Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: Dooley Crescent

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Street Name: Dooley Crescent
Name of Veteran: John Dooley
Rank: Petty Officer, Elect
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: 1939
Year of Visit/Dedication: May 2004
Veteran or Family Visit: John Dooley
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: No
Died at Battle: No

John Dooley served HMS Ajax from mid 1947 to mid 1948 at the time of the last commission of the ship. For the majority of this time the Ajax was with the Mediterranean fleet.

While in the Mediterranean the ship served to uphold the International Agreement that prevented European refugee ships from getting to Israel. On a more friendly assignment, the ship had the duty of ‘showing the flag’ which served to raise awareness of the ship in the Mediterranean. HMS Ajax visited many ports including Sardinia, Italy, Trieste, Greece, Cyprus, Crete, Malta and Gibraltar. HMS Ajax also participated in exercises with other ships in the fleet while in the area.

On board the ship, John performed many duties including four hour watches, day and night as a look-out on the bridge. He was on board Ajax when she entered her home port of Chatham for the very last time. This was a very sad time for the many sailors who had called Ajax home for so long. Soon after John left HMS Ajax, she was towed to the breakers yard.

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