NAVAL HISTORICAL

REVIEW Patron: Vice Admiral T.W. Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN Chief of Navy

Volume 38 No. 4 – December 2017

Contents Page The Bosun’s Call ...... ii Our Spanish Cousins: Politics and Shipbuilding Capabilities ...... 1 The Last Coastwatchers ...... 5 HMAS Suva: the ship that shaped the future of the Australian Naval Station ...... 10 Malta Revisited ...... 15 The Australia—India Relationship – Part 2 ...... 19 Bomb and Mine Disposal in the Pacific ...... 27 HMAS Arunta and Operation Hamburger ...... 33 Australian political and military strategies in WWII ...... 38 HDML 1321 - Update ...... 41 Submarine Mining ...... 42 The World’s Fastest Ship ...... 44 Book Club ...... 45 Letters to the Editor ...... 46 Editor (and Bosun): Walter Burroughs Assistant (and Bosun’s Mate): Doris Shearman

All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden without the express permission in writing of the Society. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Society.

The Editor of the Review is available to offer advice to prospective contributors. Contact: The Editor, The Boatshed, Building 25, Garden Island, NSW 2011 Telephone: 02 9359 2372/2243. Fax: 02 9359 2383 Email: [email protected] Website: www.navyhistory.org.au ii Naval Historical Review December 2017

The Bosun’s Call: Another year is nearly over during which, on the naval building front, much has been achieved. This started slowly in April with an announcement by Austal that steel was being cut for the first of nineteen replacement Pacific Patrol Boats being constructed at their Henderson, Western Australia facility for delivery from early 2018. The Government has since announced that two additional boats are to be added to this program for delivery to Timor Leste. In June a similar announcement came from Navantia in Spain with steel being cut for two replacement logistic support vessels being built to replace HMA Ships Success and Sirius. A nominal amount of steel used in their construction is being supplied by BlueScope’s Elsewhere we have tried to cover most of Port Kembla mills. The new ships will be the spectrum with two articles on mining, delivered between 2019 and 2020. firstly an academic perspective on early Most importantly, the first of a new class of Submarine Mining, followed by an Air Warfare Destroyers, HMAS Hobart, operational account of Bomb and Mine bearing the proud pennant number 39 of her Disposal. There is further research into predecessor, was commissioned with due Australian Political and Military Strategies in ceremony on 23 September 2017. Displacing WWII, and John Smith reminds us that the nearly 7,000 tonnes when fully loaded her shape of the RAN was largely decided on a cruiser-like dimensions will bring a sparkle to 1919 cruise by Admiral Jellicoe in a little the eyes of older hands. While based on the known and part-time warship HMAS Suva. Spanish F100 design, these ships are built by For those enjoying more lengthy ASC Pty Ltd at Osborne in South Australia. discussions we again look into the important ASC is an offshoot of the majority government but often poorly reported Australian-Indian owned Australian Submarine Corporation, relationship. There is an acknowledgement to builders of the Collins class. the last of our famous Coastwatchers. The While Hobart rightly features on our front important wartime base of Malta is revisited cover on the back cover there is a picture of and finally we look into the strangely named, the High Speed Craft (HSC) Francisco. In a for those days, Operation Hamburger. triumph for local shipbuilding this vessel, Best wishes to all our contributors and possibly the world’s fastest commercial craft, readers for a Happy Christmas with your was designed and built by Incat in Tasmania loved ones and we trust we may find one and has been exported for service in South another again in the New Year. America. Notably the USN continues to develop vessels of this type. Walter Burroughs, Editor and Bosun Readers may care to gain further background by delving into the articles Our Doris Shearman, Assistant Editor and Spanish Cousins and The World’s Fastest Ship. Bosun’s Mate

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Our Spanish Cousins: Politics and Shipbuilding Capabilities

Political Intrigues For centuries there was natural rivalry over a number of times and returned to Spain between Britain and Spain in the fields of in 1802. Our own first governor, Arthur colonial expansion, maritime trade and Phillip, was an 18 year old Midshipman at the commerce. Relationships, at least from the 1756 Battle of Minorca where a British fleet time of the 1588 Armada, were acrimonious. was defeated by the French, leading to the As a counter to Spanish success Britain built a controversial court-martial and death by firing friendship with Portugal, a small country squad of Admiral John Byng. sharing a common heritage and border with In the 1700s Spain was amongst the Spain. This goes back even further in time to world’s most prosperous nations. From then the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance of 1373, the on a series of disputes regarding the oldest such treaty in the world which remains succession to the Spanish throne and the extant. eventual loss of its colonies led to a national In 1662, in a political move set to decline. A revolution in 1866 was the catalyst embarrass their Spanish neighbours, the for further turmoil which was not finally Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza resolved until the end of the Spanish Civil War married British King Charles II and as part of in 1939. Remaining neutral in both world her dowry Tangier, in the modern Kingdom of wars, Spain again gradually built the relative Morocco, became a British possession. This stability and prosperity she enjoys today. was significant as it gave Britain a gateway to The Spanish navy has a long and proud the great Mediterranean Sea leading to the history and at one time was the world’s largest Orient and the East Indies. Huge sums of navy. During the 17th and 18th centuries its money were spent improving the port and its naval forces were sorely tested protecting defences and a large garrison was involved in worldwide trade against the rigours displayed keeping the Moors at bay. by the ‘wooden walls’ of England. When There were immediate complications, as looked at through Spanish eyes this was no Spain had previously annexed Portugal and more than piratical interference of trade for refused to acknowledge Portuguese wanton greed and destruction, with independence and its right to cede territory. molestation undertaken with impunity in This meant the new British colony faced an favour of awards and prizes justified by unfriendly presence from the near north and Admiralty Courts of dubious morality. from their Moroccan neighbours, who deeply For over three centuries the Spanish resented having another foreign enclave in empire expanded across South America, their country. In the end, after only 23 years of through the Caribbean, Central America and occupation Britain destroyed most of its much of North America. The first signs of improvements and abandoned the settlement. instability occurred in 1763 when much of its However the situation improved for vast Louisiana Territory was ceded to France, Britain following the outcome of the War of and later sold to the United States. The Spanish Succession (1701-1714) when Spain destruction of the main Spanish fleet, under ceded Gibraltar and the island of Minorca to French command, at Trafalgar in 1805 Britain. Gibraltar has remained a British undermined Spain’s ability to defend its colony to this day but Minorca was fought empire. Further lands in Louisiana and

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Spanish fleet. They leased the three government dockyards, effectively privatizing their operations. Over the next twenty years SECN built numerous warships based on British designs, including three Dreadnought- type battleships. While the privatized yards had mixed success they greatly aided the expansion of commercial shipbuilding. The downside was a continuing heavy reliance on overseas technical support. At the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939 SECN was reorganised, the three major shipyards restored to government control and British workers returned home. This led to a decline, with only a handful of small warships Marriage of Catherine of Braganza to King Charles being constructed during WWII. II, from old print This all changed in 1953 with the signing Florida were ceded to the Unities States in of the ‘Pact of Madrid’ between Spain and the 1819 and the Mexican-American War of United States. The Pact provided for mutual 1846-48 resulted in the loss of Texas. defence and US military aid to Spain for the Starting in 1810 a period of insurrection construction of bases that could be used by the occurred in Spain’s South American colonies US, in particular Rota near Cadiz. Over the and continued for the next twenty and more next decade the US transferred destroyers and years as they sought independence. The final minesweepers as well as extensive funds to nail in the coffin was the Spanish-American modernise naval infrastructure and for War of 1898 with America giving aid to improved naval training. The first major US Cuban rebels and this extended to the loss of warships transferred to Spain in 1957 were its Pacific possessions, most notably the three Fletcher class destroyers. Rota is now a Philippines and Guam. Spanish naval base shared with considerable US forces and is fully funded by the United Spanish shipbuilding capabilities States. The rugged northwest coastal region of Spain The next major step taken in the mid- has a centuries old tradition of ship 1980s was the building of US designed guided- construction and repair. From the 19th missile frigates under licence at the Bazan El century Spain’s warships were primarily Ferrol shipyard. The six-ship Santa Maria sourced from Britain with some construction class, a variant of the US Oliver Hazard Perry in government owned naval dockyards. In class, is similar to the RAN’s Adelaide class. 1887 a consortium of British and Spanish With technological skills transfer from the US firms formed a private company, Astilleros del this proved to be the turning point in Spain’s Nervion, in Bilbao. They produced three ability to build modern warships. The major cruisers, basically an enlarged version of the difference between this approach and the RN Orlando class. previous British initiative was that technology In 1909 the Sociedad Española de was transferred directly to the indigenous Construcción Naval (SECN) was created by a labour force. They also entered into a long- new consortium of British shipyards (Vickers, term relationship with the renowned ship- Armstrong & John Brown) to rebuild the design house of Gibbs & Cox which allowed

Naval Historical Review December 2017 3 seamless integration of local requirements to the new company was the award of a into American hulls. contract by Norway to build five Aegis frigates Spain was incorporated into the European at a time when the first Spanish ship of this Economic Community (EEC) in 1986 and the type was not yet commissioned. European Commission (EC) gave new impetus and aid to restructuring unproductive Australian naval requirements industries. Spain had a significant commercial The RAN traditionally relied upon British shipbuilding industry which was entirely designed warships as these formed part of a government owned, under direction from the global naval strategy augmented by ships from EC this was privatised. However essential the Dominions. Nothing much changed until security involving defence industries could be the Vietnam War, in which Britain did not retained in state hands. This solution allowed participate, and our closer ties with the USN Spain to protect its military shipyards which saw the introduction of American built later emerged under the Navantia umbrella. warships. Since then there has been an uneasy EEC involvement in the 1990s saw more proliferation of design options including cooperation with European neighbours on American, Australian, British, French, joint ship design projects for frigates and German, Italian and Swedish, but until logistic support vessels. In particular the recently Spanish designs did not feature. Patino class replenishment ship was designed Our involvement with Spanish in collaboration with the Netherlands. A huge shipbuilding started in 2003 when the RAN leap in faith was the design of Juan Carlos I, was in the process of revitalising shipbuilding the largest and most expensive ship in the capabilities to include construction of three Spanish Navy. The accumulated experience of Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) and two design and building of complex warships led Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious to the establishment of export markets. The ships. Early studies for the AWD included first major export contract came in 1992 with designs of the German Sachsen, the Spanish construction of the VSTOL aircraft carrier F100 and the American Arleigh Burke. Chakri Naruebet for the Royal Thai Navy. Surprisingly the favoured Sachsen was the first The 2007 Global Financial Crisis which in to be eliminated from the competition and Spain is known as the Great Recession had a ultimately the larger Arleigh Burke (a new devastating impact upon the local economy. derivative by Gibbs & Cox) lost out in favour Through mismanagement and less than of the more advanced Spanish design. prudent fiscal controls an over inflated In 2005 the Australian Government economy imploded with business closures, announced the Spanish modified AWD was high unemployment and reduced wages. the preferred design. At the same time, However with continued government support competition for the amphibious ship program much of the Spanish shipbuilding industry intensified between the French joint-venture weathered the storm and maintained shipbuilder Armaris with its recently- reasonable forward-order books. In winning commissioned Mistral class, and Navantia’s new work the longer term profitability of proposal based on the yet to be completed business may be questionable, but at least in Juan Carlos I. The selection of both Navantia the short term, this appears to favour proposals was confirmed by Australian customers. authorities in June 2007 which involved In 2005 the military yards in El Ferrol, teaming with local builder Tenix for Cadiz and Cartagena were formed into a new construction of the LHDs. The LHD Canberra company, Navantia. A great confidence boost class was primarily constructed at El Ferrol

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United States Naval Base at Rota USN but with fitout integrated in Australia and the replenishment (AOR) vessels to be delivered AWD Hobart class built entirely by ASC from 2021. More recently, from February to Shipbuilding in Adelaide. June 2017 we had the company of ESPN The Spanish Armada’s combat logistic Cristobal Colon on which class the RAN’s new ship ESPS Cantabria served on the Australian Air Warfare Destroyers are based. While here Station from January to November 2013. In a she participated in exercises and provided ‘Try before you buy’ program she bridged the invaluable training opportunities to most of gap in the fleet when the replenishment ship the ship’s company of our first AWD HMAS HMAS Success was in extensive refit. Hobart which commissioned on 23 September Cantabria performed 63 replenishments and 2017. her officers and crew were a credit to the Armada. It is perhaps noteworthy that Summary Cantabria and her smaller sister Patino were An article entitled Our Most Welcome Spanish recently lent to the Royal Canadian Navy Guest in the March 2014 edition of this when they too had a short-term lack of logistic magazine contained a few words which support vessels. However the RCN is awaiting remain pertinent: delivery of German designed vessels to replace its two aging logistic ships. Spanish guests are only infrequently The overall Australian acquisition welcomed to our shores, in fact this seems to program appears successful, with the LHD occur about every 200 years. The famous lead ship Canberra commissioned in navigator Luis Vaez de Torres visited in 1606 November 2014 and her sister Adelaide in and two centuries later in the early 1800s, December 2015. Continuing the progression, Spanish prizes taken by privateers off the in March 2016 the Minister for Defence Pacific coast of South America started to announced that Navantia had beaten the offer appear at Port Jackson. These included the of a major Korean shipbuilder for handsome schooner Bethlehem which for a construction of two auxiliary oil and time wore the broad pennant of Commodore

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Bligh. Another 200 years have passed and we enviable reputation as a shipbuilder by have discovered the wonders of Spanish accepting transferred technology, being ably shipbuilding, leading to the invaluable loan of supported by the best of overseas designers, a Spanish naval ship to the RAN. and integrating the vast hidden value of research and development, previously Looking down from our lofty perch there absorbed in global platforms. We might aptly is much to be learned from our Spanish conclude with an example taken from the cousins who had sailed into the unknowns great navigator Torres who on completing his searching for Terra Australis many centuries task sought no glory but through his pen past. Turing to the present, Spain has built an offered the world further enlightenment.

The Last Coastwatchers

Earlier this year your Editor had the pleasure of meeting James (Jim) Burrowes, aged 94, and Beryl, his ex-WAAF wife of 66 years, aged 93. They were married in 1950. The following extract is taken from an interview with Jim after browsing his extensive website and is produced with his approval.

