NAVAL HISTORICAL

REVIEW

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

Volume 38 No. 2 – June 2017

Contents Page The Bosun’s Call ...... ii HMAS Patricia Cam ...... 1 HDMLs, SDMLs and SDBs ...... 7 The Gospel of St John and LCDR Donald McKenzie RAN ...... 10 The Ship that started the Second World War ...... 13 The ‘Battle’ of May Island ...... 16 Antarctica – the forgotten Continent ...... 21 CMDR Frederick Campbell Darley, RN ...... 27 The History of HMAS Leeuwin ...... 33 Secret Devices used to defeat Napoleon ...... 36 Book Club ...... 41 Letters to the Editor ...... 44

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 Phone: 02 9359 2372/2243. Fax: 02 9359 2383 Email: [email protected] Website: www.navyhistory.org.au ii Naval Historical Review June 2017

The Bosun’s Call: This edition focuses attention on those smaller and sometimes forgotten naval craft. In particular your editor was pleased to get from behind his desk and accept an invitation by the East Arnhem Land Regional Council to attend an Anzac Day ceremony at Yirrkala (near Gove) which also marked the unveiling of a monument to commemorate the loss of HMAS Patricia Cam in these waters nearly 75 years ago. This moving ceremony was possibly unique as it cemented bonds between proud local indigenous people and the naval community who had both lost kin when the ship was bombed and sunk by a Japanese aircraft. The Patricia Cam survivors landed on the northern end of Guluwutu Island in the We have numerous other stories ranging Wessel Islands. The southern end of the from a discussion on our continuing same island is (or was) well known to patrol involvement in the vast unknowns of boat crews who fancy excitement with a fast Antarctica to looking back at Junior Recruit trip through the ‘Hole in the Wall’. training in the early years of HMAS Leeuwin, The opportunity was also taken to visit noting plans have recently been announced the local NORFORCE (North-west Mobile for redevelopment of the ex-Leeuwin site. Force) headquarters at Nhulunbuy where For those interested in cloak and dagger the Naval Cadet Unit TS Melville Bay shares activities the Secret Devices used to defeat facilities. Napoleon will not disappoint, providing At Darwin, calls were made on the Patrol excellent examples on the art of code Boat Force Commander, Captain Jason breaking. The ‘Battle’ of May Island tells us Hunter, RAN, at his Larrakeyah Barracks how not to organise a major fleet exercise – headquarters to briefly view the base. but could this happen again? Perhaps now Possibly not widely known is that over 600 forgotten is Commander Frederick Darley, naval men and women are based in the one of the founding fathers of HMAS Territory either doing plenty of sea-time in Cerberus, his relatively short life was patrol boats or ashore at HMAS Coonawarra. inspirational. An interesting artefact, a copy Finally a visit was made to the new of The Gospel of St John, was recently received commercial port at East Arm. Near here, by the Society; these were presented to adjacent to the old Catalina flying boat members of the ships’ companies of HMA ramp, now lies the wreck of HDML 1321. Ships Australia and Sydney at the start of their With local interest in her restoration, United first commission in 1913. We finish our saga States Marines transiting through the with a short story for trivia devotees on The Territory have kindly provided aid in helping Ship that started the Second World War. lighten the vessel by removing several tons Walter Burroughs, Editor and Bosun of ballast, in the form of 50 pound BHP Doris Shearman, Assistant Editor and lead ingots, from her hull. Bosun’s Mate

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HMAS Patricia Cam

Graeme Andrews, one of our long serving members with a sharp wit and fine pen, wrote an excellent article, Cam’s Trawlers, first published in the May 2006 edition of Afloat magazine. After checking with Graeme, much of the history of this company is taken from this article. Another primary source is a 1983 biography by John Leggoe, Trying to be Sailors, which graphically covers the late author’s time as First Lieutenant of HMAS Patricia Cam during her last fateful voyage. This is further supported by discussions with his surviving daughter Margaret Leggoe.

Sydney Fishing Fleets Before the Second World War there were surplus coal going to the open market. two main fishing fleets operating from In 1939 Carlo went to Europe intending Sydney, the Red Funnel Trawlers and those to invest in modern ships and canning of Cam & Sons. Red Funnel operated out of equipment. On his return, with war looming, Woolloomooloo Bay, now home of the he took the precaution of changing his name Fleet Base East, while Cam’s base was at by deed poll and Carlo Caminiti became Blackwattle Bay near the eastern end of the Charles Cam. Further proofing the business old Glebe Island swing bridge. against alien discrimination he appointed his Rocco Caminiti arrived in New South son-in-law, John Reid, as General Manager. Wales in 1881 seeking to escape his The intended new ships never arrived, homeland’s political turmoil and establish a and in late 1939 and early 1940 the new life (this has a familiar ring). He first Commonwealth requisitioned all but one of took up farming but later became a Cam’s fleet of steam trawlers which were commercial fisherman. In 1907 Rocco died commissioned into the RAN as auxiliary aged 58, leaving a wife, five sons and two minesweepers. However with the wartime daughters. One of his sons, Carlo, continued influx of population to the big cities there harbour fishing and in addition, in 1913, was an increased demand for fish. To make opened a fish shop in Drummoyne, starting good this shortfall several new vessels were a thriving new business. ordered from local yards to be built as In those days there was a NSW wooden motor ships. The first and biggest Government State Fishery, but in 1923 the was Patricia Cam, but in 1942 she too was fleet was privatised and the boats placed on requisitioned into the RAN. In the same year the market (again a familiar theme). Carlo a similar fate awaited John Reid Cam which had sufficient funds to buy the trawler was taken over by the United States Army. Goonambee and a second vessel was purchased the following year. From these HMAS Patricia Cam beginnings Carlo Caminiti developed his Built as part of a Federal Government fishing fleet. scheme to promote Australian hardwood They weathered the Great Depression shipbuilding, Patricia Cam was a 121 foot and in 1934 the company was reconstituted (37 m) long wooden hulled ship of 300 tons as Cam & Sons Ltd. An expanding fleet constructed by the well-known building yard took on the names of many family members of Beattie Bros. at Brisbane Waters, NSW. which included Alfie Cam, Olive Cam and Fitted with two American manufactured Mary Cam. As these were all coal burners, to Fairbanks-Morse 160 HP diesel engines she secure economical supplies and diversify, a had an optimistic designed speed of 10 colliery near Swansea was leased with knots. The Gosford Times & Wyong District

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trucks would drive out to her to load and discharge cargo. On 12 October 1942 command of this hard working vessel passed to a 41 year old seasoned master mariner with plentiful experience in the Pacific islands, Lieutenant Alexander (Sandy) Meldrum, RANR. Just before her final voyage a new First Patricia Cam under construction by Beattie Bros. at Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant John Leggoe, Brisbane Waters, NSW RANVR was appointed. John was a 32 year Graeme Andrews Collection old journalist who had joined under the Advocate announced her launching on ‘Yachtsmen Scheme’ which by this time was Saturday 30 November 1940 as a tuna training new entries at HMAS Cerberus and fishing vessel capable of carrying 250 tons of then sending them to join small ships. fish. Far from being a fishing boat, she was On yet another routine patrol, Patricia used as a collier carrying coal from Cam’s Cam left Darwin in the early hours of mine at Lake Macquarie, through the 13 January 1943. After one intermediate channel at Swansea, to their depot at stop she arrived at Milingimbi Mission on 20 Blackwattle Bay. January and two days later departed for She was later requisitioned by the Elcho Island. In addition to her crew she Commonwealth and on 3 March 1942 now embarked the Rev. Leonard Kentish, commissioned into the RAN under the Chairman of the Methodist Northern command of Lieutenant John Grant, Australian Mission District together with RANR, as an auxiliary minesweeper. Her five aboriginal people, plus their canoe. Rev. armament comprised 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon Kentish was also head of the local volunteer and 3 x machine guns. She had a crew of coastwatchers. One of the new arrivals was two officers and 18 sailors (1 x Coxswain, ‘Paddy’ Babawun from Millingimbi, a skilled 8 x Seamen, 3 x ERAs, 3 x Stokers, 1 x pilot, who assisted with navigation among Telegraphist, 1 x Cook and 1 x Steward). uncharted reefs in these waters. We should do well to remember the Enemy reconnaissance floatplanes based devastating air attack upon Darwin on 19 at Dobo in the Aru Islands, 300 miles (500 February 1942 with rumours of invasion km) due north of Arnhem Land, had for being rife. So with minimal workup HMAS some time harassed shipping along the Patricia Cam sailed under convoy from northern Australian coast. It should not then Sydney on 8 March with various stops en have been entirely unexpected when at 1330 route, and with a few teething troubles, on Friday 22 January when Patricia Cam was reached Darwin on 5 April. There was not on course for the Wessel Islands that much minesweeping but she settled into a ‘Floatplane Joe’ came silently upon them. routine of carrying stores and passengers to This Japanese Naval Air Arm twin-engine outlying missions. Her area of operation floatplane1 then cut her engines and dived extended all across the Top End from out of the sun, passing overhead at low Wyndham in Western Australia to Groote altitude, and dropped a single bomb which Eylandt near the Queensland border. With landed directly on the ship. The explosion the jetty partially demolished she lay at blew the ship and her people skywards and anchor in Darwin, and with the tide out her much of the wreckage sank immediately. flat bottom sat upon the freshly exposed Her two boats were destroyed but one life beach. When the sun baked the sand dry, raft and the native canoe remained intact

