I was a shipmate of John's on HMAS Shoalhaven, a river class frigate. John and I were in the commissioning crew in 1946 and did an adventurous trip around New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Island and the New Hebrides. We went aground on a reef in the Solomons and limped back to Sydney with a marked list. We called John 'Digger' Ashley and he was a sunny natured bloke, very popular. 6ft 2inches tall, he was a very good swimmer winning many Masters' races in recent years and playing first grade Rugby Union for Manly. He was only 17 years and 2 months old when he joined the Navy in March 1945. John's surviving shipmates will be saddened to hear of his passing. George Franki Sec/Treasurer HMAS Shoalhaven Association tel 99559444.