Signals School On leaving school in Melbourne in 1940 Jim the messages passed to and from Military worked as a clerk in a chartered accountants Intelligence at Victoria Barracks. office. Along with most other young men With MacArthur’s push north we were entering the services, in January 1942 when he relocated to Indooroopilly on the Brisbane was 18 and no longer needing parental River. A prized billet, as the Australian consent, Jim took himself off to Albert Park Women’s Army Service, which was taking over Barracks and along with about 50 others some duties and thereby allowing more male joined the AIF. Here a decision was quickly troops into combat roles, was also based here. made that would forever change his life. The From our new barracks we were trucked daily Recruiting Sergeant called for volunteers from to the basement of the yet-to-be-built St Lucia those who had office work experience. Jim and campus of the University of Queensland. We half and dozen others raised their hands and were again maintaining Morse links with New they were destined to become Signallers, with Guinea. the remainder joining the Infantry. Nine months after arriving in Brisbane We were encamped at Camp Pell in there was another call for volunteer signallers Melbourne’s Royal Park and for six weeks were for a special operations assignment working marched daily to the Royal Melbourne Institute with the United States Amphibious Forces of Technology (RMIT) and taught how to send which was part of the US 7th Fleet. Not and receive Morse code. Here we achieved a learning too well from previous experiences of speed and proficiency of 25 words per minute. never volunteering, along with five others Jim The first real job was a posting to Land put his hand up. Another reason was that Headquarters (LHQ), then at the outer Jim’s elder brother was a Japanese POW at Melbourne suburb of Park Orchards. Here we Rabaul in New Britain and his twin brother maintained radio links with Port Moresby with was also serving in New Guinea.

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AWA 3B Teleradio - AWA

Life with Uncle Sam in New Britain. Landings were also made on On 13 July 1943 the new volunteers found Kiriwina in the Trobriand Islands and themselves at Brown’s Bay, a jungle training Woodlark Island with no sign of enemy facility just north of Cairns. Here they met six occupation. Suddenly, without any prior other Australians who were expatriate New notice, the Amphibious Force Unit was Guinea planters or administrative officers who disbanded with no reason given. The party had been seconded from the Allied leaders returned to the Australian Intelligence Bureau’s M Special Unit Coastwatcher organisation, with Jim and (Coastwatchers). They were destined to two others volunteering to remain with the become leaders of parties infiltrated into Coastwatchers and the other three Signallers enemy territory where they were to returning to their mainland parent LHQ reconnoitre the Japanese status prior to the unit. invasion by allied forces. The Signallers were assigned one each to the leading Coastwatching Coastwatchers, with Jim being attached to It was back to basics at the Coastwatcher Andy Kirkwall-Smith. training camp at Tabragalba, a farm In August 1943, at Cairns, they embarked requisitioned for that purpose, near in a USN Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) to Beaudesert and close by the Jungle Warfare establish a base on Fergusson Island, School at Canungra. northwest of Milne Bay and near the larger At Tabragalba we were toughened up to a Goodenough Island. Jim’s twin brother Tom, peak in physical fitness and learned commando serving with the RAAF, was based at skills such as unarmed combat, and our Morse Goodenough but they were not to meet. code training was also brought up to speed. We Travelling by USN Patrol Boat at high had plenty of time at the beach, at the then not speed, with torpedoes stacked on deck ready so well known Surfers Paradise, where we for immediate use, the Kirkwall-Smith party practised surf landings from small rubberised made a sortie into enemy occupied Gasmata inflatable boats.

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Later, in March 1944 a party was required to infiltrate into Hollandia (now Jayapura) to assess the Japanese presence prior to a planned US invasion. Jim was selected as the Signaller amongst a 12 strong party, which included six local natives. However, at the last minute Jim was replaced by another Signaller, Jack Bunning. On 22 March the party, led by Captain ‘Blue’ Harris, was taken inshore by submarine but only 11 were off-loaded into two boats. Nothing went to plan, with the inflatable boats being swamped in the surf and losing much of their equipment, including the radio, and soon after landing they were ambushed. Five, including ‘Blue’ Harris and Signaller Jack Bunning (who had replaced Jim), were killed. Those who escaped went bush and it was many months before they reached friendly territory. Jim’s philosophy was ‘Life’s all about luck – good or bad!’ My next assignment was to the A younger Beryl Family archive Coastwatcher base at Nadzab, which was part of a USAAF air-base in the Markham Valley, reliable work-horses of the South Pacific, the inland from Lae. We arrived there by those C47s (later DC3s). Here I was hauled over the A younger Jim Family archive coals for having possession of a Colt .45 and a semi-automatic US carbine, from my American amphibious landing force days, but I was allowed to keep the weapons. After a few months I rejoined the Kirkwall-Smith party, this time using a small island off Madang as a base. We were in luxury, being provided with good food from the supply ship, an ex-Chinese river steamer, HMAS Ping Wo. Our good fortune also attracted a lot of rats, and calling for improvisation we rigged up a kerosene tin just below the floor, which was filled with water and had a jam-tin on a central wire shaft with a small amount of cheese attached. When the rats leaned out for the bait, the jam-tin would spin and the rats fell into the trap. Our main task was to maintain radio contact with other coastwatching parties in the hinterland behind Wewak, Aitape and Hollandia and then pass these messages on to our main base at Port Moresby. At this stage I was using the popular AWA 3B Teleradio

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Coastwatcher camp New Guinea Jim Burrowes native carriers, we duly arrived in November 1944 at a base camp in the Baining Mountains of the Gazelle Peninsula overlooking Rabaul.’ The party now comprised Captain Malcolm English, Lieutenant Joe Willis and Jim (now a Sergeant) and ten Allied Intelligence Bureau trained Papuan troops. Our purpose there was to report Japanese requiring wet batteries and therefore a movements whether by land, sea or air. generator set comprising a Briggs & Stratton Our camp was set up on a mountain ridge engine to recharge them. Battery charging was to avoid any unpleasant surprise by the enemy. not a pleasant evolution as the old engine was At each end of the camp two or three of our inevitably cantankerous to start. faithful troops were on sentry duty. We had The AWA 3B Teleradio issued to thatched huts which provided some shelter to Coastwatchers was of rugged design able to body and equipment but we slept in our withstand heat and wet conditions as well as clothes, with weapons loaded and ready. amateur handling. It had a range of 400 miles ‘The daily routine was waking at dawn for on voice and 600 miles by Morse key. Its great ablutions, after this the first of our two meals disadvantage was weight and bulk, needing at for the day was breakfast. It usually consisted least 12 carriers for transportation. Broken of rice and some canned vegetables. We had tea into components it was carried in three heavy but there was no milk. We next had an boxes, usually slung on poles so that each box overnight report from the Papuans on the was shared by two men; in addition petrol had security situation and discussed the day’s to be carried. Units were frequently carried for program. As we were on a ridge with no fresh more than 100 miles but given the difficult water part of the daily routine for our Papuans terrain, lack of roads and humidity, porterage was to harvest rain-water to maintain our over one day rarely exceeded ten miles. supplies. Daily patrols would be made to After a few more months it was back to various sectors but most importantly checking Lae, this time by Beaufort bomber, the same the airstrip at Rabaul to monitor aircraft type of plane that his twin brother went down movements. There were two daily radio in on a raid over Rabaul. From Lae, Jim was schedules (scheds) with Port Moresby and other flown in a US Mariner flying boat to Jacquinot coastwatching parties. Once when the radio Bay in New Britain. Here he joined with a had no signal, I was horrified to be faced with a party led by the veteran Coastwatcher Basil mass of wires, valves and parts and to realise (Fax) Fairfax-Ross who had been preparing that whilst we had plenty of operational for an advance landing of Australian troops. training we had no teaching into the technical function of the sets. Fortunately with a few A Long Watch spare parts of resistors and condensers the set After a lengthy trek through the jungle from the sprang back into life. south coast of New Britain with a team of Our supplies were flown in by Catalina or

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Storpedo Jim Burrowes Australian troops who had evacuated prior to the fall of Rabaul were captured and executed. From there they were taken by ship to the camp at Lae which was then closed. The remaining five sailed around the Huon Gulf to Finschhafen where they joined thousands of troops living in tents near the airstrip where they were expected to remain for several weeks if not months. Suddenly one morning a Liberator touched-down. A call was made for the five Coastwatchers and we were flown directly back to Brisbane. Liberators that were dropped in a ‘storpedo’, Having lost two brothers in the war, Jim an improvised storage container that was was quickly given a compassionate discharge. parachuted into a nominated drop zone. The He returned to a successful career in chartered parachutes were covered in hessian for accountancy, living in Melbourne. In 1990 Jim camouflage. The majority of our drops were was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for food and of this 90% was rice, mainly for our his service to the Royal Life Saving Society. native troops. Despite having 100,000 Japanese On Anzac Day Jim usually catches up with below us at Rabaul it was minor miracle that a fellow ancient Coastwatcher, ex RAN Coder they never observed one of these drops or that Ron (Dixie) Lee. Over 400 men served with they never used radio directional monitoring Australian coast watching units during WWII which would have helped locate our static but sadly now are nearly all gone and we position. After completing the last radio ‘sched’ believe Jim Burrowes and Ron Lee to be the of the day we retired for our evening meal – last men standing. A final word from Jim, who anyone for more rice!’ says that although he was Army as a Coastwatcher he was also proud to be part of a The war is over naval organisation. A future article on Ron On 15 August 1945, after ten months on our Lees is intended. perch above Rabaul, the war was over. Jim sought permission to move down to Rabaul in Further information on Jim the hope of finding either of his brothers, Burrowes believed to be prisoners there. However Ex-Sergeant James Burrowes is now possibly permission was denied as it was uncertain as one of the last surviving Australian to how the Japanese might react to informal Coastwatchers. troop contact. Tragically by this time Jim’s Further information is available on his brothers were already dead. website 'How the Coastwatchers turned the The Baining Mountain campsite was tide of the Pacific War'. abandoned and the party trekked down to join https://tinyurl.com/coastwatchers-war. fellow Coastwatchers at a base camp near the infamous Tol Plantation, where about 160 His email address is [email protected]

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HMAS Suva: the ship that shaped the future of the Australian Naval Station

By John Smith

Possibly not many have heard of HMAS Suva as she had an extremely short history as a commissioned Australian warship. She did however have the distinction of wearing the flag of a full Admiral during most of this period.

Admiral Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe Let us step back in time to the Great War. At the outbreak of war in August 1914 both the First Sea Lord (Fisher) and First Lord of the Admiralty (Churchill) demanded change and the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet was unceremoniously cast aside. John Jellicoe was promoted full admiral and assigned command of the renamed Grand Fleet and shortly afterwards received a knighthood. Admiral Jellicoe then led the world’s largest Fleet into action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Jellicoe was highly intelligent and self- confident, a man of strong opinions, with an autocratic air which did not make him universally popular. A nation seeking another Nelson was disappointed in his cautious approach in this battle of Goliaths and he is perhaps unjustly criticised for allowing the German High Seas Fleet to escape. In the aftermath, Jellicoe was replaced as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet by a more dashing Admiral, Sir David Beatty. Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellicoe RN Jellicoe was, however, promoted to First Sea although his wife came from a rich family. He Lord, but this did not last long, as after a did however express an interest in becoming severe disagreement with the Prime Minister, Governor-General of New Zealand, if and David Lloyd George, over the use of convoys when this position should become available. in the so called ‘Submarine Crisis’ he was From starting the war as a Commander-in- asked to leave his office. Chief of the world’s largest fleet of warships he Jellicoe resigned in good grace and as a finished the war unemployed. face-saving gesture was elevated to the peerage. He was also offered the post of The Empire Mission Governor-General of Australia but declined At an Imperial War Conference which met in on the grounds that he had insufficient London in March 1917 the Dominion Prime financial resources to maintain the position, Ministers rejected the Admiralty proposal for

Naval Historical Review December 2017 11 a single post-war Imperial Navy under central Albany which she reached on 15 May 1919. authority. Preferring that they should develop They were met by Rear Admiral Creswell and their own navies but recognising the need for Captain G. F. Hyde, RAN, the captain being uniformity in construction, armament, known to Jellicoe who had requested that he equipment, training and administration, the join his suite. Here the Admiral and suite Australian and Canadian heads of government disembarked and proceeded overland before took the lead in requesting that a highly rejoining the flagship for passage to Port qualified representative of the Admiralty make Lincoln, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and a tour of the Empire on these matters and help Jervis Bay (to visit the Naval College) reaching draw up a scheme to enable them to effectively Sydney on 23 June. In Sydney she was to again plan for their future naval defence. New meet her sister-ship HMAS Australia. In early Zealand and India supported these proposals August New Zealand was briefly dry-docked and, as South Africa did not then have a naval at Cockatoo Island. service, they were not consulted. Somewhat An interesting summary of daily surprisingly, given his firm opinions, it was proceeding taken from the log of the battle- agreed that Lord Jellicoe would be an cruiser for 30 June 1919 reads: admirable choice to lead this mission. While thoughts of empire are now far New Zealand dressed ship and fired a 101 gun removed from memory it should be recalled salute on signing of Peace Terms by that at this time, with gains from German and Germany. Ottoman territory, the British Empire reached Held Thanksgiving Service with Their its zenith. With a full staff, Lord and Lady Excellencies the Governor-General & Lady Jellicoe embarked in the battle-cruiser HMS Munro-Ferguson and State Governor & New Zealand, departing from Portsmouth on Lady Davidson attending. 21 February 1919. During the course of this Address by His Excellency the Governor- mission, which was initially seen as both General. diplomatically and politically successful, he Manned and Cheered Ship and Spliced the received the prestigious accolade of being Mainbrace. created an Admiral of the Fleet. Illuminated Ship, Searchlight Display and New Zealand sailed via Suez for India, Firework Display. Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States before returning via Panama and the West Indies, reaching Portsmouth in late January 1920. The overall voyage around the world and the British Empire took a little under one year.

HMS New Zealand at Port Adelaide during the 1919 Empire Mission State Library of SA New Zealand’s first Australian landfall was at

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With the Admiral and staff absent in July, the engine room crew were supplied by her New Zealand spent a considerable time previous owners under short-term RANR exercising out of Jervis Bay; during this period contracts. An addition to her complement was 120 Cadets from the Naval College visited the Rear Admiral E. P. F. Grant, RN who had ship. recently arrived from England to relieve Rear Admiral Creswell as First Naval Member of HMAS Suva the Commonwealth Naval Board. Rear With the Empire Mission’s visit to Australia a Admiral Grant was accompanied by his visit to some northern Australian ports and Secretary Paymaster LTCDR Eyre S. Duggan, those of nearby Pacific islands was also RN and another passenger was Captain the planned. It had been decided beforehand that Hon. B. Clifford, Private Secretary to the it would be unwise to take such a large ship as Governor-General. New Zealand inside the still largely uncharted The long serving public servant and one- waters of the Barrier Reef. The RAN having time Assistant Secretary of the Department of nothing suitable to accommodate the Admiral Defence, Robert Hyslop2, made the following and 16 staff plus ladies, a smaller vessel was comments regarding Jellicoe’s time in Suva. accordingly pressed into service as a de facto The indiscipline after 1918 and also the fact Admiralty yacht. that some British officers identified with the The 2,229 ton steamer Suva had been built Australian navy are illustrated in the sorry in Belfast in 1906 for the Pacific islands trade (and exceptional) story of the commissioning of of the Australasian United Steam Navigation a merchant ship HMAS Suva by Captain G. F. Company. In July 1915 she was requisitioned Hyde, RAN, in 1919 to take Admiral of the by the Royal Navy as an armed patrol vessel Fleet, Viscount Jellicoe, on a cruise of the and was used in the Red Sea. She played a Pacific Islands. Hyde had reported that significant role in supporting T. E. Lawrence’s ‘speaking generally the conduct of the very (Lawrence of Arabia) Arab Revolt when she large proportion of the ship’s company was that bombarded several Turkish garrison towns of a dirty, untrained and ill-disciplined mob’. and with her naval landing parties helped Jellicoe had said, ‘I could not fail to be struck secure three towns. with the untrained and ill-disciplined crew of At the end of the war she returned to HMAS Suva…there are of course exceptions Sydney but for some time remained under amongst the ship’s company but taken as a naval control. After refitting at Garden Island, whole I regret to state that I am in agreement with her main armament removed and with the remarks of Captain Hyde’. replaced by two 3 pounder saluting guns, she On 28 June 1919, after partaking of was commissioned into the RAN on 24 June afternoon tea in the flagship, officers, staff and 1919. The new HMAS Suva was under the retinue from the Empire Mission transferred command of Captain G. F. Hyde, RAN1 and to Suva. At 0900 the following morning the only 50 days later paid off, on 12 August 1919. flag of the Admiral was broken in Suva and Shortly afterwards was returned to her struck in New Zealand. At 0930 Suva sailed for owners. And so ended possibly the shortest Brisbane, but without her admiral as Lord and history of a commissioned ship in the RAN. Lady Jellicoe had arranged to go there by train. Suva was sold to Philippines interests in 1928 At 1630 on 5 July Suva slipped and proceeded and following Japanese bombing of Manila via Cairns to Port Purvis in the Solomon was sunk on 16 April 1942. Islands. This was the start of her cruise to the Suva had a crew of 11 officers and 50 men; northern Australian ports, Solomon Islands, owing to her merchant ship origins many of New Britain and New Guinea.

