History: Maurice Bannister was a sailor on the HMAS Sydney, which sailed to England in 1953 for the late Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s monarch of over 70 years, passed away peacefully at her Scotland home on September 9.
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The monarch came to the throne at just 25 years old on February 6, 1952, after her father King George VI passed away.
She was crowned just one year later on June 2, 1953.
Numurkah man Maurice Bannister was a 20-year-old steward in the Royal Australian Navy on the HMAS Sydney crew at the time.
The HMAS Sydney took Australian and New Zealand defence force personnel to England for the festivities for the Queen’s coronation, including a 400-ship review at Spithead.
“It was jam-packed, like you see in London all the time. It was very festive,” he said.
“Everyone had a ball, and there was plenty to see and plenty to do.”
Mr Bannister was also among sailors standing to attention on the HMAS Sydney’s deck 13 days later, while the Queen undertook a review of 400 ships that had sailed across the world for the occasion.
Honour: Maurice Bannister’s certificate he received for participating in the crew of the HMAS Sydney, part of the Queen’s Coronation Review at Spithead in 1953.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust,” the Queen said in a speech to her subjects on her coronation day.
Mr Bannister said he thought the monarch had done a fine job throughout her reign.
“She said as a young lady ‘I’ll serve you’, and I think that’s what she’s done admirably,” he said.
“I think she was very well respected and revered.
“It’s a sad thing but I think it’s something that was coming ... The (royal) family can certainly have my condolences.”
The Queen had been suffering from what Buckingham Palace called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year. Her condition deteriorated on September 8, when she was placed under medical supervision while her family rushed to her side.
The monarch had just completed her last public duty on September 6, when she appointed Liz Truss the 15th Prime Minister of her reign.
Her marriage to Prince Philip lasted 73 years until his death in April 2021 and they had four children, Anne, Andrew, Edward and Charles.
On the Queen’s death, Charles became King with his wife Camilla becoming the Queen Consort.
He is now the head of state for 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
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