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Map of Arnhem Land and there was a supply of wooden wreckage There are unconfirmed reports that his and oil drums. One sailor, Ordinary Seaman colleague Andy may have been injured, and Neil Penglase, went down with the ship. that in helping his young friend they were While the survivors bunched together the both lost at sea. plane returned and dropped a second bomb, In the early hours of Saturday 23 January killing Able Seaman Edward Nobes and two the remaining 15 crew and three Yolngu of the Aboriginal passengers, Djinipula men were washed ashore near the northern Yunupingu and Djimanbuy Yunupingu, end of Guluwutu in the Wessel Islands. both from Yirrkala. The plane then Within minutes of finding his feet on dry machine-gunned the area without inflicting land Paddy started a fire which revived all any further damage. Next the floatplane their spirits. Although badly concussed, landed and under threat of gunfire beckoned Narritjin Maymuru from Yirrkala came two survivors clinging to wreckage to it. through the ordeal. Sadly Stoker Percy One of these, the missionary Rev. Leonard Cameron and Milirrma Gitjbapuy Marika, Kentish, was bundled onboard and the plane from Yirrkala, died from their injuries later took off. Leonard Kentish was the only that day and were buried together in a Australian POW taken in home waters. shallow grave with a canoe paddle set up as As the light faded, the worst of the a marker. wounded were on the life raft whilst the Paddy and Narritjin were at home in the others clung to floating debris. They bush and could easily survive; they showed organised for teams of paddlers using one the others how to find fresh water, yams and oar and another fashioned from broken oysters, but they knew that without help wood to propel the raft towards land. As their colleagues would die. The crews of one team tired they were replaced by small ships operating in the north generally another. During the night Ordinary Seaman wore short shorts and worked like bronzed Andrew (Andy) Johnston and Chief ERA statues without shirts, they were more like William (Bill) Moffitt became separated pirates than naval sailors, but this was all from the main group and were never seen part of an image of young reservists. Their again. This is surprising as 24 year old Bill lack of suitable clothing worked against Moffitt was athletic and a fine swimmer. them in this rugged terrain, without

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Patricia Cam rescue site photographed by RAAF Beaufort A9-108 on Wednesday 27 January 1943 shade, where they became badly sunburned. There was no hope of swimming the Cumberland Strait which separated them from Marchibar, the largest of the Wessel Islands, which had a coast watching station at its far air-dropped. (eastern) end. With news flashed to Darwin HMAS Luck was now with them as on the next Kuru sailed at midnight on 27 January and day signal smoke was seen and the Yolngu arrived at the Wessel Islands two days later men made contact with their kin who came to take the survivors aboard. They then by canoe to greet the survivors. With the proceeded to Jensen Bay to extract LEUT aid of new Yolgnu guides, LEUT Meldrum Meldrum. Kuru and her passengers arrived crossed the Strait by canoe, and embarked back at Darwin at 1000 Monday 1 February on a barefoot trek over 26 miles (42 km) of 1943. All but one of the survivors were in rocks and scrub to the coastwatching good health but AB Max Levett needed station at Jensen Bay. Meldrum used a hospitalisation, from which he recovered. canoe paddle as a club cum walking stick At the time of the rescue Kuru was during this venture and retained it until commanded by none other than LEUT John after his rescue. Grant, who had been Patricia Cam’s first CO. After dark on Tuesday 26 January the She had only just returned from a number of party, exhausted and blistered with bleeding other courageous ‘Timor Ferry’ rescue and cut feet, reached their destination and missions bringing refugees, including 70 found Jack Jensen, now an official women and children, from Portuguese coastwatcher. Jack held the title of Petty Timor to the relative safety of Darwin. In Officer. Static prevented the radio from another strange coincidence the patrol boat being coaxed into life until the next morning Kuru was also built by Beattie Bros., but in when a report was sent requesting help. 1938 at their Balmain yard. Each day a morning flight was made by This ends the strange story of Patricia RAAF aircraft based on Horn Island Cam, or as she was more affectionately searching for expected invading Japanese. known, Pat Cam. Built as a fishing vessel, she They were not disappointed when the flight, never caught a fish; as a naval minesweeper piloted by Pilot Officer Len Gairns, flew she never swept a mine; as a warship, over Jensen Bay and eventually found the unfortunately she never fired a shot in anger, remaining survivors who had marked out but she did cement a bond and mutual their position with a message written by respect between young men of the Royal placing stones on the sandy beach. PO Australian Navy and those who for Gairns dropped a few rations and then generations have called Arnhem Land home. unsuccessfully searched the wider area for The fate of Rev. Kentish remained a any other survivors. Over the next two days mystery until 1946 when it was revealed he more rations, clothes and equipment were had been brutally interrogated and then

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HMAS Patricia Cam survivors photographed in front of the Naval Wing at the Kahlin Hospital, Darwin. Front row L-R: Stoker Arthur Bennett RANR of Melbourne, AB Greg Durrington RANR of Sydney, Telegraphist Bert Stevens of Sydney, Steward Alfred Tanner RANR of Melbourne. Standing: AB Don Brun RANR of Adelaide, Stoker George Williams RANR of Melbourne, Ordinary Seaman Vivian Murray RANR of Mackay, Sub Lieutenant John Leggoe RANVR of York, WA, Cook John Hawkins RANR of Melbourne, Lieutenant Alexander Meldrum RANR of Sydney, Petty Officer Hulbert Challender RAN of Hobart, AB Aubery White RANR of Perth and Engine Room Artificer John McKimmie RANR of Launceston. Note: AB Max Levett RANR of Bosey Park, SA is absent being confined to his hospital bed. executed and buried near Dobo on 1956. And so ended the half century legacy 5 February 1943. Any interrogation must of Rocco Caminiti. have been extremely difficult as he was stone deaf and relied upon a hearing aid which was Search for Remains lost during the air attack. His remains were In 2013 an expedition was mounted by ‘Past recovered by a War Graves Unit and were Masters’ to the Wessel Islands seeking to reburied at the Australian War Graves find evidence of WWII occupation and Cemetery at Ambon. His persecutors were possible relics from earlier times as some brought to justice, and after trial, two ancient coins had been discovered here received life sentences and one paid with his during WWII construction. The only life. discovery of interest was a large wooden While Cam & Sons continued post war, fitting, with metal bolts, indicating this came conditions were difficult: the ships were old, from the frame of a large vessel from the fuel expensive and fish prices low. The mid-20th century. As this was near the area company finally closed its doors and its where Patricia Cam was sunk it was surmised remaining ships were sold off in 1955 and it may have come from this vessel.