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HMS Suva on patrol in the Red Sea - RN Though relatively small, Suva was quite locally by this name. The Admiral and staff comfortable. To ensure that there was embarked in a motor launch looking for some adequate office accommodation, the saloon habitation and surprised a mission settlement and three deck cabins and a further three before eventually meeting the Administrator. cabins below had been fitted out as offices, Visits were also made to Florida Island in with the staff being divided amongst them. the Solomons and Rabaul in New Britain The respite from interruptions caused by where they were met and saluted by another festivities and entertainment was very yacht-like companion, HMAS Una. For a welcome but the work pressed forward while the Admiral’s flag was transferred to unremittingly as the various ports visited Una while he made a visit to the Duke of York hitherto were analysed and considered by the Islands. Thence homeward via: Samarai, Port Admiral, as well as the larger questions Moresby and Thursday Island. Several dealing with the Pacific generally. overnight anchorages were made inside the The weather conditions at first were rather reef before reaching Gladstone. From here the worse than expected with the benefit of the Admiral and staff departed by special train South East Trade and for two days the ship calling at Newcastle, where they inspected rolled heavily over about 30 degrees either military facilities and investigated the way. At times her speed fell from about 10 potential of Port Stephens, before reaching knots to 8 knots; this was largely attributed to Sydney. From Gladstone Suva proceeded the inferiority of the New South Wales (Bulli) independently to Sydney. From 6 to 8 August coal she carried. Later on, due to poor New Zealand was briefly dry docked at steaming qualities of this coal, a certain Cockatoo Island. So it was not until 8 August amount of the original programme had to be 1919 the Admiral and his staff returned to curtailed. New Zealand when his flag was transferred Admiralty charts show Port Purvis lying from Suva to the battle-cruiser. Lord and Lady about 12 km south east of the township of Jellicoe with their staff departed from Sydney Tulagi on the island of Tulagi, which until in New Zealand bound for her namesake land 1942 was capital of the British Solomon on Saturday 16 August 1919. Islands Protectorate. The visit commenced in embarrassed silence as on arrival the Resident The Jellicoe Report Colonial Administrator was unable to find the In preparing his Australian report Jellicoe was ship owing to the anchorage being unknown not starting with a blank piece of paper,

14 Naval Historical Review December 2017 having the advantage of an earlier report egalitarianism which he saw as leading to a commissioned by the fledgling critical lack of discipline within the Australian Commonwealth Naval Force. This report, naval service. prepared by Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson His work completed, Admiral Lord in 1910, formed the basis for the establishment Jellicoe, soon to be Admiral of the Fleet, sailed of ships and establishments necessary to from Sydney in New Zealand on 16 August sustain an Australian Fleet. and arrived in Wellington four days later. Before departure from Australia the After returning to England the grand old ‘Report of Admiral of the Fleet Viscount sailor received his wish and from 1920 to 1924 Jellicoe of Scapa on a Naval Mission to the served as a dedicated Governor-General of Commonwealth of Australia’ was personally New Zealand. Lord Jellicoe died at his London presented to His Excellency Sir Ronald home on 20 November 1935, just short of his Munro-Ferguson, Governor-General and 76th birthday. Commander-in-Chief, Commonwealth of In a post-war environment where the Australia, on 13 August 1919; a copy was also world sought peace and reduced expenditure received by the Prime Minister. With the on armaments, implementation of the report’s Australian First Naval Member and the recommendations, although well received, Secretary to the Governor-General onboard was politically unacceptable. However, in Suva it can be assumed any potential general terms it became the basis for future difficulties in the report’s findings had been planning of the RAN. It is perhaps quite ironed out well before its release. The report remarkable that the future of the RAN was was very thorough, outlining a proposed, if largely shaped, planned and decided by staff ambitious, composition of a future Australian working diligently for a few weeks in the fleet together with its administration and island trader and part-time warship Suva. training requirements and estimating the anticipated costs. Notes: It supported many of the previous 1. Captain George Francis Hyde was to have Henderson recommendations such as the his own distinguished naval career, as development of a new fleet base at Cockburn Admiral Sir Francis Hyde he became the Sound in Western Australia, another at Port first RAN officer to achieve this rank. The Bynoe near Darwin, and called for the Sydney Admiral’s term as First Naval Member had Fleet Base to be relocated to Port Stephens. been extended from five to six years but Somewhat progressively the Admiral was not just before his intended retirement he wedded to graving docks, considering these developed bronchial pneumonia and died could be replaced by floating docks. With prematurely on 28 July 1937, a week after uncanny accuracy the Report highlighted the his 60th birthday. potential threat in the Asia-Pacific region 2. Quoted from Robert Hyslop’s book from a militarised Japan. Jellicoe, in common Australian Naval Administration 1900- with many other senior Royal Naval officers, 1939, published by Hawthorn Press, had difficulty appreciating local values of Melbourne, 1973

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Malta Revisited: Wartime Memories of HMAS Vendetta’s Malta Sojourn in World War II

We are indebted to ex-Supply Assistant Gordon Hill for this wonderfully illuminating description of his wartime service in the destroyer HMAS Vendetta when based at Malta.

HE GEORGE CROSS ISLAND Association ‘The Gut’ a street full of bars. I had a Reunion in 2004 gave me the opportunity memorable evening with two shipmates and Tto revisit Malta. After 64 years I knew that if I two English ‘squaddies’ (soldiers) in a room put off visiting the Island again it was doubtful over Dirty Harry’s Bar. We sang and danced I would ever do so. Visiting Grand Harbour, and one girl did the ‘Dance of the Seven the Docks, the infamous ‘Gut’, Valetta, Veils’. One soldier who had a magnificent Sliema, the country towns and villages evoked voice sang My Prayer and Indian Summer, two memories of both happy and sad days of Malta songs I will never forget. at war. The ship’s company was divided into two. HMAS Vendetta and the four other One half went to live and work with the destroyers of the V and W squadron from British army, RA 4th Coast Regiment, and the Australia were assigned to the 10th destroyer other half, which I was unfortunate enough to squadron of Admiral Cunningham’s be in, was left to work on the ship during the Mediterranean fleet at Malta. We arrived in day and to live in the NAAFI canteen. The December 1939 and were soon exercising at canteen had facilities for showers and meals sea. The war had not reached the Med. and but we had to sleep on mess tables or benches, with the French fleet as allies we sailed which at the time we thought nothing could supreme in Mare Nostrum, as the Romans be worse. called it. Two battle fleets were a magnificent In dock Vendetta had one set of torpedo sight and the five little Australian destroyers tubes removed and a high angle AA gun fitted, were proud to be a part of it; destroyer escort a 0.5 multiple machine gun replaced the small to this mighty armada. We escorted convoys gun between the funnels, the mainmast was taking troops to Marseilles, exercised in the lowered and sundry other work was done by Atlantic and visited Gibraltar. the dockyard workers. We carried out general On 5 March 1940 I had my 21st birthday maintenance and cleaned up the mess the in Marseilles, visiting the cabarets and dancing dockyard workers invariably left behind each the night away. The French and British armies day. The upper deck soon had a new look. The in the north would defeat the Germans, boilers had been cleaned and the work on the Poland would be liberated and the war would engine refit commenced. be over in no time. How quickly things On 10 June I left the ship and was walking changed. We evacuated troops from to the canteen to shower and spend the Marseilles to Palestine, the French fleet evening ashore when two army officers became our enemies and we returned to excitedly told me ‘the balloon has gone up’ Malta. That expression took a while to sink in but I Vendetta was feeling her age after months soon realised that Italy had come into the war. at sea and it was decided to put her in dock at The immediate fear was an Italian invasion by Malta for a refit. Grand Harbour was full of sea and air. ships, plenty of sailors went ashore enjoying Italy had a menacing naval potential. Her themselves. One favourite place in Valetta was fleet boasted 5 battleships, 25 cruisers, 90

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HMAS Vendetta wearing camouflage and new pennant No. D69, changed in May 1940 RN destroyers and nearly 100 submarines. take off each day to fight the Italian bombers. Admiral Cunningham decided to move the One of the navy planes was shot down and the units of his fleet in Malta to Alexandria, people named the remaining three Faith, leaving just a few destroyers and other small Hope and Charity. They gave a good account ships. Vendetta’s refit crew now became of themselves and shot down or disabled a dockyard defence and we carried a 0.303 rifle number of bombers before they too met their or if lucky a 0.45 revolver with us at all times fate. The plane christened ‘Faith’ was not to guard against a parachute invasion. badly damaged; after the war it was restored Living in the NAAFI canteen was bad and is now in the museum in Valetta. enough but we were now to be quartered in a Frantic efforts to supply the island with tunnel alongside the ship in the graving dock. troops, supplies and equipment for the army Fifty men took their hammocks, laid them on and air force through Gibraltar in the west and the damp tunnel floor and turned in. Next Alexandria in the east meant Malta’s Grand morning we were covered by bites from fleas Harbour was once again full of ships and a that infested the walls of the tunnel. The only target for the bombers. On one occasion an relief was to dive into the harbour. That tunnel ammunition ship was on fire and another was was our home for four weeks while we worked sunk by navy divers attaching limpet mines to on the ship. avoid it blowing up. Even though some supply The bombing started early on 11 June. ships were sunk, navy divers were able to Valetta, the harbour and surrounding towns recover stores from some sunken vessels. The were bombed eighty times, sometimes up to harbour became a graveyard for a number of eight air raids a day up to the time when we sailors, soldiers and dockyard workers left on 8 July with the engine refit not unloading ships. completed. The siege of Malta had begun. On one occasion I was assigned to a Many people left their homes to live in the working party to load depth charges on to a catacombs, ancient tunnels and caves or in air truck and take them to Ranella wireless raid shelters cut into the soft limestone cliffs. station. This was the main WT station on the The only air defence was four Gloster Island. We set up the depth charges as Gladiators left behind by the navy. The demolition charges in a number of the tunnels Maltese people watched these planes gallantly that made up this vast underground complex.

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Italian bombing of Grand Harbour Malta, June 1941. Pandemonium broke out among the passengers and crew. They tried to lower the life boats, and really panicked. Fortunately we had only a short distance to go to secure the ship alongside a wharf. When the air raid was over we managed to get everyone ashore and the army took them away as POWs After several attempts to leave Malta with a convoy, I don’t think I was much help in handling 350 including our captured ship El Nil, we finally pound depth charges as I only weighed 8½ dodged the lurking submarines and newly laid stone and was sacked from a 6 inch guns crew mines and proceeded to Alexandria which we at the training depot in Victoria because I reached on 13 July 1940. Upon our departure could not lift a 112 pound shell off the loading from Malta our CO LCDR Rhoades received a tray message from the Vice Admiral Malta praising Soon after Italy came into the war an Italian the work he and his crew had done in passenger ship, the El Nil, was close to Sicily improving the island's defences. The message and trying to get to its home port when one of spoke of the astonishing results produced by our aircraft spotted it and made it heave to. Vendetta's crew who, in true Australian Vendetta was duty boat for the day and even in fashion, turned their hands to everything. dry dock had to provide a boat crew if required. Some time later El Nil was converted into a We were given the job of providing a boarding hospital ship. We spent the next two months party to take over the passenger ship and along escorting convoys of troop ships to Malta and with others I was roused from our tunnel screening ships of the covering cruisers and quarters, armed and dispatched by a fast patrol battleships. boat to sea. We boarded El Nil which was two We once again entered Grand Harbour days sailing out of Malta. My job was to guard Malta on 11 October 1940 and proceeded to the engine room crew. Others took over the our old place in the graving dock and our wheelhouse, bridge and other positions. The tunnel accommodation to complete our crew and passengers did not appear to resent engine refit. Some German dive bombers had our presence or resist. In fact, that night when joined the Italians and inflicted heavy damage relieved of my watch I slept comfortably in a on ships in the harbour. The AA defence had cabin and next day ate my meals in the dining been strengthened and now 4.5 AA guns, room with the passengers. A real contrast from Bofors and multiple pom-poms managed to our flea infested tunnel and NAAFI meals. shoot down a number of bombers. The RAF The Italian air force decided to have an air had some Spitfires and other aircraft and it raid just as we were entering harbour. looked less likely that Italy could take the

