00a0 this\u00a0 group\u00a0 of\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 ex Naval\u00a0 personnel\u00a0 and\u00a0 their\u00a0 families\u00a0 met\u00a0 at\u00a0 monthly\u00a0 and\u00a0 bi monthly\u00a0 lunches, State\u00a0 and\u00a0 inter State\u00a0 outings, annual\u00a0 Dinner\u00a0 Dances etc. Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 always\u00a0 there\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 forefront\u00a0 helping\u00a0 to\u00a0 organise\u00a0 these\u00a0 events. Later,\u00a0 when\u00a0 the\u00a0 Ex Ceylon Naval\u00a0 group\u00a0 amalgamated\u00a0 with\u00a0 the\u00a0 ex Ceylon\u00a0 Army\u00a0 and\u00a0 Air Force\u00a0 personnel\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 Ceylon Ex Servicemen\u2019s\u00a0 Association ( C E S A )\u00a0 was\u00a0 founded , Hilary\u00a0 proved\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 an\u00a0 asset\u00a0 helping\u00a0 to\u00a0 organise\u00a0 CESA\u2019s\u00a0 participation\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 annual\u00a0 ANZAC\u00a0 march\u00a0 in\u00a0 Melbourne\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 Lunch\u00a0 thereafter. There\u00a0 were\u00a0 also\u00a0 the\u00a0 successful\u00a0 and\u00a0 happy CESA\u00a0\u00a0 luncheons\u00a0 and\u00a0 Dinner\u00a0 Dances\u00a0 that\u00a0 Hilary\u00a0 was\u00a0 very\u00a0 much\u00a0 a\u00a0 part\u00a0 of. He\u00a0 was\u00a0 indeed\u00a0 a\u00a0 vibrant\u00a0 member\u00a0 of\u00a0 our\u00a0 Ex\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 group\u00a0 and\u00a0 CESA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">Hilary\u2019s\u00a0 deep\u00a0 love\u00a0 for\u00a0 his\u00a0 family, his\u00a0 service\u00a0 and\u00a0 loyalty\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal Ceylon Navy\u00a0 and\u00a0 CESA ,\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 his close\u00a0 attachment\u00a0 to\u00a0 Nature\u00a0 have\u00a0 convinced\u00a0 me\u00a0 that\u00a0 his\u00a0 destiny\u00a0 with\u00a0 God\u00a0 is\u00a0 his\u00a0 absolute\u00a0 end.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\">May\u00a0 Stern\u00a0 winds\u00a0 and\u00a0 seas\u00a0 take\u00a0 you\u00a0 to\u00a0 your\u00a0 destiny. Till\u00a0 we\u00a0 meet,\u00a0 my\u00a0 friend.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; color: #000080;\"><strong><em>Chris. J. Lawton<\/em><\/strong> , \u00a0Order of Australia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chartered\u00a0 Engineer ( Lond ) Retd.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lieutenant (E) Royal Ceylon Navy (Retd.)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &#8220;VALE&#8217; HILARY&#8221; \u2013 By Des Kelly \u00a0\u00a0He was a genuine Navy mate of mine, and this tribute to him is richly deserved. The ultimate &#8220;family man&#8221;, to my knowledge, he looked after Maureen, his beloved wife &amp; his daughters, and, was in turn, loved to the max, by them.\u00a0 There are very few of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":39635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,1104],"tags":[9184,8872],"class_list":{"0":"post-39630","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"category-desmond-kelly","9":"tag-hilary-mervyn-berenger","10":"tag-royal-ceylon-navy","11":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>&quot;VALE&#039; HILARY&quot; \u2013 By Des Kelly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"He was a genuine Navy mate of mine, and this tribute to him is richly deserved. 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