| The frigate H.M.A.S. Lachlan was launched on 25 March 1944, at Mort's Dock, Balmain, Sydney, N.S.W. and served in the Pacific as a survey ship for waters and channel approaches intended for use in landings during the closing months of the World War 2. Her first important operation came in Borneo in May 1945. | 
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Albert Halewood Brew, 'Acting Temporary Engineer Lieutenant Commander' R.A.N.V.R. (S), served on board from 10 October 1944 to 24 December 1945, as a member of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Her pennant number was K364. The entirety of the Lachlan's service was devoted to survey work in Australian and South Pacific waters.
Reg. No. 67308, iron screw steamer built in 1872 by Schlesinger, Davis & Co. of Newcastle, owned by W.E. Kirby and belonging to the port of Newcastle, England. She had a length 215 feet, a breadth of 30.6 feet, a depth of 17.3 feet, and could accommodate 35 seamen. She was of 967 gross registered tonnage and 98hp.
Sailing from and returning to South Shields, on the Tyne near Newcastle, both times, John George Brew served on her for 2 voyages as a 1st Engineer, from 30 April to 4 July 1879, having visited the ports of Bordeaux, Dieppe, St. Nazaire and Cardiff, and from (?) to 10 October 1879, arriving 3 days after the birth of his 5th son, Albert. Her crew agreements for 1872-1874 and 1876-1883 are held by the Maritime History Archive.
Reg. No. 96170, a steel screw steamer, 100A1, of 2101 gross register tons, with 1 deck and 250hp. She was built in 1890 by Palmers' Co. of Newcastle, owned by Scott Bros., and registered in the port of Newcastle. She had a length of 285.5 feet, a width of 39.2 feet, and a depth of 18.8 feet.
John George Brew jnr. served on her as a Seaman for two voyages, between 10 June and 14 October 1895.
Reg. No. 104351, a steel screw steamer, 100A1, of 2858 gross register tons and 245hp. She was built in 1895 by Short Bros. of Sunderland, owned by J. Westoll, and registered in the port of Sunderland. She had a length of 302.1 feet, a width of 44.8 feet and a depth of 16.4 feet.
John George Brew jnr. served on her as a Seaman for a single voyage, from 26 October 1895 - 20 January 1896.
Reg. No. 96305, code lettering LDJC, a steel screw steamer with 3 masts, electric light, accommodation for 40 seamen, of 250hp and 2357 gross register tons, carrying petroleum in bulk; a forerunner of today's tankers. She was built in 1889 by Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. of Newcastle for the Lumen Steamship Co. of Limerick, whose managers were H. E. Moss & Co. She had a length of 294 feet, a width 37.7 feet, a depth of 26.6 feet, and was registered in Liverpool.
This was 16 year old John George Brew jnr.'s first ship. He served as a fireman, under Master James Nicholson, earning £5 9s 9d for the voyage. John George joined her on 9 June 1893, sailing from North Shields to New York City, where he arrived on 29 June. Lumen departed the following day for Hamburg, where she arrived on 17 July. She left Hamburg on 18 July and returned to North Shields again where John George was discharged on 24 July 1893.