18 Naval Historical Review December 2017 island. to your door or air raid shelter and milked the One of our sailors had a portable goats into any container you could provide. gramophone and a few records which he In April 1942 HM King George VI played in our tunnel to entertain us. One awarded the George Cross to the islanders of record was Gracie Fields singing Gounod’s Malta and Gozo as a tribute to their gallantry. Ave Maria. The memory of the constant The siege went on and the people were at the playing of that record later evoked such strong point of giving up the struggle when in August emotions in me that for many years I would the ‘Pedestal’ convoy, after the loss of many become profoundly upset when I heard it ships (including the aircraft carrier HMS played. Eagle), got through from Gibraltar. The tanker On 13 September the long expected Italian SS Ohio made history by delivering vital fuel, invasion of Egypt from Libya began and their though badly damaged and finally sinking at forces occupied Sidi Barrani. On 28 October the wharf. While this was considered the end the Italian army invaded Greece. Vendetta, of the siege, it was some time before other still in dock in Malta was like a greyhound convoys got through to supply food to the straining at the leash to get the refit starving people. completed. We had missed a naval battle In 1942 Vendetta went on to make a name before by being in dock. for herself in other parts of the Mediterranean, With the arrival of the Luftwaffe in Sicily North Africa, Tobruk, Greece and Crete. only 60 miles from Malta, bombing Malta was in the past. The feather bed in the intensified. Living in the underground Emirates Airways hotel in Dubai on my return shelters, with food and fuel running short to Brisbane was a vast contrast to a hammock people were getting desperate. No pets were on the dirt floor of our tunnel dockside in allowed to be kept. Babies were born and Malta. All just a part of history. people died in their air raid shelters. We finally sailed from Grand Harbour on 10 A little about the author: November escorting the monitor HMS Terror Gordon Hill is a current member of NHS. He to Suda Bay, Crete which was being set up as joined the RAN as a Supply Assistant in 1938. naval support base for the military After initial training at Flinders Naval Base he reinforcement of Greece. was posted to Vendetta. In December 1939 the Our last visit to Malta was when we RAN destroyer squadron was sent overseas to escorted a convoy from Alexandria, arriving join the Royal Navy East Mediterranean Fleet on 26 November 1940. This was a particularly in Malta. He served in the Mediterranean in hazardous trip. Several troop and supply ships Vendetta until the middle of 1941 when were sunk by submarines and bombers. There transferred to HMAS Perth. After suffering was to be no further attempt to get supplies to bomb damage in the evacuation from Crete, Malta, either from the east or west Perth returned to Australia for repairs. Mediterranean, for some time. The navy even Gordon next joined HMAS Colac in 1942 resorted to delivering aviation fuel to the RAF and after a few trips to Milne Bay was posted in Malta by submarine, carried in 4 gallon tins. to HMAS Magnetic at Townsville, to start up In harbour, our ‘gashman’ was accused of and run a supply base. His next posting was to selling our food scraps to people at the the Combined Operations training base dockyard gate for a penny a plate, instead of HMAS Assault at Port Stephens. He then feeding them to his goats. Goats were the only returned to Milne Bay becoming Australian supply of milk as the Island land was too poor Liaison Officer with the American Supply to support grazing cattle. The milkman came Base. After the end of the war in 1945 he was

Naval Historical Review December 2017 19 involved with the disposal of surplus naval and helped run migrant camps for displaced assets in North Queensland until discharged persons from Europe at Brisbane and from the RAN in 1950. Townsville, and set up another camp in Gordon later joined the Commonwealth Cairns. He became an accountant in Cairns Immigration Department as a Supply Officer and later Brisbane, where he retired in 1980.

The Australian – Indian Relationship - Part 2

Like some sections of our own armed forces who fail to acknowledge a period of colonial rule over which we had no direct control, there are those within the Indian Military Forces who take a similar stance, insisting their history began after independence from Britain. But a nation cannot escape its past because of a dislike of some particular era. Part 1 of this series explored the extent of Indian military history until the commencement of the Second World War and we shall now move forward to independence.

Extent of the Empire In the period of the Raj before WWII India The Political Situation included Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Unlike Australia, Canada, New Zealand and with the nominally independent Bhutan, South Africa, which were all self-governing Nepal, Burma and Afghanistan also paying Dominions within the British Empire, India, heed to the viceroy. The Empire extended its the ‘Jewel in the Crown’, remained under influence over a huge area and population, colonial rule. India stood at the very centre of with borders extending from Persia in the the empire and the rise of an independence west, to Russia and China in the north, and movement was of much concern to Great Thailand in the east. Britain. Those in charge had to be selected India and her associated states provided with great care. From 1936 the viceroy was the more than 2.5 million men to fight for the Marquis of Linlithgow, a respected, well- Allies in WWII. Field Marshall Sir Claude educated ex-army officer and Conservative Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief India from politician. 1943 to 1948, asserted that the British: He was relieved in 1943 by Field Marshal couldn’t have come through both wars (WWI Alexander Wavell (later Earl Wavell). Other and WWII) if they hadn’t had the Indian than for a short period as Commander-in- Army. These sentiments were echoed by Field Chief of the ill-fated Java based ABDACOM Marshall Sir William Slim (later Governor (American British Dutch Australian General of Australia) who said: It was a good Command) Wavell had been Commander-in- day for us when he [Auchinleck] took Chief India when he received the rather command of India, our main base, recruiting surprising offer to become viceroy. Although area and training ground. The Fourteenth not popular with Churchill, Wavell was seen Army, from its birth to its final victory, owed to be a safe pair of hands to wrest Burma back much to his unselfish support and never-failing from Japanese occupation and stabilise unrest. understanding. Without him and what he and At the end of WWII Wavell was recalled and the Army of India did for us we could not have replaced by the last of the viceroys, Lord existed, let alone conquered. Mountbatten.

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capable of stirring the masses. In 1938 he was elected President of the Congress Party. The size of the Indian armed forces at the outbreak of war in September 1939 was: Army 194,373 men, Air Force one squadron of 285 officers and men and a small naval force with 1,846 personnel. This does not include the Indian Merchant Marine, noting that the British Merchant Navy (then the world’s largest) at the start of the war comprised 144,000 men and women, of whom about one quarter were Indian. This provides a total of about 232,500 personnel in the Indian armed forces and merchant marine by late 1939. By the end of the war these numbers had risen to Army 2,065,554, Air Force 29,201 and Navy Map of Subcontinent showing Indian Naval 30,748 plus a Merchant Service of about Bases 40,000. The total in late 1945 showed an amazing tenfold increase to 2,165,503, mainly As Prime Minister, Churchill was virtually men supported by a small number of women represented in India by Leopold (Leo) Amery, in uniform. The Indian Army was then the who was Indian born and a contemporary of largest volunteer army in known history. Churchill’s at Harrow. Amery, a brilliant scholar, could speak Hindi and eight other The Racial Divide languages. He became a correspondent for Religious divisions within the subcontinent The Times before entering politics and are ages old and deep-rooted. From earlier between 1922 and 1924 was First Lord of the times soldiers were predominantly recruited Admiralty. Although not always in agreement from the more warlike Muslims or Sikhs of with Churchill he became Secretary of State north-western India. Additionally there was a for India (1940-1945) and was the power sizable number of Gurkhas from Nepal. Some behind the throne to whom the viceroy was high caste Hindus, not including Brahmans, required to answer. were also included. Soldiers from this echelon There were a number of powerful Indians were generally thought to be immune from representing the Congress Party including the anti-British feeling that was becoming Gandhi (see Part 1), Nehru, Bose and Jinnah. prevalent elsewhere. Jawaharlal Nehru was a particularly influential But this mine was not bottomless and member of a rich Kashmiri Brahman family during the First World War it was necessary and another old Harrovian, who completed to cast the net further into Hindu his education at Cambridge. Mohammed Ali communities to find the required number of Jinnah was a successful lawyer and shrewd recruits. During the Second World War the politician known for his efforts in forging situation was exacerbated by phenomenal compromise between Hindus and Muslims. growth in a short space of time resulting in Jinnah led the powerful Muslim League. social transformation in the composition of Subhas Chandra Bose, who had completed his the armed forces, with many more Hindus education at Cambridge, was the enfant coming from southern India. With these terrible of Congress and a charismatic leader increases the ratio of experienced British

Naval Historical Review December 2017 21 officers declined. There was also an reached Marseilles on 26 December and the imbalance, with a tendency to retain the force was soon disembarked in cold, wintry mainly Muslin martial classes in front line conditions to entrain for destinations in regiments at the expense of others. Northern France. In an interesting aside, lest we think that it India at War was Indians alone who still relied on four As early as 1937 plans had been made for legged transport, their convoy, supported by sending Indian troops to help garrison two further ships, was now made ready to overseas outposts. Even before the outbreak of embark the leading (6th) Brigade of the 1st the Second World War, India had deployed British Cavalry Division, the last of a long line 10,000 troops to help garrison Egypt, Aden, of horsed formations to serve with the British Singapore, Kenya and Iraq. In September Army. After crossing the Channel from 1941, after allowing for internal defence Southampton a total of 9,000 men and 4,000 against an uncertain Russian position on the horses were entrained for Marseilles and final north-west frontier and a growing Japanese shipment to Haifa in Palestine. Before the fall threat in south-east Asia and with a further of France and the virtual closure of the build up in recruitment, India was able to Mediterranean to Allied commercial shipping, deploy one division to Malaya and three more nearly all troop movements to the Middle and divisions to Iraq to protect Anglo-Iranian Far East were made via Marseilles, thereby oilfields. In June 1940, with the fall of France avoiding the considerable Atlantic U-Boat and with Britain in dire need of experienced menace. troops, eight regular British Army regiments were returned home from India and replaced North and East Africa by less experienced territorial regiments. By The war in North Africa started in September early 1942 some 264,000 Indian troops were 1940 with the movement of a large number of serving overseas, including 91,000 in Iraq, over-confident Italian troops from the relative 50,000 in Malaya, 20,000 in the Middle East safety of their cantonment in Libya towards and 20,000 in Burma. Egypt. In the western desert they were opposed by General Wavell who had a Into Europe numerically inferior mixed British and Indian There is little record of the Indian force. The newly arrived Indian 4th Division Expeditionary Force that sailed to France in was poorly equipped, had little training and December 1939. The Force was of brigade no experience in desert warfare. However, strength and mainly comprised men from the morale was high, in this the first formation of Indian Army Service Corps, partly equipped the Indian Army to serve on the frontline of with four companies of mules. These were the the war. first Dominion/Empire troops to come to the Skirmishes between the two sides occurred aid of the mother country during WWII. in late October 1940 but on 7 December Embarkation was completed at Bombay on 10 Wavell launched his attack. Some 36 hours December aboard the troopship Lancashire later the Battle of Sidi Barrani was at an end along with four smaller British Indian ships, of with 38,000 Italians plus much equipment which two were fitted with ‘tween deck stalls captured. This was the first major victory by for mules. The total troop strength was about the Allies in WWII. However this victory was 4,000 officers and men. The convoy was bitter-sweet for the Indians, who had escorted by the Australian cruiser HMAS performed well, as the 4th Division was Hobart together with two AMCs. They replaced by the inexperienced Australian 6th

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Division, and the Indians moved to the less theatre. Ominously, the first of General important theatre in East Africa. Rommel’s Afrika Korps landed on 7 February Sudan was initially defended by three 1941. British battalions, but as of late September In March 1941 the now experienced 1940 the Indian 5th Division began arriving. Australian 6th Division was sent to Greece They included the 10th Infantry Brigade and replaced by new troops including the 3rd commanded by Brigadier William Slim, who Indian Motor Brigade. Later that month the had been with the army in India since 1919. In new boys were badly mauled by a Panzer Sudan the going was much tougher with Division. The Australians retreated to Tobruk. Italian troops occupying well defended The Indians were isolated at Mechili where positions and with superior air cover. The they were surrounded and, after suffering 25% Allied cause was improved by the insertion of casualties, surrendered. the Indian 4th Division. With considerable On 11 April German and Italian troops hard fighting the East African campaign was stood at the gates of Tobruk. The 4th Indian over with the surrender of Italian forces in Division, which had just returned from East May 1941. Africa, was sent to help relieve the garrison. With Rommel’s forces being over-extended Malaya and Singapore his attack was called off and on 4 December After first becoming comrades at Gallipoli a Tobruk was saved. The war in North Africa quarter of a century earlier Australian, British seesawed before Rommel, with numerically and Indian armed forces were to meet again in inferior forces and little hope of fresh supplies, less auspicious circumstances in Malaya in began his fresh attack. He again reached 1942. This battleground has been called the Tobruk on 20 June 1942 which was defended greatest defeat of the British Army when it was by British, Australian and Indian troops. The routed by a smaller but much better trained ferocity of the attack surprised the defenders Japanese Army, culminating in the fall of and early the next day the 22,000 strong Singapore on 15 February 1942. In numerical garrison surrendered. The fall of Tobruk sent terms the Indians were the senior partners shockwaves far beyond North Africa as far as with about 50,000 troops, British 33,000, Washington. The retreating 8th Army took up Australian 17,000 and Malays 2,000. Most of new defensive positions at El Alamein. these surrendered to an uncertain future. In July 1942 rumours were rife of Rommel’s imminent entry into Cairo. Women The Mediterranean and children were streaming out of the city in The 6th Australian Division, which had all modes of transport. The Commander-in- relieved the 4th Indian Division in North Chief, Auchinleck, was with his 8th Army Africa, took Bardia on 5 January 1941. Three squaring off against Rommel in the desert at weeks later Tobruk had fallen and the El Alamein. This position, well within the retreating Italians were pursued along the Egyptian frontier, had been chosen because of Libyan coast by exuberant Australians. Over its defensive capabilities with high ridges and 130,000 Italians were taken prisoner with salt marshes making it largely impassable to hundreds of tanks. tanks. This situation could not be allowed to The 10th Indian Division garrisoned continue and Germany decided to stiffen further west at Matruh had been cut off by the Italian resistance in North Africa, which in attacking Axis forces. The decision was made turn would not allow British and other Allied to fight their way back to Alamein and this forces to withdraw troops to the European breakout proved successful. However, by the

Naval Historical Review December 2017 23 time they reached Alamein they were in a At first Burma did not feature in Japanese poor state and were sent back to the Nile to re- plans but as Malaysia had fallen so easily they equip. sensed similar opportunities in Burma. By Other Indian units with no experience of capturing the country they hoped to seal the desert warfare were deployed on sectors of the western boundary of their planned Co- Alamein Line and received a baptism of fire in Prosperity Sphere to replace the older confronting tanks from the crack Afrika European dominated colonies. The Japanese Korps. In the end Alamein became an offensive with 25,000 troops began on 22 expensive stalemate but, unable to dislodge January 1942 and the onslaught was ceaseless the Allies, Rommel withdrew and Auchinleck against ill-prepared defenders. By early April did not pursue the enemy. Auchinleck was the skies were alight as the Allies set fire to fuel relieved of his command and sent to India tanks from their precious Burma oil fields. By with Montgomery taking over the Eighth the end of April 1942 Allied troops together Army. with countless civilians had evacuated Burma. Following the evacuation of Rangoon, The Burma Road India entered its darkest days. Japanese forces To many Australians, mentioning the Burma next occupied Indian territory, seizing the Road takes their thoughts back to a railway Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the south- built in 1943 covering the 258 miles (415 km) eastern entrance to the Bay of Bengal. Now of rugged terrain through Thailand providing within the range of Japanese aircraft and support to Japanese forces in the Burma warships, the eastern Indian seaboard became campaign. This was built at great human cost unsafe for Allied shipping. The Royal Navy’s by locals and 60,000 Allied POWs. There is, Far East Fleet, fearful of Japanese air attacks, however, another much longer Burma Road of evacuated Ceylon to new bases in the 717 miles (1,154 km) running through Maldives and Kenya; this mighty navy had mountainous country linking southern Burma been humbled, it had lost its raison d’être and, with China and built in 1937-38 by 200,000 for a while, it had lost control of the Indian Burmese and Chinese labourers. Until cut by Ocean. the Japanese during WWII this gave vital While the Allied cause did indeed look British and American aid to Chiang Kai- bleak, this was also the zenith of Japanese shek’s Nationalist Chinese Army, who had conquest, as Japan had overextended its been involved in the Sino-Japanese War since resources and supply lines. Soon after, the July 1937. superiority of the American industrial The British may have underestimated the expansion and military manpower became capabilities of Chiang’s poorly provisioned evident and, after hard-fought encounters, but battle-hardened troops, who were willing there was a glimmer of reversals in fortune. It to support them in Burma. There may have was time to plan for the re-conquest of Burma. also been an underlying suspicion that increased American aid through Burma to Re-conquest of Burma China might unduly influence future political The first Arakan offensive began in late 1942 post-war affiliations, running counter to those with the 15th Army Corps comprising nine of European colonial interests. As a result the brigades. The offensive was aggressively Indian Army fighting against the Japanese in pursued by the United States, which was Burma was initially poorly resourced; in 1941 providing vast quantities of much needed this comprised 22,000 mainly British, Indian logistic support, and who considered an attack and Burmese troops. essential to keep Chinese Nationalist Forces