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There was also a wartime relic in a mess are to be found on a plaque attached to the at HMAS Coonwarrra which was a paddle memorial. At the unveiling ceremony a from a native canoe. Could this have been memorial service was led by the Reverend that used by Lieutenant Meldrum during his Noel Kentish, son of the Reverend Leonard epic walk in search of coastwatcher Jack Kentish who was taken prisoner of war and Jensen? flown by seaplane to the Adu Islands where Mounting circumstantial evidence and he was beheaded by his captors. Many continued agitation by close family descendants of those who took part in the members, both from the service and last fateful voyage of Patricia Cam came to indigenous communities, of those lost in this this ceremony from all over the country, tragedy caused the Chief of Navy, Vice including many who were young children at Admiral Ray Griggs, (now Vice Chief of the the time. Defence Force) to order a further The service also commemorated the investigation. This gave rise in October 2014 rescue of United States pilot Clarence to a new search using the Landing Craft Sanford in 1942. After suffering battle Heavy HMAS Brunei, on her last mission damage to himself and his aircraft he made a before paying off, as a platform carrying an miraculous flight across the Gulf of expert Army Unrecovered War Casualties Carpentaria to be washed ashore off the Unit to the islands. Here the ship’s company Gove Peninsula on Bremer Island where he of Brunei enthusiastically engaged in the was rescued by Wandjuk, Milirrum and physical aspects of searching for past Milirrma Marika from Yirrkala and brought comrades. Unfortunately, after many days of to safety at the Yirrkala mission. Back in the searching, no grave or remains were found. US he completed his medical studies and The leaders of the expedition came to the had a long career as a surgeon. conclusion that over time, with erosion due The overall event was sponsored by the to cyclonic activity, the grave had in all Northern Territory Government as part of probability been washed back into the sea its 75 Year Commemoration of the bombing and any remains were no longer in or near of Darwin and the defence of Northern the original site. Australia. The NHS was represented by CMDR Walter Burroughs, RAN, Rtd. who Patricia Cam memorial helped prepare this article. None of this Mr Banambi Wunungmurra, President of would have been possible without the the East Arnhem Regional Council, kindly dedication, passion and organisational skill extended an invitation to the Naval of Territorians, Karen and Mike Owen, to Historical Society to join them at Yirrkala in whom we owe a great debt of gratitude. North East Arnhem Land on Anzac Day 2017 to dedicate a memorial to the 1943 Notes: sinking of Patricia Cam and to those brave 1 Aichi E-13A ‘Jake’ – a long range men who lost their lives in this disaster. This reconnaissance seaplane (range 1,300 included commemorating those Balanda, nm/2,100 km) with rear facing machine gun non-indigenous people, and native Yolngu and two 250 lb bombs. people who stood as brothers in arms on 2 Beaufort A9-108 – an Australian made these now distant days. bomber adapted from the Bristol Beaufort A stylish memorial has been erected torpedo bomber, with a range of 1,600 close to a beautiful beachside location with a nm/2,600 km, also used in reconnaissance canoe paddle as its centrepiece. The names roles by No 7 Squadron RAAF based at Horn of all those involved in the Patricia Cam story Island in the Torres Strait.

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Harbour Defence Motor Launches, Seaward Defence Motor Launches & Seaward Defence Boats

Wooden Ships and Iron Men – unofficial motto of RAN HDMLs1

The March 2017 edition of this magazine contained an article HDML 1321 and what she represents which states that after war service she was lent to the Northern Territory Administration until 1951, when she returned to Sydney attached to HMAS Rushcutter. Further investigation indicates this is likely to be in error and is corrected below.

HDML Design and Construction The HDML was designed in early 1939 by Australian yards and sixteen from the United William John Holt2, of the Royal Corps of States. Those from the US were sometimes Constructors and head of design at the boat known as ‘Q’ boats as many wore that prefix section of the Admiralty. In total 464 of to their pennant numbers. these versatile craft were constructed, mainly The locally built boats were numbered by yacht builders in the United Kingdom from 1321 to 1329. Purdon & Featherstone and a number of allied countries, including of Hobart built 1321, 1322 and 1327; Australia. The mass construction of so many McFarlane & Sons of Birkenhead, SA built wooden vessels, over such a short period, 1323, 1324 and 1328 and E. Jack of was a unique feature in ship construction. Launceston built 1325, 1326 and 1329. A major design characteristic was they Following war service a large number of were not to exceed 72 feet in length so as to HDMLs were declared surplus and some be capable of being transported to areas of were advertised for disposal. These were operation as deck cargo in large merchant divided between Brisbane and Sydney with ships. However Australian built boats, not both HMAS Kuttabul and HMAS Moreton intended for transhipment, were 80 feet having specifically designed officers for ship 3 inches in length. In a confusing array of disposal. There may however have been a names and acronyms these vessels were also policy to retain locally built craft, as these designated as Seaward Defence Motor were slightly larger and better seaboats, and Launches (SDMLs) and later as Seaward to release first those built overseas. Eight Defence Boats (SDBs). ships were sold, but the largest number of A total of 28 HDMLs saw wartime 14 ships were returned to the USN under service with the RAN and, a further two, the terms of a Lend-Lease agreement. While HDMLs 1344 and 1345, were never our records are incomplete most of these commissioned and placed into reserve on ships seem to have disposed of by early 26 October 1945. The first three HDMLs to 1948. enter the RAN, 1074, 1129 and 1161, were The task of sweeping hundreds of mines constructed in the UK and saw brief service from Australian and PNG waters began in with the RN prior to their transfer to the December 1945. SDMLs 1323, 1326, 1328 RAN in late 1942/early 1943. They were and 1329 formed part of the 20th followed by another nine hulls built in Minesweeping Flotilla, which mainly

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HDML 1321 operated from Townsville and Cairns, with Melbourne to be attached to HMAS Lonsdale the senior officer carried in HMAS Swan. as a reserve for the training vessel Nepean. From 1950 until 1958 this group of SDMLs SDML 1325 became a tender to HMAS was lent to the RN, which employed them Melville in Darwin in 1953, where she on the Far East station. Upon return these remained until 1956, and was then transferred boats were thought to be well worn and due as a tender to HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle. In for retirement. April 1952 SDML 1327 became a tender to Despite her Far East adventures HDML HMAS Tarangau in PNG. 1328 had a reprieve, as in While none of this class of ship was lost September/October 1949, she is reported as in wartime service one, HDML 1322, had an being sent on a recruiting drive to the untimely end, being wrecked off Sydney’s Richmond and Clarence Rivers calling at a North Head on 5 August 1952. At the time number of ports including Lismore and she was under tow by the naval tug HMAS Grafton. Reserve on passage to Manus Island, PNG. In 1958 four boats, 1323, 1326, 1328 and There was no loss of life. 1329 were transferred to the Philippines Of the locally built boats this leaves Navy. 1321 built by Purdon & Featherstone to SDML 1324 had a variety of post war be brought to account. On 7 June 1946 tasks. In 1953 she became a tender to HDML 1321 was placed in ‘F’ class HMAS Tarangau at Manus, and in 1957 she reserve in Brisbane, where she remained was delivered to Hobart, becoming SDB until October 1947 and then was deleted, Huon. Finally in 1967 she sailed to without any explanation, from the Navy

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List. She next reappears as a tender to Britain with another twelve coming from the HMAS Rushcutter in January 1953. United States. We have recently uncovered a letter from The first boat, HDML 1090, embarked the late LCDR Ron Bagley, RANR to the as deck cargo in SS Port Hunter, was lost commercial owners of 1321. This informs when the parent ship was sunk by U-582 in that LCDR Bagley commissioned HDML the Atlantic on 12 July 1942; this resulted in 1321 as HMAS Rushcutter at 0800 Saturday the supply of the remaining boats from 17 November 1956. Britain being abandoned. Port Hunter was She sailed from Sydney under his carrying ammunition which exploded when command the next day in company with hit by torpedoes, with all 82 crew and DMS HMAS Cootamundra. Both ships were en gunners lost, excepting three who had been route to Melbourne to participate in the sleeping on deck and were found in the Olympic sailing events held on Port Phillip wreckage of HDML 1090. Bay from 26 November to 05 December Sixteen HDMLs arrived in New Zealand, 1956. After a successful visit both ships as opportunity deck cargo, from the US returned to Sydney on Monday 10 between January 1943 and March 1944. In December 1956. September 1943 a decision was made that As mentioned at the introduction to this the RNZN requirement could be satisfied by article we had stated that post-war HDML 16 boats and the final six of this Lend-Lease 1321 was lent to the Northern Territory allocation was reassigned to the RAN. Administration and this nicely fits in with her mysterious disappearance from naval Notes: records between late 1947 and early 1953. 1 The first verse of the poem Clipper Ships and Our information came from Royal Australian Captains, by Rosemary & Stephen Vincent Navy A – Z Ships, Aircraft & Shore Benet, provides eloquent imagery: Establishments by J.H. Straczek, published by Navy Public Affairs in 1996. This says the There was a time before our time, vessel was: Loaned to Northern Territory It will not come again, Administration from shortly after WWII till 1951. When the best ships were wooden ships Served as a patrol boat. Designation changed to But the men were iron men. SDML 1321 and then SDB 1321. Sent as named ship to HMAS Rushcutter, 1953. Sold 2 2 The remarkable William John Holt was also August 1971. responsible for the design of the Fairmile Unfortunately we have yet to find any Type ‘B’ Motor Launch used widely by the collaborative evidence of her later service in RAN. the Northern Territory. It seems likely that 3 The Madusa Trust from Portsmouth in the this was an intended course of action which UK, which holds a fount of HDML may not have transpired. information, states that a further HDML 1325 came to Australia in 1943 and was transferred The New Zealand Connection to the Royal Indian Navy in 1944. We are Across the Tasman the fledgling Royal New unable to find any record of this vessel Zealand Navy had been allocated twenty- entering or leaving Australia but she appears two HDMLs for the defence of its coast and as a commissioned vessel in the RIN serving those of the Pacific islands coming under its with the 120th HDML Flotilla jurisdiction. The first ten were to be from .

