He will be going to the Solomon Islands to attend a rededication of a memorial to the 84 men killed when the HMAS Canberra was sunk during World War II.

A memorial was built to honour the Australians’ sacrifice but was desecrated during the civil unrest on the island of Guadalcanal.

On August 9, 1942, HMAS Canberra was severely damaged off Guadalcanal in an attack by the powerful Japanese navy in an action that became known as the Battle of Savo Island.

Three American ships were also sunk.

Mr Hall will join three other HMAS Canberra survivors for the service.

It’s the first time he was been to the Solomons since the war.

Mr Hall lost many mates

when HMAS Canberra was destroyed and he will remember those close friendships.

“One of my best mates was Wally Ross. We knew that we were going to come under attack and one day we were chewing the fat when we got onto the subject of what we would do if either of us did not come back,” Mr Hall said.

“I told Wally I would write to his parents, which I did. I told them Wally did not suffer.”

Survivors will go to where HMAS Canberra lies and Mr Hall will lay a wreath.

The carnage from the attack was immense, but Mr Hall was unhurt and even though he had no medical training he was able to assist the wounded and dying.

He helped perform amputations, removed shrapnel from wounds and held the hands of men as they were dying.

“It was like a production line of people who needed medical assistance,” he said.

“I lived on coffee and cigarettes for five days and then I collapsed from exhaustion.”