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in transporting heavier loads. Overall training was much improved with emphasis on morale, health and discipline to enhance fighting skills. New tactics were developed and employed to counter enemy dispositions. At the higher level the C-in-C of the Indian Army, Auchinleck, was largely bypassed with Mountbatten, who had distanced himself in Colombo, as the new overall South East Area Commander (SEAC). The Eastern Command was renamed the 14th Army and placed under the command of General Slim. On 30 November 1943 the Army was ready to undertake a new major offensive in Burma. While costly frontal attacks could not always be avoided, new tactics of infiltration and encirclement (learnt from the Japanese) often worked and compelled the Japanese to Subhas Chandra Bose second left front row retreat. This, together with massive air with crew of Japanese submarine I-29 IJN superiority, gradually wore down Japanese engaged against the enemy in northern resistance and the once invincible troops were Burma. Britain favoured a gradual build-up finally repelled at great cost to both sides. and more cautious approach but the offensive Bitter fighting continued for many was approved. The initial landing on the months. The monsoon made effective fighting Burmese coast went well as two defending impossible for about half the year, but a lack of Japanese brigades withdrew to the cover of supplies and fresh troops took its toll upon the better defended positions. It was then found Japanese resulting in their eventual collapse impossible to dislodge the Japanese and after after many thousands of deaths and casualties, nearly two months of battering a Japanese with a final retreat into Thailand in August counterattack was launched and, by mid-May, 1945. the Indian Army was withdrawn having suffered a humiliating defeat. Civil disobedience and the Quit The Arakan campaign had sent India campaign shockwaves throughout the army and had Early reversals of fortune of British and Allied fostered an aura of invincible Japanese forces fighting in Europe and North Africa fighting skills. A study of lessons learnt came gave impetus to the Congress-inspired Indian to the ironic conclusion that a central problem Independence Movement. This was with the recent build-up of the Indian Army, exacerbated by Japanese air raids on the and making it suitable to mechanised warfare subcontinent which started on Calcutta on 19 in North Africa, was that it had forgotten basic December 1941. skills necessary in the jungle-clad On 9 August 1942 the leaders of Congress mountainous Burmese terrain. It was back to were arrested and placed in custody. This the basics of 1915 Gallipoli with the triggered a popular uprising, the most serious reintroduction of the Mule Corps, and even since the Great Mutiny of 1857. A ‘Quit India bullocks and elephants were called into service Movement’ became a catchcry under which

Naval Historical Review December 2017 25 public property, government buildings including police stations, post offices, railways and telegraph installations, were damaged or destroyed. The Indian Army stood firm to maintain law and order and where necessary opened fire upon its own citizens. On 10 February 1942 Gandhi started a hunger strike in support of the independence movement; this could have had dire consequences should he have died a martyr. Fortunately, on 2 March he ended his fast, regained his health, and gradually order was restored.

The Indian National Army Associated with the independence movement was the Indian National Army (INA) and its leader Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose was born to a wealthy legal family and educated in India but later attended Cambridge. He was a radical leading member of the Indian National Congress, rising to become president in 1938. In the mid-1930s he had visited both Italy and Germany where he was fêted for his anti- imperialist views. Here he met a young Austrian woman, Emile Schenkl, and they later married. After differences with Gandhi and other Congress leaders Bose was ousted from the leadership in 1939 and considered a subversive. He was subsequently placed under house arrest. However he escaped from India and in 1941 arrived in Germany where he Subhas Chandra Bose – The Forgotten Hero established a ‘Free India Radio’ and helped 2005 film poster form a 3,000 strong ‘Free India Legion’ from May 1943. Bose was then flown to Tokyo for disaffected POWs who had been captured in high level discussions on how the 60,000 North Africa. While of significant propaganda Indian civilians and POWs in Singapore might value the ‘Legion’ never saw action and was be recruited into the INA. mainly used in policing roles in the A mass gathering of Indians in Singapore Netherlands and the Low Countries. was transfixed by the oratory and charisma of In view of Japanese successes in south-east this amazing individual - one of his quotes is Asia, Bose’s talents were considered more Give me your blood and I will give you important in this theatre. On 9 February 1943 freedom. Over 20,000, including many he boarded the German submarine U-180 at officers, joined the INA and Bose was even Kiel, which took him to Madagascar. He able to recruit a volunteer female regiment to transferred to the Japanese submarine I-29, provide nursing and welfare support. Recruits from which he disembarked in Sumatra in may also have been encouraged by the

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soldiers as traitors. However, the days of the Raj were over and the authorities were out of touch with the common man. Senior officers were deeply shocked and dismayed by the attitude of the majority of Indian troops who had remained loyal; they were now willing to regard members of the INA as independence fighters, believed by many to be true patriots. After a few showpiece trials the majority of prisoners were released, to be welcomed back into the community as heroes.

The Royal Indian Navy Not unlike the RAN, the Royal Indian Navy traces its history back to colonial times, in fact a long way back, to the East India Company which was established in 1599 and formed a fleet of fighting ships in 1612. Subsequently there were various changes in title until the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) was formally proclaimed on 2 October 1934. Chief Officer Margaret Cooper, Second Officer Under the overall protection of the Royal Kalyani Sen, Women’s Royal Indian Naval Navy the Royal Indian Navy was often Service, visiting Rosyth on 3 June 1945 RN overlooked and at the start of the Second alternative offered, of joining labour camps in World War the RIN had only eight warships. New Guinea with a very uncertain future. Its wartime growth was considerable, and The INA was employed in taking control of included the establishment of a Women’s the Indian, but Japanese occupied, Andaman Royal Indian Naval Service. and Nicobar Islands and the then British, but RAN ships were frequently attached to the Japanese-occupied, Christmas Island (post-war Eastern Fleet and worked with RIN this became an Australian Territory). INA also counterparts. One of the more tangible provided guards overseeing Allied POWs at contributions was the transfer of four Changi prison. Their greatest assistance to the Australian built corvettes, the rather grandly Japanese war effort was in providing troops to named HMI Ships Bengal, Bombay, Madras assist in the defence of Burma. Bose had a and Punjab which were all commissioned in vision of being the great liberator, leading his Australia in 1942. army from Burma into India, with the When Bengal was escorting the armed population flocking to his banner. While this Dutch tanker Ondina off the Cocos Islands in was never to eventuate there would have been October 1942 she was attacked by two immense unrest if it had succeeded. With the Japanese commerce raiders armed with 6-inch end of the war in sight Bose was moved to guns. Bengal and Ondina sank one raider and Formosa where this misguided patriot died the other beat a retreat. Two other corvettes, following an air crash in August 1945. He was HMA Ships Ipswich and Launceston 48 years of age. combined with HMIS Jumma in sinking the British authorities were determined to Japanese submarine RO-110 in the Bay of make an example of the INA officers and Bengal.

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Post-war – the navy goes on strike September 1946 Nehru became vice-president with the end of an Empire of the viceroy’s Executive Council and thus The year 1946 was one of turmoil. Inflamed by effectively prime minister. A new British the INA trials there were uprisings, administration under Labour leader Attlee demonstrations and strikes. The loyalty of the recalled Governor-General Wavell and armed forces was also tested when on 18 appointed Mountbatten as his successor – but February 1946 the Royal Indian Navy not for long, as Attlee also announced that mutinied. This began in Bombay when Great Britain would withdraw from India by dissatisfied sailors deserted their ships and June 1948. The Raj was over and the Empire marched through the city holding aloft no more. portraits of Subhas Bose. A major point of protest was the alleged discrimination against Summary Indians by British officers. The mutiny spread India, a nation with a tumultuous upbringing, throughout the country affecting 78 ships and had long sought peaceful independence. The 20 establishments with over 20,000 ratings Australian–Indian relationship, however, was involved. There was also sympathy from their not brought about by peaceful means but Army and Air Force colleagues and forged out of marching and countermarching substantial public support. to imperial tunes, which lasted until the The leaders of Congress demonstrated demise of an outmoded empire. tangible political maturity and negotiated a We now seek inspiration for a final chapter settlement with the mutineers to return to in this series addressing the maturing their duties and they would ensure that their relationship between our two countries from grievances were addressed. As quickly as it the time of independence to the present day, started the mutiny was over. which also looks into mutual issues affecting The mutiny demonstrated to the British regional defence in the Indian Ocean. This that they no longer had control of the Indian might also acknowledge a different Australia, armed forces and political power was with the one with rapidly changing demographics, with Indian people. Following elections on 2 a decided cultural shift towards Asia

Bomb and Mine Disposal (BMD) Operations in the Pacific By Hector Donohue

URING WORLD WAR II, RAN personnel Islands. Clearance Diving includes BMD operated with their RN counterparts in skills, and when it was introduced in 1955 theD dangerous and demanding tasks of BMD there was a rich Australian experience to draw in the waters around UK and on shore, and from. subsequently in the ports of northern Europe. Whilst much has been written about the In the Pacific theatre RAN BMD personnel few RANVR officers who conducted BMD supported Allied operations in the islands to activities in UK and Europe during WWII Australia’s north. Post-war, Australian navy, (and their bravery and well deserved awards, army and air force personnel undertook given to 12 officers – including four GCs - and significant bomb and mine disposal two sailors, is acknowledged), little has been operations in New Guinea and the Solomon written about the men who conducted BMD

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of the Electrical and TAS branches in 1948, RMS (and torpedo) training moved from Flinders Naval Depot to HMAS Rushcutter. Awards for BMD operations by the RAN in the Pacific during WWII and in the immediate post war period were sparse and totalled four officers and two sailors as follows.

Commander (Sp) M.S. Batterham RANVR OBE – 5.6.52 Lieutenant (Sp) H.L. Billman RANVR MID – 26.6.45 DSC – 6.11.45 Lieutenant C.G. Croft RANR Japanese mine inspected by LTs Arnold and MBE – 28.9.43 Batterham, June 1943 AWM Lieutenant (Sp) F. Nankivell RANVR in the Australian theatre. In fact, Herman MBE – 26.6.45 Gill’s official history of the RAN in World Able Seaman R.F. Peel RANR War II does not even mention them. BEM – 26.6.45 After the Japanese entered the war, the Able Seaman V.W. Turner RAN RAN introduced Render Mines Safe (RMS) BEM – 1.1.52 training at Flinders Naval Depot in early 1942, and RAN personnel were trained by the Army A brief summary of the careers of these brave in Bomb Disposal. BMD personnel were men is given below: progressively deployed to vital ports and eventually in support of operations in the Commander Maurice Samuel islands to the north of Australia. RMS Batterham RANVR operations by the RAN in the Pacific theatre Batterham joined the RANVR as a Sub were completely different to operations by Lieutenant in August 1942. He qualified in RANVR officers in Europe dealing with bomb disposal at the Army Base at Bonegilla sophisticated German ground mines. BMD in in October 1942, and as a Diver II at HMAS support of Allied offensives focused on Penguin in October 1943. He joined HMAS unexploded Japanese ordnance and booby Melville in Darwin in December 1942 for traps and those involved lived in the field, diving and RMS and BD duties and was often close to fierce fighting. promoted to Lieutenant in January 1943. He Although no lists of those qualified in RMS was involved in salvaging materials from and bomb disposal (BD) during the War have sunken ships in the wake of the Japanese been kept, in excess of 30 RMS officers have bombings and rendering bombs safe as well as been identified from Navy Lists and there a number of Japanese mines washed ashore. In would have been at least a similar number of October 1944 he was sent on exchange service sailors. Post-war, RMS billets were shut down with the RN where he commanded two Port in most areas. Brisbane was allocated staff for Clearance Parties (P Parties 1574 and 1572) in RMS along the Queensland coast and HMAS northern Europe following the invasion. Tarangau was built up to cover RMS and BD He returned to Australia in January 1946 work in New Guinea. Following the formation and was attached to Tarangau in May as an

Naval Historical Review December 2017 29 acting Lieutenant Commander to assist Australian Government, unlike the British Lieutenant Commander Chas. Croft and a Government, decreed that no more awards RMS team undertaking bomb and mine would be given for the war, and so Batterham disposal activities in the Rabaul area. did not receive an ‘operational’ award. Batterham devised a gas mask diving system After overseeing the first clearance diving giving the freedom of movement they needed course in 1955 he continued to serve in Navy underwater, and the team recovered and Office as the RAN’s ‘diving expert’. He also disposed of over 150 mines and other oversaw the Mine Countermeasures ordnance. Batterham returned to Australia in Development Unit at Rushcutter which December 1946. developed underwater search techniques. In In October 1947 and again in May 1948 he 1961 he planned and supervised a deep diving dived on the wreck of HMAS Warrnambool to operation in support of the Snowy Mountains recover the confidential books from the Hydro-electric Authority, including arranging Commanding Officer’s cabin. As reported by for suitable equipment to be procured. A leak the Senior officer 20th Minesweeping Flotilla: had developed in a diversion tunnel at the Full credit is due to Lieutenant Commander base of Eucumbene Dam and the only Batterham RANVR for the successful carrying practical method of investigating the problem out of this arduous and hazardous operation was by using divers. RAN clearance divers which he organised and in which he played an were sent down, ultimately to 285 feet important part underwater, setting a fine underwater in freezing conditions, and over a example for the rest of the team. He and his period of four months cleared the debris seven team members subsequently received causing the leak, the deepest diving operation Naval Board Commendations. The Admiralty on air ever undertaken. also expressed their appreciation of the He was promoted to Commander in June recovery of the documents which ensured 1956 and retired in 1966; he continued his they remained free from compromise. He was involvement in diving by managing a diving appointed to Navy Office on the staff of the equipment company. He died on 20 August Director of Ordnance and Underwater 1996, aged 90. Weapons in July 1948 and in 1951 was promoted Lieutenant Commander. He Lieutenant Harold Leon (Bill) initiated the requirement to establish a Billman RANVR Clearance Diving Branch in the RAN in 1951 Billman joined the RANVR as a Sub and was the driving force behind the early Lieutenant in November 1942. He qualified in development of clearance diving in the RAN. bomb disposal at the Army Base at Ingleburn He was awarded the OBE for ‘courage and in February 1943, before completing a devotion to duty’ in the Queen’s Birthday controlled mine course at Flinders Naval Honours List in June 1952. His citation noted Depot in March. He was then posted to that: Since 1943 he had been engaged HMAS Platypus at Cairns for BMD duties. intermittently on mine clearance and other He qualified Diver II at Penguin in May 1943 duties of a hazardous nature…including the and in August 1943 he was sent to HMAS clearance of former enemy-held ports in Europe Basilisk at Port Moresby where he was and RMS duties in Rabaul after the Japanese engaged in BMD in the New Guinea forward surrender. By his skill, courage and leadership areas. He was promoted Lieutenant in June he was an outstanding example to his with seniority of 21 March 1943. In August subordinates. Although the activities mentioned and September 1943 Billman was involved in were clearly associated with World War II, the the clearance of unexploded ordnance

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He was subsequently awarded a DSC on 6 November 1945 with the following citation: Lieutenant Billman landed on Panaon Island on 20th October, 1944 with the assault forces. He displayed bravery, devotion to duty and exceptional skill over a period of four months in dealing with Japanese mines and unexploded bombs in the clearance operations in the Philippines. He returned to Australia in early May 1945 and served at the Torpedo School at Flinders Naval Depot as a RMS instructor until he was demobilised in December 1945. He died in Wangaratta on 16 April 1968, at 60 years old.