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The Gospel of St John and LCDR Donald McKenzie RAN

ECENTLY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS and created Royal Australian Navy. He served in cherished chaplains, the Reverend Dr Yarra for one year, was two weeks at RGareth Clayton, presented the Society with a Flinders Naval Depot, and then on his way copy of the Gospel of St John which had been to England for further training and to stand given into his safekeeping at a memorial by as part of the initial complement of the service. The back cover of this pocket battle cruiser Australia, building at John edition bears the details of the donation Brown’s Yard on the Clyde. At the embossed in gold lettering. commissioning of the flagship in Inside the flyleaf is inscribed in pen: Portsmouth on 21 June 1913, Donald is Donald McKenzie, HMAS Australia, St Vincent, rated as a Leading Telegraphist, at only 19 Cape Verde Islands. August 2nd 1913. years of age. A month later Australia sailed So what is the story behind this small from Portsmouth for the Cape Verde memento, now more than a century old? Islands where she took on 2,000 tons of The first clue might be that this Gospel was coal, before proceeding to the Cape to meet published by a Roman Catholic seminary in up with HMAS Sydney which had departed England. This is interesting as Catholic England earlier. The two ships then priests had only recently been invited to proceeded in company before meeting up minister to the RAN. When HMAS Australia with the remainder of the Fleet at Jervis Bay. commissioned she had two chaplains, the Back cover of Gospel of St John presented to hard working Anglican Frederick Riley and Leading Telegraphist Donald McKenzie the charismatic Catholic Patrick Gibbons, the RAN’s first Catholic priest. Did Gibbons prevail upon his superiors to furnish some keepsakes which could then be provided to his flock on some suitable occasion? When commissioned as a flagship under Rear Admiral Sir George Patey Australia had a complement of 850 men. This was far more than the fledgling navy could muster and as a result more than half, and nearly all senior positions, were held by Royal Naval personnel. Donald McKenzie was born at Broken Hill on 18 February 1894 and entered the RAN as an Ordinary Telegraphist posted to HMAS Yarra on 01 July 1911. The torpedo- boat destroyer had only recently arrived after her delivery voyage from her English builder’s yard and was not commissioned into the Commonwealth Naval Forces until 01 March 1911. This made young Donald one of the first entrants into the newly

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good doctor. Baby Jean was, however, impatient and entered this world on 1 December when crossing the Great Australian Bight, with Donald stepping ashore two days later in Adelaide to register the birth – officially she was born ‘At Sea’. On reaching Fremantle the baby was baptised Jean Jervis (after the ship) McKenzie. A year later a younger brother Donal (sic) Bruce was born during their two year exchange posting. Donald was now a Lieutenant when the family returned home in 1925, again using their good luck ship Jervis Bay. Now nearing his prime, in 1933 Donald was promoted Lieutenant Commander – at this time great progress for a humble Ordinary Seaman. Here the story is related by daughter Jean1. Dad was an amateur inventor known as an ideas man. A colleague was Paymaster Commander Eric Kingsford-Smith, brother of the famous [Sir] Charles Kingsford-Smith, pilot of the Southern Cross. And he was about to do a trip to New Route taken by HMAS Australia from Zealand, so his brother rang my father and said, Portsmouth to Cape Verde, from journal by Charles is going on a trip over to New Zealand. He MIDN McWilliam 1913 wants to know if you can think of some way he can This gave time to spruce up before the drop something from the plane which will float on the excitement and grand spectacle when water, in order to take their bearings or something Australia led the Fleet into Sydney Harbour like that. The words I recall from the age of ten were on 4 October 1913. to assess the drift, whatever that is. Still in Australia in April 1915, Donald is He always liked to include me in interesting promoted Petty Officer and, when only 24 happenings and so he thought for a while and he years of age in March 1918, he achieves the said: ‘If you get those very thin bottles that chemists accolade of becoming a Warrant use, scientists and so forth for experiments, and fill Telegraphist. He next receives promotion to those with aluminum powder, drop them from the Mate and on 01 July 1922 is posted on loan plane, they should break on impact and leave a to the Royal Navy for further training. patch on the water and you should be able to get a On 22 November 1922 Donald and his bearing from that’. wife Ellen took passage from Sydney to So we went out on the Sunday afternoon and I England in TSS Jervis Bay (later to win fame helped them fill the bottles and then eventually we as an Armed Merchant Cruiser) which was boarded the plane and went off round to sea and all then on her maiden voyage. Ellen is around Sydney Harbour, which was fascinating pregnant but thought she could safely make because I had never been in a plane before and I had the passage and, in any case, the ship had a never seen Sydney Harbour from up there! And

12 Naval Historical Review June 2017 anyhow, I don’t know what went on in the front of the plane because I was in one of the only about two seats in the back anyway. Weren’t even fixed to the floor, you know. So I was fascinated because I found I could open the window and put my hand out to feel the force of the wind, which was really quite interesting. Anyway, they came back and landed after about half an hour and I found that the idea hadn’t been successful because the glass didn’t break in the flasks. So my father’s next idea was: ‘Well you will just have to get some of those little brown paper bags and put some of the aluminum powder in those, a few pieces of metal so that they will drop, and that should work’. And as far as I know that’s the way they navigated over to New Zealand the following day. But something else happened at this time Baby Jean with mother Ellen aboard TSS Jervis as Donald suddenly resigned his commission Bay in 1922 and on 17 January 1934 he was transferred that there was no impropriety associated to the Emergency List. Was this associated with it. with the untimely death (by suicide) of a Daughter Jean followed in her father’s close friend and fellow Communicator, footsteps and joined the Women’s Royal LCDR Alan Dermot Casey? McKenzie Naval Service on 1 October 1942. Her being eight years older than Casey and with official number WR-87 indicates she was the much greater experience was possibly a 87th woman to join the service. Naturally mentor to the young signals officer. she became a Telegraphist and served until Casey, a 1916 entry to the Naval College, the end of the war, being discharged ashore was compulsorily retired from the navy, in July 1945. From newspapers of these having suffered nervous breakdowns which times we find that on 18 January 1946 Jean were not sympathetically understood by married Lieutenant Theo Nysen of the naval authorities. The Casey family took Royal Netherlands Navy with her brother court action against the Naval Board with Sub Lieutenant Donal McKenzie, RANR Donald on their side. Newspaper reports of being best man. Another clue falls into place the time said that retired LCDR McKenzie regarding the Gospel, as this is the first disagreed with statements made by the occasion in the family Service Records that influential Minister for Defence, Senator religion is mentioned, and we find young [Sir] George Pearce. Donald strongly Donal Bruce is a Catholic. Donal was advocated a Royal Commission into the discharged ashore on demobilization in circumstances surrounding Casey’s death. February 1946. Bowing to public pressure a Royal With Donald’s considerable watch- Commission was eventually held. However keeping experience he applied for, and was its findings must have been a great blow to granted, a Board of Trade Master’s the litigants as the Commission found that Certificate. In the darkest days of the Great the retirement of LCDR Casey was Depression did he then obtain precarious necessary in the interests of the Service and employment in the Merchant Service?

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Donald briefly returned to the navy and Perhaps we should take our parting rejoined for temporary active service in words from the Gospel: August 1941. But this does not appear to have been too successful as his appointment These things I have spoken to you, that my joy was terminated in July 1943. What happened may be in you, and your joy may be filled. next is unknown as there is an entry showing him transferred to the Retired List Gospel of St John Chapter XV Verse 11 at the time of his sixtieth birthday on 18 February 1954. We should be interested Notes: in hearing from any reader who has more An edited version taken from the story of information on the later career of the Jean (Nysen) McKenzie, Billycan Press, 12 colourful LCDR Donald McKenzie. June 2014.

The Ship that Started the Second World War

By Walter Burroughs

In September 2016 the author was a passenger on a cruise ship which berthed at the Baltic port of Gdansk in almost the same position as a German battleship had berthed there seventy-seven years earlier – a warship that fired the first shots signifying the start of the Second World War. On a green mound above the berth and once the site of a fort shelled by the battleship now stands a poignant monument to the wartime sacrifices of the Polish people.

