Our Indigenous Heroes - They Also Served

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Surname: Tapau
Given name: Wilfred
Alias:
Mother: Bero Aba
Father: Tapau Arees
Spouse:  
Place of Birth:   Murray Island, Torres Strait
DOB: 7/1/1949 
Mob: Torres Strait
Place of Death: Murray Island, Torres Strait
Date of Death: 25/3/2008
Civil Occupation: Seaman

SERVICE INFORMATION

Official Number: R65923
Service: Navy
Conflict: Vietnam
Date of Oath: 25/11/1966
Place of Oath: Brisbane, Qld
Date of Discharge:
Rank of Discharge: Able Seaman Mechanical Engineer
Regt/Ship/Sqdn: HMAS Cerberus, Vendetta, Diamantina, Melbourne, Sydney, Penguin.
Fate:
Area of Service: Australia & South East Asis

PRISONER OF WAR DETAILS

Date Captured:
Date Repatriated:
Awards/Honours: No record available
POW Internment:
Veteran Story: Wilfred Tapau was born on Murray Island on 7/1/1949 and was listed as student when he joined the Royal Australian Navy for a period of 9 years on 25/11/1966. He undertook his training at HMAS Cerberus in Westernport Bay Victoria during 25/11/1966 and 20/12/1966. After a short leave period he returned to HMAS Cerberus in January 1967 before being posted to serve on HMAS Vendetta until August of that year. He then transferred to HMAS Diamantina and served on that ship until 5/2/1968. He spent the next few months at HMAS Penguin and later on to HMAS Cerberus to undertake training courses. HMAS Sydney was his next posting for 3 months, presumably a troop run to Vietnam during that short period. HMAS Melbourne was next remaining on board until August 1969. It would appear from his records that Ephata was serving on the HMAS Melbourne at the time of the collision with the Frank E Evans in the early hours of 3rd June 1969. After such a traumatic event the ships company would have been posted off the ship and given leave. There are no digital records available post 1970. Ancestry records of his family state he was married and there were nine children from the joining. Wilfred died on March 25 2008 at Murray Island.
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