Lieutenant Commander Charles George (Chas.) Croft RANR Lt. Billman in New Guinea 1942 RAN Croft joined the RANR as a Midshipman in following the Allied landings in Nassau Bay in April 1924, rising to the rank of Lieutenant July. This operation was undertaken so that before retiring in March 1930. He rejoined as the Allies could secure a beachhead to a Lieutenant in February 1941 and was posted establish a supply point to shorten the supply to Melville in Darwin as RMS and BD officer, lines for the attack on Salamaua as part of the and despite undertaking operational RMS Salamaua-Lae campaign. For his time at activities, did not complete a formal bomb Nassau Bay he was awarded a MID on 26 June disposal course until October 1942 (probably 1945 …for courage, skill and undaunted the same course as Batterham). He was the devotion to duty in exceptionally hazardous first Allied officer to render safe a Japanese operations. mine in World War II when he dealt with four He was the first of three RANVR officers Japanese mines washed ashore at Gunn Point, attached to the USN Mobile Explosive near Darwin, in February 1942. On 28 Investigative Unit No 1 (MEIU 1) in 1944/45. September 1943 he was awarded the MBE for Billman received a Commander Seventh Fleet Commendation in June 1945 that stated: LCDR Croft working on mine in New Guinea During the period September 1944 to April in 1946 RAN 1945 you were attached to MEIU 1 and rendered invaluable assistance in clearing unexploded ordnance from the Leyte and Manila Bay areas. By your diligent methods and careful research, you recovered and reconstructed a new type of Japanese mine and a new enemy underwater sound making device. The Commander Seventh Fleet commends you upon your exemplary performance and your contributions to the success of our operations in the Philippines.

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countermined or dumped at sea. An Army officer officially commending the RAN RMS party noted: The work consisted of delousing and disposing of enemy mines and torpedoes and also anti-invasion mines. The work was dangerous and difficult and involved working in many cases under water and in confined tunnels. These officers and men worked with a consistency and despatch which might well have proved too severe for the health of less mentally and physically robust persons. He returned to Cerberus in January 1947 and moved to the RMS School at Rushcutter in February 1948. He was promoted Lieutenant Commander in June 1949. He had been recommended for an operational MID, but with Australia’s unwavering policy of not considering post war BMD as ‘operational’, the citation lapsed. At the request of the High LTs Merchant and Nankivell and AB Peel, New Commissioner, Western Pacific, in 1950 the Guinea 1944 RAN Australian Government agreed to provide a this operation …for great bravery and joint Army/Navy BMD unit to dispose of steadfast devotion to duty’. US Navy mine unexploded ordnance in the British disposal personnel had no intelligence on Solomon Island Protectorate. The LST Japanese mines and a USN Mine Recovery HMAS Labuan took a team of five Army Unit was sent to Melville in early 1942 to be and four Navy personnel, led by Lieutenant mentored by Croft. Commander Chas. Croft, from Sydney to Croft served as the senior RMS instructor the Solomon Islands, arriving Honiara on 31 at the Torpedo School at Cerberus in 1944/45 July 1950. and in late 1945 was sent to inspect the Operational control rested with NOIC northern battlefields. After ten weeks he New Guinea but locally, Croft was in charge. reported varying stockpiles of Japanese and They worked as required in many areas in the US ordnance from Timor to Rabaul. As a islands where unexploded ordnance required result, the decision was taken to put navy and disposal. army BMD teams into the islands to The unit was supported by local native commence a clean-up. labour supplied by the Resident In May 1946 he was promoted to Acting Commissioner, who also provided land and Lieutenant Commander and was attached to water transport. The team dealt with tons of Tarangau in New Guinea for BMD duties. He unexploded ordnance in difficult conditions, was assisted by Lieutenant Commander both on the job and at their base in Honiara. Maurice Batterham RANVR and a seven- The three sailors attached to the Unit were sailor RMS team. With prisoners of war rotated after a year, but Croft remained and in providing the labour, many hundreds of mid-1952 fell ill and was returned to Australia. bombs, mines, depth charges, torpedoes and He died on 18 May 1953 in Launceston whilst other ordnance were rendered safe, on sick leave, aged just 47.

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Lieutenant (Sp) Francis Nankivell RANVR Nankivell joined the RANVR in August 1942 as a Sub Lieutenant and completed the 10/42 RMS course at Cerberus. He was posted to HMAS Torrens (Adelaide) as ‘diving RMS and BD officer’. He was promoted Lieutenant in January 1943 and qualified Diver II in March 1943. In early 1944 he was posted to HMAS Ladava (Milne Bay) and for forward areas as required, working on the ordnance and booby traps left behind by the retreating Japanese forces. He was awarded the MBE for his work in clearing ordnance in the Cape Hoskins and San Remo areas on the north coast of western New Britain in June-July 1944. He received the award on 26 June 1945: …for courage, skill and undaunted devotion to duty in exceptionally hazardous operations. He demobilised early 1945 and died in Melbourne AB Turner in the Solomons 1951 - RAN on 20 March 1964, at just 60 years old.

Able Seaman Victor William Turner Able Seaman Reginald Frank Peel RANR Turner joined the RAN in August 1947 and was posted to Rushcutter in 1949. He qualified Peel was born in Saskatchewan, Canada in in RMS in January 1950 and was one of the 1907. He joined the RN in 1925 and navy team who went to Honiara in July 1950. transferred to the RAN in 1928, completing He was awarded the BEM on 1 January 1952 his service in 1937. He joined the RANR in for his bravery following the rescue of a August 1940 for five years’ service. After two Solomon Islands native from a burning stack years of service in HMAS Napier, he was of exploding 20 mm ammunition on Honiara posted to Cerberus in September 1942 and Island in 1951. The citation stated: He showed qualified in bomb disposal in October. After a complete disregard for his personal safety in brief period in Magnetic (Townsville) he was assisting the wounded native to safety and in posted to Basilisk (Port Moresby) in January returning to the danger area to another native 1943. After two years working in BMD in New whom he had seen. Turner knew well that a Guinea, he was given a free discharge in major explosion could have been expected at January 1945 …on a replacement basis to any moment and, in fact, numerous explosions resume employment with a company in did occur. Melbourne. His extensive time in the field on As he was at sea in HMAS Condamine off BMD duties prevented him from qualifying Korea at the time the award was presented, his for Leading Seaman. He was awarded the sister collected it from the Governor of BEM for his work in assisting Nankivell in Queensland in February 1953. He left the New Britain and received the award on 26 Navy in 1959 as a Petty Officer. June 1945 …for skill and undaunted devotion to duty in hazardous operations.

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HMAS Arunta and Operation HAMBURGER

Whichever way you looked at a Tribal class destroyer, she was not just handsome, she was beautiful. The balance between hull and superstructure and the proportions of her two funnels were perfect. Add to this the strong clipper bow with a graceful sheer, running back to the break of the fo’c’sle and you have a word picture that does not do justice to the actuality of the best looking destroyers ever built1.

Operation HAMBURGER We were recently approached by Jim Walker, tends to be overshadowed by the tragic losses whose father Major Edward (Mac) Walker of HMA Ships Armidale and Voyager. The was commanding officer of the 2/4th brief but successful operation by Arunta in Independent Company (Lancer Force) this conflict now barely rates a mention in her fighting against the Japanese invaders of the otherwise distinguished wartime career. then neutral Portuguese colony of Timor. Jim However it is difficult to reflect upon Arunta’s suggested that we might care to publish an role in Timor without acknowledging some article relating to the evacuation of Lancer previous operations. On 12 September 1942 Force from Timor on 9/10 January 1943 by HMAS Kalgoorlie sailed from Darwin with an HMAS Arunta. While his late father never advance party of the 2/4th Independent talked of these events he apparently spent the Company comprising Commanding Officer night in the captain’s cabin recovering from Major Edward Walker and 12 other mainly the effects of being waterlogged. Jim Walker officers and NCOs. They were taken ashore by has conducted his own research and believes boat at Betano Bay on 15 September and on that the men of Arunta who carried out the landing were met by members of the 2/2nd rescue mission have not been properly Commando Company and escorted to various recognized, especially those who manned the operational centres located within a 30 mile small craft in treacherous conditions. radius. A week later on 22 September a Operation HAMBURGER was the name given number of officers reassembled on the same to the delivery of men and supplies in support beach awaiting the arrival of Voyager with the of Sparrow Force in Timor which began on 27 major component comprising 250 officers and May 1942. Sparrow Force changed its name to men of the 2/4th Independent Company. Lancer Force in November 1942 and the Voyager sailed from Darwin on 22 operation ended with the evacuation of Lancer September and at last light the following Force on 10 January 1943. evening began disembarking her troops and Over these months our commandos in cargo at Betano Bay. While all troops were large and small groups harassed the enemy, landed safely the ship grounded and could not which outnumbered them 100 to one. Some be refloated. The next morning Voyager was slipped into Dili, the capital, and shot up sighted by two Japanese reconnaissance Japanese headquarters, then melted back into aircraft, one of which was shot down. As the the bush. There was plenty of cover, for ship could not be saved she was abandoned steamy, rugged Timor rises from reef strewn before the inevitable bombing raids which beaches to forested parallel mountain chains began in the afternoon. During the evening with peaks reaching up to 10,000 feet. her crew had the unenviable task of laying Much has been written about the RAN’s demolition charges and the ship was involvement in the Timor campaign which destroyed. On 25 September the Bathurst-

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HMAS Arunta (1) in camouflage c1943 NHS class minesweepers HMA Ships Kalgoorlie perished on an exposed Timorese beach. and Warrnambool safely evacuated the entire From the official war history and her Voyager ship’s company and brought them Report of Proceedings (RoP) and extracts back to Darwin without any casualties. from her Bridge Log Book we are able to gain a reasonable understanding of the situation The ship and her mission but one important document, a separate paper Arunta was the first of three Tribal class which is mentioned in her January 1943 RoP destroyers built in Australia. In all there were relating specifically to the evacuation of 27 ships in this class, 16 for the Royal Navy, Timor2, remains elusive, hidden in some dusty eight for the Royal Canadian Navy and seven archive. We are however able to access some were intended for the Royal Australian Navy. first-hand accounts of these events from those But we had to be content with Arunta, who served in the ship but these may have Warramunga and Bataan, as with the end of been written some time later. the war in sight, the other four were no longer required. Summary from the Official War History One thing for certain is that Arunta was a of the RAN happy ship with much credit due to her first On 2nd January 1943, NOIC Darwin told the captain James (Ginger) Morrow, DSO, DSC, Naval Board and COMSOUWESPAC that the RAN who was highly regarded by both officers total withdrawal of Lancer Force might be and men. He had gained wartime experience necessary within the near future, and as First Lieutenant of Voyager, serving in the requested the allocation of a destroyer. Arunta Mediterranean in the thick of convoys and was tasked and she reached Darwin from campaigns in Greece, Malta and Tobruk. He Cairns on 7th January, embarked eight Army was highly efficient and a skillful ship handler, assault craft, and sailed from Darwin at 7 a.m. and as a leader, he inspired confidence. on the 9th. She crossed the Timor Sea in During the extraction of Lancer Force CMDR overcast weather with heavy rain and wind Morrow must have been extremely conscious squalls which provided excellent cover from that in similar conditions, only four months enemy reconnaissance planes and at 1.30 a.m. previously, his old ship Voyager had carried on the 10th anchored in 27 fathoms about reinforcements for Lancer Force to Timor and three-quarters of a mile from the beach at during that operation had grounded and Quieras. Boats were quickly lowered and the

Naval Historical Review December 2017 35

5 a.m. there were still about 100 men on shore, but Morrow decided to wait and get them off if possible before daylight, hoping to run into bad cyclonic weather when about 30 miles clear of the coast. The last boats returned to the ship at 6.20 a.m., and ten minutes later Morrow proceeded at best speed. At 7.10 a.m. it was daylight and much too clear, but they steered towards rain squalls and from 8.15 a.m. onwards the visibility was never more than two miles until approaching Darwin. Major Edward Walker (clean shaven) Arunta secured alongside at Darwin at 7 commander of the 2/4th Independent Company p.m. on 10th January, bringing with her 24 with Major Geoff Laidlaw commander of the officers and 258 other ranks of Lancer Force, 2/2nd Independent Company at Lancer Force eleven women and children, and twenty HQ in Timor. AWM Portuguese who had been working with the first motor launch towing four assault craft army. Morrow, in his report, stated that Mr departed from the ship at 1.40 a.m. with the Ley, Commissioned Gunner (T), was in second motor launch and another four assault charge of the boats inshore, …and I consider boats leaving at 2.00 a.m. that it was only due to his fine seamanship and The beach conditions were bad, with heavy drive that all the troops were brought off. He surf running and capsizing and swamping was most ably assisted by Leading Seaman several of the assault boats, and it was found Power and Able Seaman Asser, who were impossible to load them with their correct outstanding in handling their boats and complement of 15 men and crew of five. The generally taking charge. first boat to return with wounded troops arrived alongside Arunta at 4.10 a.m. Also on Events as seen from the Lower Deck board was the Adjutant, Lieutenant Rex Jim Hodge was an Able Seaman serving in Lipman; he had been given orders by Major Arunta when she rescued troops from Timor. Walker to convince Commander Morrow to In later life as a parliamentary journalist he delay the ship’s departure until all the troops wrote of his experiences which appeared in were safely on board. After this Morrow told the Canberra Times on 18 October 1975. A the beach party that no more equipment or summary is quoted below. stores would be taken and that the men must Late one January afternoon in 1943 a salt- swim through the surf and board the assault stained destroyer steamed into bomb-battered craft outside it, otherwise there would be no Darwin harbour, grey decks lined with several chance of getting them off before daylight. At hundred silent, gaunt, heavily bearded troops