S DAWN BROKE on the first day of Poland has had a tumultuous history with A September 1939 German forces began its fertile plains subject to many invasions an assault on Poland which culminated a and border disputes. As its national little over a month later in the total boundaries changed many times it is subversion of that country. Germany having ethnically diverse with a population mainly failed to respond to requests to withdraw its of Polish, German and Russian origin. forces, Britain and France, coming to the aid In more recent times dramatic changes of their Polish ally, declared war upon occurred following the First World War Germany. when, subject to the Treaty of Versailles, In Australia two days later, on a quiet previous German-held West Prussia largely Sunday morning, Prime Minister Robert became part of Poland and was separated Menzies broadcast to the nation choosing from East Prussia (still retained by the following words: Fellow Australians, it is Germany) by a land corridor controlled by my melancholy duty to inform you officially, that in Poland. At the same time, between West and consequence of persistence by Germany in her East Prussia the Free City of Danzig (later invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war named Gdansk) was created, with the region upon her and that, as a result, Australia is also at remaining separate from Germany and war. Thus began our nation’s involvement in Poland and under League of Nations what would become the deadliest conflict in protection. The Free City was however known history. But how did it all start? created to give Poland access to a major

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Map of East and West Prussia with Danzig

Schleswig-Holstein Launched in 1906, the 13,200 ton Schleswig-Holstein (2) was the last pre- dreadnought battleship to enter the German Navy. During WWI she saw service in the North Sea and was at the Battle of Jutland where she was damaged by enemy shell fire. Owing to her obsolescence she was one of seaport and in administrative terms it came the few major warships permitted to be under their control. retained by Germany under the terms of the This situation was an obvious affront to Treaty of Versailles. In 1935 she was Germany and propaganda being fomented converted to a training ship for naval cadets by them in the late 1930s for the freedom and her main armament reduced to 4 x 11- and unification of German peoples inflamed inch and 10 x 6-inch guns supported by a resentment. In 1938 Germany was able to smaller number of anti-aircraft weapons. stare down British and French opposition to In the early hours of 01 September 1939 ‘liberate’ its subjects from Sudetenland in the battleship silently slipped her moorings Czechoslovakia, and it was then only a and glided downstream to anchor within matter of time before attention turned to clear view of the Polish fort. At 04:47 when Poland with its significant German-speaking the first glimmer of daylight was observed population. In the immediate lead-up to this she unleashed a bombardment upon the fort conflict, German forces now on a war at almost point blank range. This was the footing were strategically placed within signal for German forces to commence their striking distance of its Polish frontier. Being invasion, giving rise to a new ferocious form aware of warmongering, Poland began a of warfare known as ‘Blitzkrieg’ or Lightning partial mobilisation of its forces. On Strike. Almost at once squadrons of 25 August 1939 the German battleship Luftwaffe bombers attacked Polish airfields Schleswig-Holstein, commanded by Kapitan aiming for the destruction of aircraft before zur See Gustav Kleikamp, made a good-will they could disperse. Next, German troops visit to Danzig ostensibly honouring the led by Panzer divisions crossed the border; memory of the crew of the German cruiser other than speed their greatest asset was Magdeburg (1) which had been sunk 25 years radio communications, allowing them to be earlier and whose dead were buried in the effectively controlled. city. Thousands of Danzigers waved in While forbidden under treaty obligations, welcome to the ship as cadets lined her Polish forces had secretly reinforced the decks in salute before mooring under Polish casements at Westerplatte. The fort was well fortifications at Westerplatte. Unseen below defended and despite overwhelming odds her decks were 300 heavily armed assault from the assault troops, and an attack by troops. Stuka dive bombers, the small Polish

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Schleswig-Holstein firing at Polish forts - Gdansk Museum garrison held out for seven days. The victors one sided, was not without cost. Polish were impressed by the determination of the casualties amounted to 66,300 dead, 133,700 defenders and in these early days of the war, wounded; 587,000 prisoners were captured after surrender the 200 garrison troops by Germany and another 100,000 by the under command of Major Henryk Sucharaki Soviet Union. Russian casualties were were treated with great respect. The Polish nominal while Germany lost 16,000 dead and Navy dispersed its forces to sea before they 32,000 wounded. However, a total of 200,000 were smothered by German sea and air Polish servicemen fought in the Second attacks. After dramatic escapes two of her World War under British command. Most five submarines and three of her four important were its pilots who manned some destroyers reached Britain. The other of the RAF Fighter Command’s most submarines were interned in neutral Sweden successful squadrons during the Battle of and one destroyer, in dockyard hands, was Britain. Some have postulated that without unable to leave. the support of Polish airmen the battle could Under secret protocols known as the have been lost, leaving the country exposed ‘Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact’, on 17 September to planned invasion. 1939 the Soviet Union thrust its forces along an extensive western border into beleaguered War Ends and a New Beginning Poland, thereby sealing its fate and dividing The ship that started the war came to an the spoils with Germany. The war, although ignoble end. The elderly Schleswig-Holstein

16 Naval Historical Review June 2017 was bombed and sunk by British aircraft in ship and transfer her crew to an December 1944. She was subsequently accompanying destroyer. While this was salvaged and then beached, being used as a taking place she was discovered by two target by the Soviet Navy. Russian cruisers who shelled the hapless ship The grand medieval Hanseatic city of when 15 German sailors were killed. On Danzig (Gdansk) was extensively damaged boarding the ship the Russians were able to during its ‘liberation’ towards the end of salvage three German Naval code books WWII. Gdansk was to claim fame as the which were in the process of being destroyed. home of Lech Walesa, the Polish shipyard One of these was passed to British authorities. worker and patriot who in 1980 co-founded Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the the ‘Solidarity Movement’. The advent of Admiralty, called this a priceless document used to great advantage in predicting the Solidarity confronted Soviet occupation of movement of German ships including at the territories in Eastern Europe, eventually Battle of Jutland. leading to their return to democratic 2 SMS Schleswig-Holstein was later berthed at the government with Walesa awarded the Noble nearby German occupied port of Gdynia Peace Prize as President of the Polish where she was attacked by RAF aircraft in Republic. In 2016 a frail Lech Walesa still December 1944 when 28 of her crew were resides in his beloved Gdansk. killed. She was again attacked by RAF aircraft in March 1945 after which the burning ship Notes: was scuttled near the port. The ship was 1 SMS Magdeburg was a new light cruiser which subsequently salvaged and then beached for early in WWI formed part of a squadron sent use as a target by the Soviet Navy. into the Baltic to bombard Russian positions. Vizeadmiral Kleikamp was captured by British On 26 August 1914 while off the coast of forces in May 1945 and served two years as a Estonia she ran aground and as she could not POW, he died in September 1952. be freed the decision was made to scuttle the

The ‘Battle’ of May Island

By Laurie Watson

N THE MANY MEMORIAL services to the night of 31 January 1918. commemorate the centenary of World Despite being known as the Battle of WarI I, events that concern the Battle of May May Island, the events of that night Island are likely to pass under the radar of represented no battle at all, but rather a much of the press and the organizers of catastrophic series of blunders, ceremonies. May Island, or more correctly miscommunications, ignorance, and sheer the Isle of May, is a speck of granite near the bad luck. So what was the ‘Battle’ of May entrance to the Firth of Forth, far from Island? Australia, yet the Royal Australian Navy lost The C-in-C Grand Fleet, Admiral Beatty, one of its most promising young officers devised an exercise, known as Operation during the so-called battle, and the Royal EC1, to exercise his cruiser squadrons and Navy lost 105 of its officers and sailors on to practise fleet deployments. It was to be an

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K-class submarine enormous exercise involving twenty-six comprised K-3, K-4, K-6 and K-7, led by the battleships from seven divisions of the fleet, light cruiser HMS Fearless, while the 13th plus nine cruisers and four destroyers, all flotilla comprised K-11, K-12, K-14, K-17 and from Scapa Flow. They would be joined by K-22 led by the destroyer HMS Ithuriel. three units of the 5th Battleship Squadron, The exercise began at 1830 on 31 January four units of the 2nd Battle Cruiser when the battle cruiser HMS Courageous led Squadron, fourteen cruisers from various the force out of Rosyth with Ithuriel and the cruiser squadrons, numerous destroyers, and 13th Submarine Flotilla (SF) following in two flotillas of ‘K’ class submarines, all from line ahead. At the same time, and five miles Rosyth. The exercise was scheduled to take further up the Forth, the 2nd Battle Cruiser place on the night of 1 February 1918, with Squadron consisting of HMAS Australia and the Scapa Flow and Rosyth forces meeting HM Ships New Zealand, Indomitable, and out in the North Sea. Inflexible got under way. The battle cruisers Of importance to the events of were followed by Fearless leading the 12th 31 January is the nature and employment of SF, then the battleships, some of the the K-Class submarines. Fleet tactical destroyers, and finally the light cruiser doctrine still regarded submarines as normal squadrons. The entire fleet proceeded in line fleet units that were expected to keep up astern and made rendezvous with screening with the capital ships, but diesel electric destroyers further down the Forth. boats demonstrably could not do so. The submarines were travelling at 16 kts Consequently, the steam-driven K-boats two cables apart and although otherwise were developed. They were large for the darkened, were showing blue half-brilliance time at 339 ft, and their steam turbines could stern lights. At 1833 Ithuriel opened to 1200 drive them at 24 knots, but as a class they yards astern of Courageous whose screening were plagued with a wide range of technical destroyers took station in the gap; the problems and soon earned the sobriquet submarines of the 13th flotilla maintained ‘K-Kalamity Class’, or more ominously ‘K- station astern of Ithuriel. A few minutes later Killers’. Of the two submarine flotillas the ships ran into a low-lying mist and participating in EC1, the 12th flotilla Ithuriel lost sight of Courageous.

