SOLOMON, Barry Julius
Barry Solomon was enrolled at Geelong College from 18 September 1946 to December 1953. He played in the College 1st Football XVIII (1951-53), and in the 1st Cricket XI (1952-53, taking 40 wickets, including a haul of 14 for 72 against Geelong Grammar School in 1953). He was a School Prefect in 1953.
In 1953, Barry played in the combined APS Cricket team and the combined APS Football team. Barry won both the Cummins Memorial Cricket Prize and the Gus Kerney Memorial Scholar Prize in 1953.
He registered in 1953 for the compulsory National Service Scheme, in which tbe majority of the trainees attempted to get into either the Navy (RAN) or Air Force. Barry had a history in surf club, swimming (College swimming champion from 1951-53) and sailing, so did everything in his power to join the navy, especially considering his father's service in the RN.
Only three trainees in that intake, including Barry Solomon, were successful in joining the Navy; part of their training was ten weeks at sea on HMAS Vengeance, a light fleet carrier, which was the only vessel available to bring back the famous 77 Squadron Meteor jets from Korea. On their voyage they called in at Lae and Manus Island (at that time the most northern island of the Australian Protectorate).
The HMAS Vengeance webpage, http://vvww.navy.gov.au/HMAS Vengeance described the training program:
' In July 1954, Vengeance commenced service as a fleet training ship, including instruction for National Service trainees. On 27 October 1954, she sailed from Sydney for Japan to embark aircraft, men and equipment of 77 Squadron, RAAF, and return them to Australia. Vengeance sailed from Yokosuka on 19 November 1954 and arrived in Sydney on 3 December.'
Sources: 'Geelong Collegians at the Second World War and Subsequent Conflicts' compiled by J. Afflrck p572 (citing The Pegasus; Australian War Mamorial; http://vvww.navy.gov.au/HMAS Vengeance).