36 Naval Historical Review December 2017 clad in tattered remnants of army uniforms craft through the breakers and back to the and bits and pieces of sailors’ gear. waiting motor boats. Not all went according to From the tiny tender which opened the steel plan and many a boat was capsized with all anti-submarine net to let the incoming occupants ending up in the sea. With the aid of destroyer go through came the hail: ‘Any of you the soldiers we lifted the boats over the breakers blokes lend us a razor-blade?’ and then scrambled back onboard. After The whiskered company was Lancer Force, several such trips the crews were exhausted and back from enemy infested Timor in the Tribal had to be replaced. class destroyer Arunta. When she berthed its Each of the assault boats was designed for a members followed bare-footed officers down the crew of five to take 15 passengers but given the gang-plank, and fell-in on the wharf. After conditions it was impossible to load this many, months of isolated jungle fighting, ambushes, so more ferry trips were necessary. Each assault sickness, wounds and constant movement over boat is thought to have made about four round rough country, they paraded as if they had just trips bringing off a total of 309 from Lancer completed a ceremonial refresher course in a Force, 20 Portuguese civilians and 11 women training camp. and children – this equates to between 10 and We are able to trace other similar stories 11 passengers per trip. Where they could make from those preserved by the ‘Arunta it without assistance the troops and civilians Association’. Much of the following is were brought on board from the boats using attributed to radar operator Tom Clark who scrambling nets. With the last trip completed was in the relief boat crews. there was no time to recover the assault boats, After anchoring at Darwin some rather which were stove in with axes and allowed to flimsy looking flat-bottomed boats were sink. brought onboard for our inspection and crews After arrival onboard the cooks came to the were told off to man them. Then to help with fore with the first good meal our guests had our training we had to row them around the seen in a long time. Everyone had a mug of hot harbour using paddles, with the coxswain soup and a meal of sausages and vegetables. steering with a splay oar. Many had lived off the land and not eaten so When we arrived off the Timorese coast the well for a long time. They wolfed it down, until boats’ crews were mustered and issued with tin the heaving and rolling, pitching and driving of hats and ‘Mae West’ life preservers. In the destroyer got the better of them, and its darkness the ship anchored and the boats were decks became a slippery mess for crewmen to then lowered and we manned these unfamiliar clean up for days after. and clumsy craft. Two ship’s motor boats then Ken Piesse, a non-commissioned officer of each towed a trot of four assault boats inshore. the 2/4th prepared notes relating to the ship’s The passage was calm when moving towards arrival which are included in the book the dark coastline where fires marking the covering the Unit’s history3. These include the landing points were burning. As we neared the following comments: coast we were cast adrift from our tow and a The destroyer was now proceeding dead thumping roar could be heard, which was the slow as she threaded her way past the many noise of big rollers breaking on the beach. Our wrecks in the harbour. As the ship made fast we craft were picked up and we fell out as they quietly thanked our sailor friends and filed were dumped into the roaring surf. In pitch across the deck of the hospital ship (possibly the blackness with water over our heads we motor passenger ship Centaur which had been somehow scrambled up the beach and located requisitioned for use as a hospital ship on 9 our boats. January 1943) which we had berthed alongside. With a load of soldiers, some injured and A sizeable crowd had gathered on the wharf wearing bandages, all sitting down in the boats, and once we had disembarked our officers the crew using paddles sought to propel the quietly formed us into platoons where our

Naval Historical Review December 2017 37 parade was brought to attention. Following a On returning to Australia the unit was brief word from the CO three cheers rang across disbanded on 8 January 1946. the harbour for the crew of Arunta who had done such a magnificent job in bringing us Arunta does not go quietly safely home without any loss of life. Arunta had a significant war history with Following the evacuation of the majority of contributions to many of the campaigns in the Lancer Force in Arunta a small rearguard Pacific extending all the way to the party remained behind. These were taken off capitulation of Japan. On 21 December 1956 by the submarine USS Gudgeon on the night she paid off and was placed into operational of 10 February 1943 and taken to Fremantle. reserve at Sydney’s Athol Bight dolphins. Here This closed Operation HAMBURGER and the she remained until November 1967 when she Australian operation in Timor which ended was sold for demolition to the China Steel only a few days less than a year from which Corporation of Taipei in Taiwan. they began. She departed on her final voyage for the breakers yard on 12 February 1968 under tow Quarantine, recuperation at Larrimah by the Japanese tug Toko Maru. The old Prior to Arunta’s arrival at Darwin orders warhorse was reluctant to leave her homeland were issued that all military personnel would and the following day, in good weather when be quarantined for an indefinite period. On off Broken Bay, she inexplicably began to list disembarkation and after all formalities had to starboard; as the list increased the tug been completed the troops were entrained the master turned around and attempted to take following day for Larrimah, a staging camp his charge back to Sydney. But the list located approximately 500 km south of increased and as Arunta lay over on her side Darwin. Doctors specialising in the treatment the tow was slipped and in deep water she of tropical diseases including malaria, disappeared below the waves. dysentery, tropical ulcers and other kindred There was much ill feeling about her troubles were on hand. Within four weeks the demise; after spending most of her life fighting overall health of the unit improved against the Japanese it was thought an ignoble considerably and on 23 February they left the end to be towed by a Japanese tug. The camp and finally arrived home in Adelaide on mystery of her sinking has never been fully 2 March. Extended leave was granted and the explained and the press of those times 2/4th regrouped at the Jungle Warfare Centre, published theories of sabotage. The loss of Canungra, Queensland in April 1943. Arunta was investigated by maritime Following further specialized training in authorities but the results were inconclusive. the Atherton Tablelands the unit, now attached to the 9th Australian Division, sailed Notes: for New Guinea on 10 August 1943. As part of 1 A view from a proud onetime captain of the 26th Brigade the unit was involved with HMAS Warramunga, CMDR John the amphibious landing at Lae in early Alliston, DSO, DSC & Bar, RN. September 1943. The 2/4th came ashore in the 2 HMAS Arunta Report of Proceedings No. second wave where they suffered heavy 1/43 dated 12 January 1943 ‘Evacuation of casualties when their landing craft was Timor’. torpedoed, killing 34 members. After this 3 Commando from Tidal River to Tarakan, action they saw further service in New Guinea compiled by G. E. Lambert and published before returning to Australia in March 1944. by the 2/4th Commando Association, After regrouping and further training the 1994. unit left Australia in April 1945 for Morotai and were engaged in the Tarakan campaign.

38 Naval Historical Review December 2017

Australian Political and Military Strategies in the Second World War – to Lead or to Follow

This paper is by Mike Fogarty a former RAN officer and diplomat. In 2016, he completed an MA (Military History) at UNSW with ADFA.

The war in the Pacific was not conducted in the about Australia in the context of the wars in way Australia wished it to be…Australian Europe and in the Far East. To Australian eyes politicians undoubtedly experienced some those decisions were often unpalatable and on frustration at their inability to influence events occasion unacceptable. They were, however, in ways in which would produce the strategic incontrovertible, for while broad strategic logic policies they wanted.1 This mild governed the wartime politics of Churchill’s understatement by John Gooch is yet government, the accompanying strategic symptomatic of conditions then. Australia’s calculus which both shaped and justified policy policy options, as a junior yet not insignificant imposed upon Australia a subaltern status ally, were limited by the greater clout from which she could not escape.2 exercised by its major allies, Britain and Australian-Canadian bilateral military America. Our national interests, as a loyal cooperation proposals in 1942 failed dominion, were subordinated to a higher call abysmally. Haycock advanced a useful case on Empire interests, viewed from Whitehall. study, when the possibility of Canadian troops Australia’s political and military leaders being sent to reinforce Australia was being had limited success influencing strategies considered. For junior partners in a major war which determined Australia’s contribution to the lesson of alliance participation is that it is WWII. Canberra had occasional wins, but any really impossible to make bilateral outcomes were conditioned by its subordinate arrangements at lower levels without higher status to the two major allied powers, the US approval.3 Haycock noted that …like Curtin, and UK. Under the threat of Japanese the tough-minded and often mercurial invasion, Curtin withdrew the 6th and 7th AIF External Affairs minister (Herbert Evatt) knew divisions from the Middle East, recalling them that Australia’s immediate future would be to defend Australia. Churchill acquiesced, for determined not in London or in Ottawa but in the 9th division stayed another year. Washington.4 Churchill’s plea to have two divisions diverted David Horner underscored that: The story to Rangoon was rejected. of Australia’s strategic and operational Australia, as a junior ally, was often planning in 1943 is the story of six men – two relegated to a lower priority as more pressing American generals, two Australian generals strategies were applied, when the defeat of and two Australian civilians.5 Horner refers to Nazi Germany and Italy firstly assumed a US Generals Douglas MacArthur and George higher call on resources and personnel. Kenney. Generals Thomas Blamey and Australia was later able to project its own Edmund Herring led the Australians. The two offensives in New Guinea. Its army was often Australian civilians were Curtin as PM and misused in ‘political’ campaigns, such as Frederick Shedden, the Secretary of Defence Bougainville, when Japanese troops might and the War Cabinet. Curtin deferred to have been left to wither for want of MacArthur and the pervasive reach of a US replenishment. London reached its decisions command and control apparatus. Curtin and

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delineated why the US was suspicious in not backing Australia during the Confrontation dispute with Indonesia (1962-64). Hitherto, the US was not inclined to materially support the British in Malaya, which from 1948-1960 was facing a communist-backed insurgency, inimical to wider US interests in Asia. How did the other two individual services, the RAN and RAAF, react to an imposed overlay of strategic thinking, be it sourced from Washington or London? Goldrick inferred that the Admiralty sought to molest the RAN command structure. Royle fought hard to prevent the premature advancement of Collins or Farncomb to the (HM Australian) command as replacements for Crutchley in 1944. His motives were good, but the political decision to have Collins installed as Commodore commanding the squadron in June 1944 was the correct one.8 In fairness, London felt that any RAN senior officers should not be promoted over RN officers if the former did not possess the The Civil War Lords - Frederick Shedden and requisite seniority and command experience John Curtin, 1944 Public Domain over the latter. Goldrick accounts that: The MacArthur both declared in June, 1943 that: Australian Squadron did not integrate with the …the Japanese threat had been removed…he British Pacific Fleet but remained a part of the (Curtin) stated that the enemy could (not) now US 7th Fleet in the South-West Pacific invade this country.’6 Command.9 The RAN had interoperability MacArthur triumphed, in supplanting with the British (Burma and in the NEI) and Australia’s ownership of its strategic decision- HMA warships fought with the USN off the making, using his own command team, who Philippines and on to Japan. would apply it selectively to overly privilege The RAAF had its own problems with the US national interests at the expense of RAF Bomber Command. Stephens offered Australian policies. The Australian war that the RAAF heritage was compromised in cabinet…was frustrated…whereby strategic WWII in that there were limited opportunities matters were in the hands of General for its senior officers to be promoted in MacArthur.7 Horner’s conclusion attempts to wartime. The author (Stephens), a former create a linkage between a US usurpation of RAAF officer, has made his point, in strategic decision-making in the Pacific war concluding: The time is long overdue for the and our resultant alliance with the US under men of the RAAF who fought in the great air ANZUS and SEATO. The echoes of this policy battles over Germany and Italy during World can be found in the reasons for committing War II to receive far more generous recognition Australian forces to overseas military of their extraordinary achievements and operations (with the US) over the following courage.10 At the time, Canberra had to accept sixty years (to 2004). His argument might have the realities.

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The Australian army had related 6 Horner, ibid, p. 40. difficulties, as Grey tells. His more salient 7 Horner, ibid, p. 43. points are summarised as follows: Singapore 8 Goldrick, James. World War II: The War was indefensible with the available means. against Japan, in David Stevens (Ed.) The Blamey was subordinated to MacArthur and Royal Australian Navy, p. 143. Figure 6.1 in chapter 6 details the complex command the former had limited access to Curtin. With organisation from 1942-45, showing the droll understatement, Grey assessed that: respective lines of responsibility. …Japan’s entry into the war had dramatically 11 9 Goldrick, ibid, p. 149. The fathers of Stevens altered Australia’s strategic circumstances. and Goldrick also served in RN cruisers off Australia had a limited capacity to Burma. influence all strategies which governed its 10 Stephens, Alan. The Royal Australian Air independent contribution to WWII. Britain Force, p. 107. While the author adopts a and the US directed the higher strategy. Yet it partisan case, one can appreciate the instincts is to their credit that Australian political and which resourced his thinking. military leaders cooperated on strategic 11 Grey, Jeffrey. The Australian Army, see pp. decision-making where events dictated that 135, 138 and 134, in respective order, on his points made. Curtin authorised conscription, they should. It was not an optimal changing the Defence Act, to extend the arrangement when sovereign national boundaries of war service. interests were subordinated to a higher realm. Australian strategic influence at high tables Bibliography was another wartime casualty, but not fatally Goldrick, James. World War II: The War against so, as the eventual outcomes delivered victory Japan, Chapter 6, in David Stevens (Ed.), The to all of the allies in 1945. Royal Australian Navy, A History, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, 2001. Notes: Gooch, John. The Politics of Strategy: Great Britain, 1 Gooch, John. The Politics of Strategy: Great Australia and the War against Japan, 1939- Britain, Australia and the War against Japan, 1945, War in History, Volume 10, No. 4, 1939-1945, War in History. Volume 10, No. 4, Oxford, November, 2003. November, 2003, p. 445. Grey, Jeffrey. The Australian Army, Oxford 2 Gooch, ibid, pp. 446-447. Menzies could not University Press, South Melbourne, 2001. challenge Churchill’s strategic consciousness. Haycock, Ronald G. The ‘Myth’ of Imperial 3 Haycock, Ronald G. The ‘Myth’ of Imperial Defence: Australian-Canadian Bilateral Defence: Australian-Canadian Bilateral Military Co-operation, 1942, War and Society, Military Co-operation, 1942, War and Society, Volume 2, No. 1, RMC, Duntroon, Canberra, p. 80. Ottawa deflected any appeals, wisely May, 1984. excusing that Canada could not act Horner, David. Strategy and Generalship: Strategic unilaterally and that any major decisions and Operational Planning for the 1943 needed to be determined by the US and UK. Offensives. In: Peter Dennis and Jeffrey Grey 4 Haycock, ibid, p. 73. While Haycock is (Eds.), The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific repetitive in his argument, he has given it the War 1943-1944, The 2003 Chief of Army right emphasis. History Conference, Parts 1 and 2, Army 5 Horner, David. Strategy and Generalship: History Unit, Canberra, 2004. Strategic and Operational Planning for the Stephens, Alan. Bomber Command, Chapter 5, The 1943 Offensives, p. 24. This is a sound work Royal Australian Air Force, Oxford University which explains the personal and political Press, South Melbourne, 2001. dynamics of many.

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HDML 1321 - Update

The March 2017 edition of this magazine had an extensive story on the history of HDML 1321. As further information has come to hand readers might be interested in this update.

