John Peerless, of the 'Cerberus'.
H.M.A.S. 'Cerberus' is ready to die and Petty Officer John Peerless, 89, who manned her is sorry to see her go. He thinks this is a vast mistake - a landlubber's meddling mistake - the Cerberus is a fine ship. Hasn't he handled her 18 ton guns and loaded them down to their grim muzzles? Why, when he left her, 30 years ago, there was not a sounder ship afloat. There was not a ship along the coast that did not dip its flag to the flagship. The girls were thrilled when they saw her steaming up the bay. John Peerless is to live longer, after all, than she: but he, has finished his service, and he has gone into dock. This morning he was sitting in the sun in a room in Napier Street, Fitzroy, above the offices of Stone's Timber Yards. He had been an employee there for more than 20 years. Now he is elderly and rarely comes downstairs.
Medals & Memories
He can still remember how in May, 1854 one morning he went down to the navy yard at Sheerness and went on board His (sic) Majesty's ship 'Hannibal'. He can still see her now, sailing to the Crimea - he is one of her 850 men, and he helps to man one of her 91 guns. There is never a ship o' the line who could sail like she. She is doing her 14 knots - she is drawing ever inch of her canvas. He tells with pride how the enemy skulked in the harbour inside, and they cruised about gallantly and stormed them as they lay at anchor. He can still feel her heel over as she fired her broadside all at once. His eyes light up at the thought, and he stands up very straight.
He unwraps his medals - there are three of them, wrapped in calico. One is for the Crimea, one is for the Maori War, and one for long service. His next best treasure is a drawing of the Victorian Fleet that was done in the 80's - there the old Cerberus leads them down the Bay. He also has a picture of himself, and a fine figure of a man he was indeed. There he stands in his smart navy uniform, straight as a reed, and he wears a short clipped beard.
Dreams of the Past
He sits all day and dreams of the past. He is comfortable where he is - he has finished his work. The navy for him is still modelled as the Cerberus was. We could tell him that the great ships are different now, but why should we tell him that. We could tell him that the men are better now, but that would not be true. We wish him well, and we hope the sun shines often on his musings in the upstairs room.
Written by Florence Pollitt, a friend & neighbour of John Peerless, c 1926.
Oldest Member of Crew
Probably the oldest living man who served on the dismantled ironclad Cerberus, the ultimate end of which is about to be determined, is Mr. John Peerless, a veteran of the Crimean and Maori wars. In his 89th year, and with his faculties clear, he resides in Napier street, Fitzroy. Mr. Peerless was born in Walmer, Kent (England), and in his boyhood frequently held the Duke of Wellington's horse when the Duke, riding from Walmer Castle into the town, dismounted to transact buisness. Joining the Imperial Navy in his early 'teens Mr. Peerless served in the Crimean war on H.M.S. Iris. He arrived in Victoria about 50 years ago, and was for 20 years attached to the Cerberus.
The Argus, 19 June 1926
Date of entry 19 January 1875. Victorian Navy Certificate of Service.
Certificate of Service
On 27 January 1881 The Age reported that John Peerless was awarded a New Zealand war medal.
On 28 December 1880 the Cerberus Logbook recorded that John Peerless was sent to the store ship Success as a watchman.
A notice of application for probate was given in The Argus, 12 November 1928.