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Simultaneously, twenty miles down the he reduced speed to dead slow; his estuary eight armed trawlers sailed to sweep immediate concern was the submarine for mines, but incredibly nobody in the following, K-12, but he saw her pass safely trawlers or at their reporting base on the Isle astern; confident that K-22 would be of May knew anything about EC1 or the following in the track of K-12, Harbottle’s movements of the Grand Fleet, nor did the fresh concern was keeping clear of the battle Grand Fleet know about the sweeping cruisers, now about four miles astern. His operations. helm suddenly freed itself, so Harbottle In an attempt to regain visual contact attempted to return to his station; K-22 had with Courageous, Ithuriel and the submarines lost sight of him, but suddenly the bridge of the 13th Flotilla increased speed to 19 staff of K-22 saw a red navigation light close knots, but by now Courageous was abeam the ahead, and at 19 knots and sluggish to turn, Isle of May and increased speed to 21 knots K-22 ploughed into K-14. as per the exercise order. The mist had K-22 struck K-14 on the port side of the reduced visibility for normal navigation crew space, just abaft the bow torpedo lights to about one and a half miles. Events compartment, severing part of the bow. of the next few minutes raised the curtain on Water rushed into the compartment, the forthcoming disaster when LCDR drowning two crew members immediately, Harbottle, captain of K-14, 1200 yards astern but quick damage control action by the first of Ithuriel and watching intently the blue lieutenant saved the boat from sinking. Both lights of the two submarines ahead, saw first boats were in grave situations, with K-22 K-11 and then K-17 apparently reduce speed having two forward compartments flooded, and haul out to port. Harbottle maintained and K-14 unable to move, down by the course but reduced speed to 13 knots when bows, and in imminent danger of sinking. two hitherto invisible minesweeping trawlers Both switched on all navigation lights, ahead and on a collision course suddenly radioed and flashed distress messages, and switched on navigation lights. stood by with Very flares to warn the ships Harbottle in K-14 ordered hard-a- coming up. starboard, whereupon his helm jammed, so Ithuriel and the three leading boats of the flotilla sailed off into the night, totally unaware of the drama behind them. It was over an hour before Ithuriel’s radio department picked up K-22’s distress call. Fifteen minutes after the collision, at 1930, Australia, leading the four ships of the 2nd BCS with their accompanying destroyers was bearing down on the spot where the two submarines lay dead in the

HMS Fearless after the collision with K-17

Naval Historical Review June 2017 19 water, flashing and radioing their distress straight towards him. The battle cruisers calls. Australia saw the flares and detached a were following a track further to the south destroyer to investigate and assist, while than the submarines had followed, and those on the decks of K-14 and K-22 Commander Leir had turned his flotilla watched anxiously as the battle cruisers and directly into their path. He altered course destroyers swept past on both sides at 21 rapidly, and avoided Australia by less than knots – all but the last battle cruiser Inflexible. 600 yards, but the sluggish maneuverability She had lost sight of her next ahead, of the three remaining submarines with him Indomitable, when lights were sighted ahead; meant they had a much narrower escape. It there was confusion on the bridge as to is estimated that K-12, last in the line, missed what they were, and despite trying to take being run down by Australia by as little as evasive action, Inflexible slammed into the three feet, and men on the upper deck of the stricken K-22 at 18 knots, ripping her bows battle cruiser reportedly could see the boiler around so that they stuck out at 90º to the fires down the submarine’s funnels. line of the submarine’s hull. Confusion ensued, and both Ithuriel and As Inflexible had started her evasive turn, the three submarines found themselves her stern swung round crashing down the dodging the battle cruisers’ escorting side of the submarine, tearing off her destroyers independently and as best they external starboard ballast and fuel tanks, and could. They wove their way safely through pushing the submarine down into the water the destroyers and K-11 and K-12 found so that only her bridge was above the Ithuriel again, but K-17 had lost ground and surface. The propellers of the swinging fell about a mile behind. Still coming down battle cruiser then crashed down the side of the Forth and about five miles distant, K-22 before she drew clear. Amazingly, K-22 Captain Little in Fearless was leading the 12th remained afloat, but equally amazingly submarine flotilla comprising K-4, K-3, K-6, Inflexible rushed off unheeding into the and K-7 in that order; near May Island he night. had intercepted K-22’s distress signal, K-14 lay close by, still afloat and firing informed the boats of the 12th SF, and off Very flares at a steady rate as surface instructed them to switch their blue stern ships raced by, alarmingly close. Ithuriel lights to full brilliance and keep a look out finally received K-22’s distress signal at for the damaged K-22 and K-14. 2010, about an hour after the collision. She By 2015 Captain Little in Fearless was past signaled Courageous and Barham that she was May Island and felt he was well clear of the turning around with the remaining boats of scene of the collision, but the signal from the 13th SF to assist two submarines in Ithuriel warning the force that she and three distress, but for unexplained reasons the submarines had turned around had still not coded message did not leave the ship for a left the ship. However at 2025 a signal had considerable time. By now, the forty or been sent from Australia warning the more ships in the exercise were stretched battleships behind the 12th SF that she had over thirty miles of the Forth, heading just passed Ithuriel and three submarines seawards at high speed. inward bound, but it came too late to warn Having turned his ship and squadron Fearless and her submarine flotilla. At about back to assist the damaged K-22 and K-14, the same time as Australia’s signal went, Commander Leir in Ithuriel was shocked to Captain Little and his men saw the lights of find Australia almost dead ahead and coming three ships on their port bow and crossing

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now on collision course with K-6 of the 12th flotilla, but each saw the other just in time to take evasive action. K-6, which had been following K-3, had lost sight of her in the near-collision. He picked up a white light and, assuming it to be the stern light of K-3, took station on it; however within a short time, a starboard steaming light appeared, and K-6 realised he had not seen K-3’s stern light at all, but the steaming light of another ship, which was on a collision course with him; the lights were in fact from K-4, and K-6 ploughed into her at almost right angles travelling at 21 knots, almost cutting K-4 in two. The boats remained locked together, with K-4 sinking fast and beginning to take K-6 down with her. Finally K-6’s frantically reversing propellers and her greater buoyancy let her break free, whereupon K-4 Midshipman ‘Dick’ Cunningham, RAN. sank, taking her entire crew with her. Lost in K-17 Within two hours of sailing, and before their track; the first two crossed clear, but even reaching the open sea, the fleet had lost the third was some distance back – it was in two submarines sunk, two more badly fact K-17 which had lost ground when damaged, one damaged, one cruiser badly dodging the destroyers. Captain Little had damaged, fifty-seven men dead, and fifty- right of way and held his course, assuming five others thrashing around in near-freezing the other ship would alter course and pass water. But the drama was not yet over. down his port side; it didn’t, and Fearless Submarine K-7, following astern of K-6 in slammed into K-17 at 21 knots just ahead of poor visibility, suddenly saw the sinking K-4 the conning tower. The crew of Fearless dead ahead, and in an attempt to avoid watched K-17 wrench free and bang down hitting her, put her engines full astern; in the the side of the cruiser, with water pouring in event, K-7 still hit K-4 but in going hard through a great gash in her side. Within astern her propellers sucked in and killed the eight minutes K-17 had sunk, but the entire majority of the crew of K-17. Only eight crew managed to escape into the frigid members of the crew survived. One who did waters of the Forth Estuary, including an not was Midshipman Cunningham, a Australian Midshipman, Ernest ‘Dick’ graduate of the 1913 RANC entry; he had Cunningham, on loan from HMS Glorious. been a cadet captain, a good sportsman, and The collision tore a great hole in the bows of had gained maximum time and several the cruiser and flooded a number of her academic prizes on passing out from the forward compartments. RANC. He had also won the Grand Fleet Ithuriel, now with only K-11 in company, Bantamweight Boxing Championship in continued towards the spot where K-22 and 1917. K-14 lay wallowing, unaware of the After her collision with K-17, Fearless sent mounting chaos going on around them. a priority message to Barham reporting that K-12, having slid down Australia’s side was she had sunk the submarine, and the signal

