Presentation of a new Queen's Colour, HMAS Cerebus

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Category: Flags

Presentation of a new Queen's Colour, HMAS Cerberus, 7 March 1986

Booklet courtesy Leanne Baulch ACT

The Colour: Since earliest times warriors have carried standards or flags as a distinguishing mark and to serve as a rallying point during battle. To lose the standard often meant the Leader was lost and thus the standard became symbolic of the spirit and tradition of the group to which it belonged.

Arising from this ancient tradition, units of the Australian Defence Force are allowed Colours. The Queen's Colour is a reminder to all ranks of their loyalty and duty to their Sovereign and their country. The Colour is highly valued, carefully guarded and treated with great respect.

Two Queen's Colours are held by the Royal Australian Navy; one for the Australian Fleet and the other for Naval Shore Establishments. The latter is traditionally held in HMAS CERBERUS as the principal training establishment of the Royal Australian Navy.

Her Majesty The Queen has graciously approved the replacement of the existing Royal Australian Navy Establishments' Queen's Colour which was presented on 1st November 1968.

When the new Colour has been received the old Colour will be laid to rest in the RAN Memorial Chapel of St. Mark at HMAS CERBERUS and there to join the old Colours of His Majesty King George V, His Majesty King George VI and the Colour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the design prior to the Australian White Ensign.

The Queen's Colours are Australian White Ensigns of silk, with a Crown and Royal Cypher superimposed, and blue and gold cords and tassels.

Shore Establishments of The Royal Australian Navy

There are eighteen Royal Australian Navy Shore Establishments and they are located within every state of Australia. Each of the establishments provides an important and integral part of the Navy as a whole.

In today's fleet, the complex ships aircraft and weapon systems demand a high standard of operational and technological competence from the men and women who use them. In the shore establishments a wide range of tasks from logistic support and maintenance to the category training of personnel contribute to the effective manning and operational capability of the ships at sea.

HMAS CERBERUS is one of the oldest shore establishments and the traditional home of the Establishments' Queen's Colour. Named after the terrifying dog with three heads in Greek Mythology, the original CERBERUS was an iron clad monitor delivered to the Victorian Government on 9th April 1871. Oh 10th July 1911 the Commonwealth Naval Forces became the Royal Australian Navy and on the same day the Naval Depot at Williamstown, Victoria was commissioned HMAS CERBERUS. On the 1st April 1921 CERBERUS was transferred to its present home at Western Port. The old iron clad monitor was removed from the Navy List and today she can still be seen at Black Rock, Victoria where she serves as a breakwater.

Today, HMAS CERBERUS accommodates up to 2,000 personnel, both male and female, and carries out its major task of recruit and specialist training. Cooks, Stores, Communications, Engineering, Weapons Electrical and Gunnery are but a few of the training tasks. There are certainly few officers, sailors and Wrans who have never served or passed through HMAS CERBERUS in their naval career.

Crests of RAN Shore Establishments
	The Silver Drums of The RAN
	The Drums were presented by the Commonwealth and State Governments of Australia to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy in 196 1. The complete set, which consists of 11 drums, is understood to be one of only five similar sets throughout the world, although the Navy's set is unique in that the drums are believed to be the first manufactured of solid silver and with all the working parts being made of sterling silver.

Each drum is decorated with three badges, the Naval badge on the left, the Royal Cypher in the centre and the Commonwealth or State donor's crest on the right.

The Consecration Service

The parade will be called to attention, caps removed and the parade stood at ease.

Spectators should stand and gentlemen should remove their hats.

The Flag Officer Naval Support Command (FONSC) shall say:

'For as much as men at all times have made for themselves signs and emblems of their allegiance to their ruler, and of their duty to uphold those laws and institutions which God's providence has called them to obey; we, following this ancient and pious custom, and remembering that God Himself led his people to Israel by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, are met together before God to ask His blessings on this Colour which represents to us our duty towards our Sovereign and our Country. May it never be unfurled, saving in the cause of justice and righteousness; and may God make it to be, to those who follow it, a sign of His presence in all dangers and distresses, and so increase their faith and hope in Him, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords'.

The Flag Officer Naval Support Command shall then lead, and all on parade shall respond:
- FONSC. 'To the service of God and the hollowing of his Holy Name'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate ourselves afresh'
- FONSC: 'To the love of our Queen and Country, and to the Welfare of Mankind'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate ourselves afresh'
- FONSC: 'To the maintenance of honour and sanctity of Man's Plighted Word'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate ourselves afresh'
- FONSC. 'To the protection of all those who pass to and fro on their lawful occasions'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate ourselves afresh'
- FONSC. 'To the preservation of order and good government'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate ourselves afresh'
- FONSC: 'To the hallowed memory of our comrades, whose courage and endurance add undying lustre to our emblems'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate our Colour'
- FONSC. 'In continual remembrance of our solemn oath, and in token of our resolve faithfully and truly to keep it to the end'
  - ALL: 'We dedicate our Colour'
The Flag Officer Naval Support Command shall then say to the Chaplains:
- 'Reverend Sirs, on behalf of the Establishments of the Royal Australian Navy, we ask you to bid God's Blessing on this Colour'
- Anglican Chaplain, laying his hand on the Colour, shall say:
  - 'in the name of the Father. and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do consecrate and set apart this Colour, that it may be a sign of our duty towards our Queen and our Country in the sight of God. AMEN'.
- Roman Catholic Chaplain, Blessing the Colour, shall say:
  - 'Bless 0 Lord, this Colour which we bless in Your Name, that those who follow it may be ever mindful of Your Presence, guided by Your Will, and guided by Your Providence'.
- Making the Sign of the Cross over the Colour he continues:
  - 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do dedicate and set apart this Colour, that it may be a sign of our duty towards our Queen and our Country in the sight of God. AMEN'.
- Protestant Chaplain, laying his hand on the Colour shall say:
  - 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do dedicate and set apart this Colour, that it may be a sign of our duty towards our Queen and our Country in the sight of God. AMEN'.
- Then all present shall say together with the Chaplains:
  - '0 Lord Our God, Who beholds all the Kingdoms of the Earth, have regard to our land that it may continue to be a place and people who serve You to the end of time'.
  - 'Grant, 0 Lord, that all of us who live beneath our flag, may be ever mindful of its crosses, that we may work for the good of others according to the example of Him who died in the service of men, Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ'.
  - 'Let, 0 Lord, Your gracious favour rest on us who shall follow this Colour now to be committed to our trust. Give us courage and may our courage rest upon our confidence in You. May we show selfcontrol in the hour of success, patience in the hour of adversity, and may our honour lie in seeking the Glory of Your Name. Grant these our prayers 0 Lord, through the merits of Your Blessed Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. AMEN'.
- Finally all shall say the Lord's Prayer.
  
  'Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory; for ever and ever. AMEN'.

The centre page of the Commemorative booklet given to invited guests.

Click to enlarge.

It lists the
- Order of Parade and the
- Programme of Music by the Victorian Naval band.