Mostyn Berryman |
Mostyn 'Moss' Berryman was born on 9th November 1923 at Kent Town, South Australia, Australia. He was a son of Archibald Creswick Berryman and Dorothy Jarrett.[1]
On 7th April 1942, Moss enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy.[2] He was a member of the special commando unit, Z Force, in 1943 when it made its successful raid on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour (Operation Jaywick). He was Mentioned in Despatches, published in London Gazette 11 April 1944 on page 1678 at position 7.[3] Moss recalled in later life that, in December 1943 when Major Lyons asked him whether he would care to return to Singapore as part of a repeat operation, that he carefully considered the proposal for two seconds before declining. He spent the remainder of the war serving aboard the destroyer, HMAS Vendetta, patrolling off New Guinea and was de-mobbed on 21st February 1946.
After the war, Moss returned to his old job with stockbroking firm, S C Ward & Co., where he remained until retirement 46 years later.
He married his sweetheart, Mary unknown, a nurse. They had four daughters.
Moss was aboard the Krait when the famous old ship made her grand entry into Sydney Harbour in 1964 to commence her new life as a museum ship. On board with him were Ted Carse, Horrie Young, and Joe Jones of the Jaywick team.
In 1993, at the fiftieth anniversary of Operation Jaywick, Moss met Ivan Lyon's son, Brian – the 'spitting-image' of his dad – at the former's grave at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. They cried together over the fact that Brian had never met his hero father.
In 2018, at 95 years of age, Moss is the last surviving Z Force member. He lives in a retirement village in his native Adelaide.[4] And he has now received the £235 'danger money' promised to members of the mission 75 years ago! Indeed, he has received nearly $5,000.[5]
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Categories: Z Special Unit, Australia, World War II | Mentioned in Despatches | 1939-1945 Star | Pacific Star | War Medal 1939-1945 | Australia Service Medal 1939-1945