Kenneth Keith BABINGTON

BABINGTON, Kenneth Keith

Service Number: R48076
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Last Unit: HMAS Vampire II
Born: Parkes, New South Wales, Australia, 3 May 1931
Home Town: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Permanent RAN
Died: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia , 30 March 1999, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Norwood Park Crematorium, Mitchell, A.C.T.
Memorials:
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Vietnam War Service

25 May 1965: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer, R48076, HMAS Parramatta (III)
14 May 1969: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer, R48076, HMAS Vampire II

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Biography contributed by Dr Brian Babington AM

Ken Babington joined the Royal Australian Navy as an Ordnance Artificer in 1952. He stayed in the RAN until September 1972.

He served as a Chief Petty Officer then Chief Weapons Officer on numerous warships, including HMAS Australia, HMAS Anzac, HMAS Shoalhaven, HMAS Vampire (his favourite ship which is now moored as a permanent display at the National Maritime Museum at Sydney’s Darling Harbour), HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Voyager, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Quickmatch, and HMAS Quiberon.

He was awarded the following seven medals (in order of precedence):

·       Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with Malaysia and Vietnam clasps

·       General Service Medal 1962 with Malay Peninsula clasp

·       Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal

·       Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Far East Strategic Reserve clasp

·       Australian Defence Medal (posthumous)

·       Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

·       Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal (posthumous)

From 1972 to 1975 he worked under the Naval Defence Act as Technical Officer (Engineering) Grade 1 in the Weapons & Electrical Engineering, Technical Support Section of the General Overseer Superintendent of Inspection East Australia Area at North Sydney/Edgecliff.

From 1975 until 1980 he was a Technical Officer (Navy Systems) Grade 2 in the Weapons Electronic Production Group of Garden Island Dockyard. From 1980 to 1987, he was Senior Technical Officer (Engineering) HMA Naval Dockyard, Garden Island, Sydney.

From 1987 to 1992 he was Senior Technical Officer (Engineering) Grade 2, HMA Naval Dockyard, Garden Island, Sydney. He was transferred to the new company, Australian Defence Industries Ltd, Naval Engineering Division, Commercial Department, Stores Section in 1989 as Senior Technical Officer (Manufacturing).

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