HE DARWIN BASED ‘Save HDML 1321’ employment as a draughtsman with BHP and campaign says a cradle weighing about 20 Margaret worked in a nursing home. Ttonne s is being constructed on which to move The family blossomed with three sons and the crippled vessel. Owing to structural two daughters. One son, Ian Parker, served in weakness at the stern she cannot be lifted by the RAN as an MCD officer and retired as a crane. Accordingly a purpose built mobile Commander. His daughter Eve Parker also cradle is being constructed and it is intended joined the RAN and is now a Lieutenant to float the hull into the cradle then place this serving in HMAS Adelaide. Another son, on a barge and move her to a yard for eventful James Parker, is a senior engineer with restoration. The move into the cradle is Captain Cook Cruises in Sydney. Daughter intended to take place in early December. Jane became a nurse but later completed an The Society was recently informed that apprenticeship as a boat-builder, the first Frank Parker, a resident at Brentwood Village, female to do so in NSW. The youngest child, Kincumber, was a past owner of HDML 1321 Andrew, works for Telstra. and suggested one of our members might wish After some time the Parkers went into to make contact for further information on partnership with another couple and opened a this vessel. Accordingly arrangements were small nursing home in Newcastle. They made to visit Mr. Frank & Mrs. Margaret eventually sold out of this and found another Parker on Thursday 2 November 2017. They property, ‘Avoca House’ on the Central Coast, have a villa at Brentwood Village but three which they converted into a nursing home. years ago Frank had a stroke which left him Frank acquired a small boat hire business partially paralysed and as a result he now at The Entrance in NSW; this came with a resides in the adjacent Aurrum Aged Care boatshed and it was here that Frank honed his facility. boat repair skills and Jane carried out her Frank was born in England in 1929, the apprenticeship. Frank became aware that a son of a Royal Navy sailor who died in an vessel Tambourine Bay (ex HDML 1321) was accident when Frank was an infant. As a result lying for sale at Careening Cove in Sydney. In Frank was provided with boarding school 1970 she had been auctioned off by the education at ‘The Cradle of the Navy’ the Commonwealth and purchased for $14,000 by Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, near Jeremy Whitty (a Qantas pilot) and his father. Ipswich in Suffolk, and afterwards entered the They converted her into a charter boat for use RN as an Apprentice Artificer. He became a on Sydney Harbour. When Frank saw her she Radar Technician and retired from naval was in poor condition but was being offered service as a CPO in 1959 when aged 30. In by mortgagees at a bargain price. A sale at 1956 he married Margaret, a registered nurse. $5,000 having recently fallen through she was In 1960 the family migrated to Australia and sold to Frank in early 1986 for $5,100. were initially accommodated at a migrant Tambourine Bay was taken to Empire Bay hostel in Newcastle, NSW where Frank gained on the Central Coast where for more than a

42 Naval Historical Review December 2017 year Frank and shipwright John Turner Mrs. Parker brought along an extensive worked almost full-time on her, stripping array of about fifty photographs, mostly most of her internal fittings and decking and showing the vessel under refurbishment. refurbishing the engines. She was slipped at These have been borrowed and will be copied Pittwater where additional professional for our archives. resources were sought to make good the In about 2002 Frank sold Rushcutter to sheathing, shafts and bearings and other Steve McHandles for $27,250. He is aware of underwater fittings. She was renamed the demise of his old ship in Darwin and says Rushcutter and mainly used for cruising in the the family has made a contribution towards Brisbane Water and Pittwater areas. With her her restoration. Telephone conversations were new fitout, gleaming paintwork, freshly later held with son James Parker and daughter varnished decks and sparking brightwork, Jane Howard née Parker who helped confirm Captain Frank and his family and friends the above, although the date of the sale of showed her off in Sydney in 1988 at the Rushcutter is not firm. Bicentennial Review. Frank maintained a log of all his expenditures on the vessel during his For further details see: ownership (maintenance and operational) Donate to Save 1321 - Our Military Heritage – which he says totalled more than $300,000. GoFundMe

Submarine Mining in the Australian Colonial and Commonwealth Armies Dr. J. K. Haken

Mines and submarine mining are always associated with the Navy, but internationally and locally the early development was with the Army Engineers.

INES AND UNDERWATER explosives were section was disbanded in July 1882 but the developed by the ancient Chinese, but in permanent section remained, known as the M1812 Paul Shilling, a Russian engineer, Permanent Section, Torpedo Corps and later exploded an underwater mine electrically. as the Permanent Section, Submarine Miners. This formed the basis of submarine mining, In 1886 the Torpedo Corps was renamed the where mines protect harbours against attack. Submarine Miners and was combined with the British Army staff including engineers filled Engineers2. many roles in the Colonies and more than half In New South Wales Engineers were a century passed before local troops formed on 28 December 18703. The Torpedo eventuated. Victoria was the first of the and Signalling Corps was formed in 1873 and Australian Colonies to raise an Engineer was the sixth Company of the NSW Naval Corps1. Rules and Regulations for the Brigade commanded by E.C. Cracknell who Victorian Volunteer Engineers were signed on transferred to the NSW Military Forces on 8 9 March 1861 and a Torpedo and Signalling October 18774. In 1882 part of the Torpedo Corps was formed in 1870. The volunteer and Signalling Corps was re-designated as

Naval Historical Review December 2017 43

Submarine Miners at Chowder Bay c 1890 AWM

In 191210 the Engineer Forces were reorganised and many amalgamations occurred. 37 Engineers (Submarine Mining Company) was formed from No 1 Submarine Mining Company while 38 Engineers (Submarine Mining Company) evolved from No 2 Submarine Mining Company. 37 Engineers (Submarine Mining Company) became 37 Engineers NSW Submarine Miners and became part of (Fortress Company). With re-organisation on the Engineer Corps. At Federation the 1 July 1913 the name was changed to 37 Submarine Miners were No 3 Company NSW 11. The Company 5 Fortress Company Engineers Engineer Corps . The greatest military disaster was assigned to fixed defence on 31 March that had been experienced at the time 192112. The 38 Engineer (Submarine Mining) occurred on 3 April 1891, when at an official Company became 38 Fortress Company demonstration a fatal explosion resulted in the Engineers on 1 July 191311, it also being deaths of four men. A mistake by an assigned to fixed defence in 192112. Lieut. Gen. experienced RE NCO (on loan to the Colony) Sir Cyril Brudenell White, the Chief of the resulted in the destruction of the rowing craft General Staff, decided that the submarine and of nine other boats tethered alongside. mining technique was obsolete13 and In 1877 a company of Engineers formed in subsequently in August 1922 all mining Queensland and disbanded in 1893 before activities were transferred to the Royal reforming in 1899 as the Brisbane Company 14 5 Australian Navy . of Submarine Miners . In Victoria the Company was located at Swan Island, in New References South Wales initially at Berry’s Bay and 1. Royal Australian Engineers Association of subsequently at Chowder Bay. Chowder Bay Western Australia. remains a military site. Both Swan Island and 2. G. R. Vazenry, Military Forces of Victoria Chowder Bay are heritage listed. After 1854-1967, Self-published Albert Park Federation, the Australian Corps of Engineers Barracks Melbourne c1968. Ch. 6. was formed on 1 July 19026 and the 3. NSW Government Gazette 322 2897, 30 Submarine Miners consisted of No 1 December 1870. Company Submarine Miners (formerly No 3 4. J. K. Haken, Lineage and Officers of the Company NSW Corps of Engineers7), No 2 New South Wales Naval Forces 1863-1902 Company formed from Field and Submarine The Naval Historical Society of Australia, Companies, Victorian Engineers7,8 and No 3 Monograph 199, September 2003. Company Submarine Miners (formerly 5. G.R. Vazenry, Reorganisation. Self- Brisbane Company of Submarine Miners7). No published Albert Park Barracks 3 Company was short-lived, disbanding in Melbourne c1969, p 339. 19099.

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6. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 58 11. MO 403/11913. 606, 13 December 1902. 12. MO 95/19212. 7. The Military Forces Commonwealth of 13. T. Hutchinson, The Miners of Chowder Australia List, 1 February1904. Bay, Army Newspaper, reproduced on 8. Burton, H. A. An Account of the Corps line. from its Foundation to1932. Manuscript 14. P. J. Greville, The Royal Australian 1932, p 9. Engineers 1945-1972, Paving the Way. 9. NAC File1924/18 Melb. Perm. Ser. 84/1 Volume 4, Corps Committee Royal CMNcN. Australian Engineers 2002, p 8. 10. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 51 1374 3 August1912, MO 428/1912.

The World’s Fastest Ship

HE RAN’S EXPERIENCE with catamaran latest Incat success story. This is the 1,516 hulls has been limited and has produced tonne, 99 meter long, 27 meter beam and 3 Tmixed results. meter draught Francisco which on trials The first experiment with catamaran achieved a lightship speed of 58.1 knots. hulled fibreglass minehunters, built by When loaded with up to 1,000 passengers and Carrington’s at Newcastle between 1986 and 150 cars she has a service speed of about 50 1987, was not successful. These two vessels, knots. HMA Ships Rushcutter and Shoalwater, were The vessel’s high speed is attributed to the plagued by problems and placed into Reserve combination of Incat wave-piercing in 1999, were disposed of shortly thereafter. catamaran design, the use of lightweight but At the same time in 1999, owing to a short- strong marine grade aluminium, and the term gap in operational logistical support power produced by two 22MW GE LM2500 during the Timor campaign, Navy leased an gas turbines driving Wartsila LJX 1720 SR Incat designed and Tasmanian built Bass waterjets. Francisco was constructed in Hobart Strait ferry, commissioned as HMAS Jervis for service with the Buquebus Company on Bay. With high speed wave-piercing the River Plate between Buenos Aires and characteristics she was able to rapidly move Montevideo. She is the eighth Incat vessel both troops and materials between Darwin operated by Buquebus and their associated and East Timor. At an average speed of 45 companies. knots she could make the passage in 11 hours Incat has now built 25 high speed craft and and in her two years of operation made 107 the past three consecutive winners of the crossings, before she was handed back to her Hales Trophy, the Transatlantic Blue Riband owners in 2001. This operation proved very record for commercial passenger ships, were successful and despite the continued garlands all built by Incat. The average speed over three won by Incat in furthering Australian days of the Atlantic crossing for an unrefueled shipbuilding industrial credentials there has voyage was 41.28 knots. Truly an amazing seemingly been little more RAN interest. story of Australian ingenuity most worthy of It might be time to introduce readers to the continued local support.

Naval Historical Review December 2017 45

Book Review with a Twist The Rag Tag Fleet. By Ian W. Shaw. Published by Hachette Australia, Sydney, 2017. Soft cover of 310 pages with b&w photographs. Available from booksellers and online from $32.99 but discounts readily available.

The following review by George Franki first appeared in Vol. 90 No. 5, September-October 2017 edition of Reveille published by the NSW Branch of the RSL and is likely to be the last written testament by George who passed over the bar on 28 August 2017, aged 90. It is reproduced with the kind permission of the RSL and members of the Franki family.

The Rag Tag Fleet tells the story of the US Army Small Ships Section which operated between May 1942 to January 1947 transporting supplies, ammunition and mail from Australia to Allied troops serving in the South West Pacific campaigns. The Section supplemented the work of regular naval vessels, in many cases going into areas too small or remote for regular vessels to navigate. The fleet consisted of over 3,000 vessels by war’s end and was crewed by 3,327 Australian the Grace Building in York Street, Sydney. civilians, mostly under or over military age or These operations were hazardous and there unfit and not eligible for regular service. It is were some fatal casualties. Crew members are of interest that one crew member was George now eligible for Australian medals – the 1939- Howell, an Australian WWI Victoria Cross 45 Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal and winner, who was 50 when he took part in the the Australian Service Medal. invasion of Leyte in a ‘small ship’. Ian Shaw’s book is well researched, a The scheme was co-ordinated in Australia highly detailed account of the forgotten fleet by a US Army officer, Captain Sheridan of the US Army Small Ships Section and is Fahnestock, who accompanied General highly recommended. Douglas MacArthur to Australia in 1942. Reviewed by George Franki Fahnestock requisitioned a fleet of fishing trawlers, sailing craft, tugs, ferries and speed Now we come to George’s own story: boats and recruited crews. The original fleet A good way to start is with a little romance. In was later supplemented by a vessel building this case we have a beautiful young Australian programme in Australia. woman, Elizabeth Johnson, setting out on an The operation of the ‘small ships’ was adventure to visit her sister who was then called Mission X, whose headquarters were in living in Paris. She travels from Sydney in an

46 Naval Historical Review December 2017

Italian passenger ship and quickly falls for the Australian Army Dental Corps as a Captain, charms of a fellow passenger, the handsome later becoming a Major. George saw service in Francesco. They marry and settled with his Australia, Japan and Korea and as a keen parents in Italy. sportsman was an inter-service swimming A year later, on 6 June 1927, George representative. Thomas Franki was born in Genoa. With As a lover of books and seeking a change Elizabeth missing her family they returned to in direction he undertook a Diploma in Sydney. George was a bright young fellow but Librarianship at the University of New South had an unfortunate stutter which remained Wales where he graduated in 1965 and then with him for the rest of his life. Through worked in the library of that university determination he was largely able to overcome becoming the Biomedical Librarian until his this difficulty and he excelled at school. retirement in 1985. He wrote several books On 12 July 1945 the 18 year old George including A History of Dentistry in NSW was mobilised for service as an Ordinary 1945–1995 and co-authored Mad-Harry – Seaman with initial training at HMAS Australia’s Most Decorated Soldier. Later in Cerberus. Rated AB on 12 July 1946 he saw retirement George rediscovered his naval service in the South West Pacific in HMA friends at the Naval Historical Society where Ships Bungaree and Shoalhaven. Demobilised he was a most valued member with editing on 20 May 1947 he entered the Faculty of skills par excellence. He is greatly missed, Dentistry at the University of Sydney. Upon especially by fellow bibliophiles. graduation in 1953 he joined the Royal

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, The article HMAS Platypus - a Submarine quote from her February 1955 report of Naval Base in the September 2017 edition of proceedings. On Tuesday 15th February the NHR brought back memories of an earlier calibration of the A/S Mortar Mark 10 [Limbo] problem with the local residents in Neutral took place, consisting of firings from the Bay. On page 2, it states that: Others dolphins at Shell Cove. The residents [residents] complained that noise from the overlooking the ship were apparently quite submarines had already cracked walls, brought alarmed at the noise and shock at the firings. down plaster from ceilings and rattled I was the navigator of Queenborough at the windows. time and can vividly recall the day. My In February 1955, the navy caused much principal memory is of young ladies in flats more disruption to the residents. HMAS looking out on Neutral Bay coming out onto Queenborough was carrying out acceptance their balconies in their nightwear – it was trials, having just been converted to a Type 15 early in the forenoon! A/S frigate and being the first RAN warship to be fitted with the Type 170 sonar and mortar Yours aye Mark 10 combination. The following is a John Smith