Naval Historical Review June 2017 21 from Ithuriel advising she had turned around court martialled for hazarding his ship, and finally left the ship – twenty minutes after reprimanded. Being wartime, all records she had done so. It was now 2038. Once relating to the ‘Battle’ of May Island were again, it was too late for the battleships to then sealed, but after the war it suited the alter course and they and their escorting Admiralty to keep them sealed, and in effect destroyers swept through the place where suppressed, and they were only reluctantly the remnants of the submarine flotillas were released in 1994 after surveyors for a wind wallowing in the fog. In only three terrifying farm came across the wrecks of K-4 and minutes they tore through the spot at 21 K-17. A memorial to those lost in the knots, miraculously but narrowly avoiding submarines was unveiled in 2002 at further collisions with the stricken Anstruther on the mainland near the Isle of submarines and those standing by to assist, May. but washing several men off their decks with their bow waves. Acknowledgments: Fearless and K-22 with their gaping bow World Naval Ships Forums – Notes ‘Battle wounds crept back to Rosyth stern first; of May Island’. K-14 was towed back, and Exercise EC1 ‘Battle of May Island’. UK Ministry of went ahead as planned. Little wreckage and Defence 30 Jan 2002. very few bodies were ever found. A board of Thanks to VADM Peter Jones AO DSC enquiry was convened after the exercise and RAN Rtd for clarifying several conflicting blame was apportioned amongst five points. officers from the ‘K’ boats, but only one was

Antarctica - the forgotten Continent

This article has been compiled from research conducted by Hugh Farmer, one of our new members providing invaluable volunteer assistance at the Boathouse.

NTARCTICA OCCUPIES about James Cook, Royal Navy, with his ships A14,000,000 km2 of mainly mysterious Resolution and Adventure was the first to cross inhospitable mountainous terrain covered in the Antarctic Circle, reaching a latitude of snow and ice at the southern extremity of 67º 15´ S. He later circumnavigated the our planet. It is almost twice the size of Continent and in so doing again ventured continental Australia and until recently had further south to 70º 10´ S. He discovered no permanent human inhabitants. But this is distant outlying islands but asserted it was now changing, with up to 5000 temporary impossible to find land because of the residents from many lands who profess extensive and impenetrable ice fields – these some interest or territorial claim. In remain the largest in the world – and he was addition, tourists on specialist cruise ships unsure if a Southern Continent existed. are flocking to the region during its short It did not take long for mainly American- summer season. flagged sealers, and later whalers, to discover Owing to extremes in weather the the riches of the area and establish bases on continent has remained largely unknown. the outlying islands. While there are On 18 January 1773, the then Commander competing claims as to who was the first to

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honour of his wife. A few days later on 28 January d’Urville encountered two ships of the American explorer Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, USN. In his flagship Vincennes, also on 19 January 1840, Wilkes had discovered discoloured water in which he took soundings, confirming a seabed at less than 300 fathoms and shoaling. He was unable to proceed further inland because of an ice wall. Wilkes called this the Antarctic Continent. In more recent times the region first Distances to Australian Antarctic Stations came to international prominence with the romantic rush to be the first to reach the find the Antarctic Continent the most likely South Pole. On 14 December 1911 Roald is Captain Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Amundsen and four fellow Norwegians Bellingshausen in his Imperial Russian Naval became the first men to reach the South sloops Mirny and Vostok who sighted land Pole, beating the ill-fated British team led by on 28 January 1820. Bellingshausen was an Captain Robert Scott, RN by just over one eminent explorer and cartographer who month. While the Norwegians were widely twice circumnavigated the globe, and after applauded the British-controlled media Cook was the next to circumnavigate overshadowed this with the exploits of Antarctica. His exploits were internationally Scott’s heroic failure. acclaimed and he later rose to the rank of Not to be outdone others quickly Admiral. followed, attempting to cross the continent, and we have traced some of these exploits Other Early Explorers and the Race covering the centenary since Shackleton’s to the South Pole 1916 expedition in the September 2016 Many nations subsequently took a keen edition of this magazine. interest in Antarctica and mounted various expeditions of exploratory and scientific The Whaling Industry value. These include America, Australia, The whaling industry was flourishing from Britain, Chile, France, New Zealand, the time of the First Fleet and might be Norway and Russia. regarded as Australia’s first export industry. A remarkable coincidence occurred in Whalers, often based in Australia, made their these desolate waters on 19 January 1840 way south to exploit the new grounds off when Commander Jules Sébastien César the islands of Antarctica. For many years Dumont d’Urville with his two corvettes seasonal fleets of whale factory ships with Astrolabe and Zélee found themselves in the their catchers from Britain, Norway, Russia midst of a great pack of icebergs when and later Japan visited these waters. suddenly, as the sun disappeared at about an hour before midnight, they first sighted land. Territorial Claims The next day they approached within four There are a number of historic claims to miles of the rocky coast with sheer cliffs sovereignty over mainly small and affording no possibility of a landing place. uninhabited Antarctic and sub-Antarctic He named it Terre Adélie or Adelie Land in islands which include:

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Australia: Heard, McDonald and Macquarie Islands Britain: South Georgia, South Sandwich, South Orkney and South Shetland Islands France: Kerguelen, St Paul and Amsterdam Islands New Zealand: Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell and the Snares Islands Norway: Bouvet and Peter Islands In recent times sovereignty disputes resulted in the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain which extended to include South Georgia, where Argentina had a scientific concession and rights to the disposal of obsolete whaling material. Early in this conflict, the island was captured and occupied by Argentine forces for a short period. The continuing relationship between Amunsden and dog team on reaching the South Pole Argentina and Britain remains fractious and 14 December 1911 Sydpolen-polpunktet in 1994 Argentina added the claim to the These were: Argentina, Australia, Falkland (Malvinas) Territories to its Belgium, Britain, Chile, France, Japan, New constitution. Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa and Drake Passage links geographically the United States. It entered into force in aligned southern Argentina and Chile and 1961 and has since been acceded to by many the northernmost tip of Antarctica. At its other nations. The total number of parties to shortest point this covers about 800 the Treaty is now 53. kilometres or 430 nautical miles. This stretch Among the signatories of the Treaty of water, so treacherous in days of sail, is were seven countries with territorial claims: now less than a day’s steaming in a modern Argentina, Australia, Britain, Chile, France, vessel. Some phenomena such as global New Zealand and Norway. Some of their warming, making the region less claims are overlapping. Other countries do inhospitable and exposing more land, not recognize any claims. The US and Russia and/or the discovery of minerals, might maintain a ‘basis of claim’. The Antarctic encourage interest in further territorial Treaty is composed of 12 articles, which are claims. written in fairly general terms and are only enforceable through the cooperation of the International Agreements – The consultative members. Antarctic Treaty Article 1 – Antarctica is to be used for The Antarctic Treaty was signed in peaceful purposes only. Military activities, Washington on 1 December 1959 by the such as weapons testing, are strictly twelve countries whose scientists had been prohibited. However, military personnel and active in and around Antarctica during the equipment can be used for scientific and International Geophysical Year of 1957-58. other peaceful purposes.

