The crew of HMAS Riversnake at Port Victoria, North West Borneo, on the occasion of the ...

The crew of HMAS Riversnake at Port Victoria, North West Borneo, on the occasion of the decommissioning of the vessel from the Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD). The Riversnake and other vessels of the RAN 'Snake' flotilla were being handed over to the British Borneo Civil Affairs Unit (BBCAU) and their crews paid off. Identified from left to right: unidentified (partially obscured); FV236 Able Seaman (AB) A M Colgate RANVR; LT/JX381091 AB J R Sparrowhawk RN; Lieutenant (Lt) John Preston Gowing RANVR, Commanding Officer; unidentified; SV514 AB N W Turnbull RANVR; LT/KX160035 Leading Stoker K J Cross RN; SV515 Leading Seaman A J Edwards RANVR. FV267 Master's Mate (M/M) R T Stacey RANVR and Lt (SP) C A King RANR were both absent. Lt Gowing is holding a sign which is believed to be the vessel's nameplate hastily constructed prior to the photograph being taken as the vessel carried no name plate at all during its service with SRD. The Japanese characters on the board approximate to watersnake although they are not completely correct in their execution or placement, probably having been copied by a non-native Japanese speaker.