CRANED into place in the pouring rain, this original 21 inch, mark 23, model 3 torpedo is a new feature on the grounds at the Laurieton United Services Club.
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Thanks to the support of Laurieton RSL sub branch and member Doug Browne the torpedo will be properly repainted and displayed in the gardens of the club complete with information plaque.
Mr Browne said the torpedo was British made and 200 were sent to Australia in World War II to be used to protect the country and dropped from planes to destroy warships and submarines.
Mr Browne said he will paint the torpedo as close to its original colours as possible, of blue and silver.
He said he enjoys working with memorabilia. His Harley Davidson motorcycle is a feature of Laurieton’s Anzac Day parades, with its sidecar and mounted gatling gun.
“I got plenty of looks when I took it [the torpedo] to Wauchope to be sandblasted,” Mr Browne said.
A similar experience was had as the torpedo was transported to its new home. The club obtained the torpedo by chance in 2008, when operations manager Kathy Ibbotson was chatting with her son Justin Minett (duty manager at the then South Hurstville RSL). He mentioned the club was renovating and a torpedo in the parking are was no longer needed.
The local club jumped at the chance to own another piece of historical memorabilia and director Ken Whyte offered to travel and bring the torpedo home on a car trailer.
At the time the APEC summit was happening in Sydney and club secretary manager Robert Dwyer said Mr Whyte decided not to drive torpedo-in-tow over the harbour bridge amid the tightest anti-terrorist security Australia had ever seen as world leaders met.
Mr Whyte said as he drove through Sydney and along the freeway many drivers craned their necks to take in what they were seeing - a Holden Commodore towing a one tonne torpedo.
Plenty passed comment and took photos on their mobile phones. We assume the National Security Hotline would have been busy.
Comments from passing drivers included, wide-eyed stare from a passenger “Is that a torpedo?” Ken: “Yes mate.” Passenger (into mobile phone), “Yes it really is a torpedo.”
Another driver pulled up along side on the freeway: “Is that a torpedo?” Ken: “Yes mate.” Driver, pointing behind: “APEC’s back that way.” At a petrol station the attendant asked: “Is that a torpedo?” Ken: “Yes love.” Attendant: “Gee, it’s amazing the things you can buy on E Bay!”
