Serviceman Kelvin Bryant reflects on the service of his father, grandfather and great grandfather every year on Anzac Day.

A former Royal Australian Navy serviceman, the day has always been one of solemn reflection for the Stanley resident. 

With 41 years of active service under his belt, April 25 is a day of reflection not only on his service, but the service of the three generations of Bryants before him. 

Collectively, his family has served in the Sudan War, the First World War and the Second World War as well as peacekeeping operations all over the world. 

Since the end of his active service, Kelvin has taken great pride in being involved with Anzac and Remembrance Day services around Circular Head, notably Stanley. 

Enlisting with the navy at age 15, Kel was assigned to the HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle, Perth.

This was the start of a prosperous career in the navy. 

As part of his service, Kel spent time on the HMAS Vendetta, HMAS Swan, HMAS Supply and HMAS Success and played a large role in the building and commissioning of the HMAS Adelaide.

Aboard these ships, he spent time at port in several Asian countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, the Philippines and the island Borneo. He also served in America. 

During his stay in the states, he completed a number of courses surrounding the use of gas turbines as means of propulsion, which was a new addition to ships at the time. 

His training in America took him all over the northern continent. He spent three weeks in Virginia, three months in Illinois, as well as a year in Seattle, Washington and another in Long Beach, California. 

During his time in Seattle, Kelvin double checked plans for the HMAS Adelaide by tracing every pipeline in the boat to ensure it was being built correctly.

Once built, it was off to Long Beach to test every aspect of the ship and its features for faults. Any faults had to be refitted and retested. 

This process took 12 months and once complete, the ship was taken on its maiden voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Australia. 

Then Kelvin participated in six months of exercises in Sydney before deployment in the Indian Ocean.

He spent the next two months at sea with an American battle fleet and enjoyed visiting most of coastal Africa and Western Asia. 

Now, after serving all over the world, Kel is a member of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. 

Not one to laze around, he spends his days looking after his sister’s farm and renovating his house in Stanley, where he has always wanted to live by the ocean. 

Kelvin Bryant (right) with son Kieran and wife Linda at the Anzac Day service in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory in 2015.