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Article 2 – Countries shall work together in cooperation for scientific discovery. Article 3 – Countries shall freely exchange information and personnel, cooperate with the United Nations, and cooperate with other international agencies. Article 4 – No territorial claims on Antarctica are recognized, disputed, or established, and no new claims shall be asserted while the Treaty is in force. Australian Antarctic Territory postal cover 1959 Article 5 – This Treaty prohibits nuclear explosions and disposal of radioactive The Australian Antarctic Territory wastes. This brings us to the little known and most Article 6 – This Treaty includes all land and important aspect of this article, the ice shelves south of 60º 00´ S, and reserves Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT). The rights to the high seas. claimed AAT covers a vast area of nearly Article 7 – All countries that abide by this 5.9 million km2, or about 42% of the Treaty have free access to any area of Antarctic Continent. It consists of all islands Antarctica. As such, all countries may and territories south of 60° S between 45° E inspect any installations, stations, and and 160° E, excluding the French sector of equipment of other countries, and have free Terre Adélie. access to aerial photography. However, This claim is mainly associated with the advance notice must be given of all Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by the expeditions and of the use of any military Australian, Douglas Mawson, from 1911 to personnel. 1914, which established bases at Common- Article 8 – Each country has legal wealth Bay and the Shackleton Ice Shelf. jurisdiction over its own citizens and This expedition explored extensively along observers. (This means, for example, US law the coast near these bases. would govern US tourists, while German Mawson also led the British, Australian law would govern German tourists.) and New Zealand Antarctic Research Article 9 – Frequent consultative meetings Expedition of 1931. During this expedition shall take place between consultative Mawson claimed what is now Australian member nations. Antarctic Territory as British sovereign Article 10 – Consultative member nations territory. Early in 1933, Britain asserted will discourage activities by any country in sovereign rights over the claimed territory Antarctica that are contrary to this Treaty. and placed it under the authority of the Article 11 – Disputes are to be settled Commonwealth of Australia. Sovereignty peacefully by the parties concerned, or the over the Territory was transferred from International Court of Justice. Britain to Australia under the Australian Article 12 - Deals with upholding, Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933, interpreting, and amending this Treaty. which came into effect in 1936.

There have been subsequent agreements RAN voyages to Antarctica concerning such measures as conservation Rather surprisingly, and possibly to its of marine resources and environmental detriment, the RAN has demonstrated protection within Antarctica. limited interest in the Southern Continent

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RAN Hydrographic Branch vessel Wyatt Earp in Antarctic waters RAN which may be due to the lack of suitable ice-capable ship expected to enter service in ships. In 1947-48 a small 400 ton ex- 2020. Norwegian fishing vessel, which had made Since 2013 the RAN Hydrographic pre-war Antarctic voyages, was Branch has been conducting short summer commissioned as HMAS Wyatt Earp and survey operations using its survey vessel sailed from Melbourne bound for Wyatt Earp which has recently been working Commonwealth Bay. Because of gales and out of Davis Station. Wyatt Earp is a smaller ice she was unable to make her destination version of the Fantome class survey and instead made for Macquarie Island. launches used by the RAN. She is 9.2 m Here she met with LST 3501 (later HMAS (30 ft) long with a full load displacement of Labuan) which was supporting a scientific nearly 6 tonnes. She is fitted with specialist expedition. equipment such as multi-beam echo Despite her limitations, between 1948 sounders, sediment grabs, sub-bottom and 1951 LST 3501/HMAS Labuan made profilers and underwater cameras. From this several successful voyages to Heard and vessel biological, oceanographic and Macquarie Islands, and once, to the French meteorological experiments and held Kerguelen Islands. However on her last observations are being conducted as part of voyage, battered by severe gales, she operation SOUTHERN DISCOVERY. suffered extensive damage and was towed Wyatt Earp is transported to and from the back to Fremantle where she was Davis Station as deck cargo on Aurora decommissioned and sold out of service. Australis. In contrast, between 1956 and 1971 our The RAN has also been called upon to RNZN cousins maintained Antarctic make a number of ‘Mercy Missions’ into support ships. However, since the last, subantarctic waters. In 1966 the training HMNZS Endeavour (II), paid off in 1971 the ship HMAS Queenborough made an urgent call level of naval support has been limited. This to Macquarie Island in appalling weather is being rectified by the acquisition of a new conditions with monstrous seas and snow

26 Naval Historical Review June 2017 and ice to medivac an injured scientist; twenty month deployment to the Ross Sea another high speed passage was made by for fishery protection and hydrographic HMAS Hobart in 1979 to rescue a critically survey duties. On her outward passage she injured member of an expedition from called at Rockingham, WA where SBLT Macquarie Island. On New Year’s Day 1995 Thomas Ciantar, RAN and PO HMAS Darwin was deployed to rescue a lone Hydrographic Systems Nathan Smith joined yachtswoman, Isabelle Autissier, and in 1997 and then made passage south to Hobart, HMA Ships Adelaide and Westralia were becoming the first RN ship to call there deployed to rescue another lone yachtsman, since 1990. They voyaged beyond 77º S and, Tony Bullimore, when his craft floundered on Ross Island, visited the hut once used by 1400 nm south-west of Perth. Scott and Shackleton. In addition much publicity has been Antarctic Bases given to Britain’s new 13,000 ton polar The first known base from the heroic age of research ship Sir David Attenborough, this ship Antarctic exploration was established on with icebreaking capability is due to enter South Georgia in 1903 by Dr William Bruce service in 2019 and she is expected to visit of the Scottish National Antarctic the Antarctic. Expedition. Bruce was unable to maintain his base and transferred his claim to Argentina Australian Antarctic Strategy on the proviso that they continued his On 10 October 2014 the Australian scientific mission. This was done in 1904 and Government released the 20 Year Australian the Argentines are still there. Antarctic Strategic Plan, which provides a Originally most bases were only of a blueprint for Australia’s future engagement temporary nature confined to the warmer in Antarctica and options to expand but short summer season. With Tasmania’s role as a leading Antarctic technological improvements many year- science and logistics hub. round bases have been established with over Hobart’s Antarctic, Southern Ocean and 20 countries having permanent bases, with marine science education and research some having multiple bases. community is internationally respected. The Australia has three bases; the first was 700-plus members of this community Mawson Station established in 1954, constitute the majority of Australia’s followed by Casey and Davis Stations scientists who specialise in these fields. The established in 1957. New Zealand has its various organisations and institutions have Scott Base, also established in 1957. In developed close scientific networks, sharing conjunction with the United States, seasonal resources and information. These are air flights are available from Christchurch, complemented by the infrastructure and NZ to the US McMurdo Station, which is support they need to operate efficiently. situated within the New Zealand territorial These teaching and research organisations claim. include: The Royal Navy still maintains a • Australian Antarctic Division presence in or near Antarctica with an • CSIRO Division of Marine and offshore patrol vessel based in the Falklands, Atmospheric Research currently HMS Clyde, and its 5000 ton ice- • Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems patrol ship HMS Protector. In 2015, Protector Cooperative Research Centre with her 75 man crew, which includes a • Institute of Marine and Antarctic detachment of Royal Marines, commenced a Studies

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• Integrated Marine Observing System HMNZS Endeavour (III). She is being • Australian Bureau of Meteorology replaced by a 24,000 ton ice-capable fleet • Australian Maritime College tanker being built in South Korea for • International Antarctic Institute delivery in 2020. Her hull is being ice- A comprehensive list which seemingly strengthened for operations in Antarctica excludes significant Defence involvement. which will allow her to deliver fuel and stores in support of New Zealand bases Maritime Logistic Support during the Austral summer. At this time (March 2017) P & O Maritime Seemingly New Zealand and French operates two support ships out of Hobart. naval personnel will gain firsthand They are the French flagged ice experience of operating in an inhospitable strengthened support vessel L’Astrolabe and Antarctic environment. For the RAN it is the Australian flagged Aurora Australis hoped the few hardy hydrographers serving supporting the Australian Antarctic in Wyatt Earp are the start of much greater Division. Both ships are due for replacement future experiences. Forty-two percent of because of age. The 2,150 ton L’Astrolabe is Antarctica with its vast coastline is claimed expected to be replaced later this year by a by Australia and yet our navy knows little of much larger vessel of the same name it and would most likely find it difficult to operated from Australia by the French operate in this hostile environment. Navy. The 6574 ton Aurora Australis is to be Operating in winter conditions through the replaced in 2019 by a purpose built roughest of weather with snow and ice was icebreaking ship of 23,800 tons under a commonplace for a number of RAN ships through-life contract awarded to Defence during WWII and the Korean War, how Maritime Services. would they fare today – are brief Coincidentally the Royal New Zealand hydrographic deployments and occasional Navy is retiring its 30 year old tanker mercy missions enough?

Commander Frederick Campbell Darley 1886 - 1926 By Greg Swinden

REDERICK CAMPBELL DARLEY was to Midshipman on 15 November 1902 Fborn at Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, NSW on having been awarded two months ‘Time 12 February 1886, the eldest child of Cecil Gained’ for good academic results at the West Darley (Public Works Engineer) and Naval College. After 11 months service in Constance Leila Annette Darley (nee Mars he transferred to pre-dreadnought Campbell). He was educated privately in battleship HMS Duncan (Mediterranean Sydney and, on 15 May 1901, commenced Fleet) in October 1903. His annual report in training as a cadet at Britannia Royal Naval 1904 described him as ‘…a useful and practical College (Dartmouth) under the Colonial officer’. Naval Cadet Scheme. Midshipman Darley joined the pre- Darley graduated from the Naval College dreadnought battleship HMS Caesar (Home in November 1902 and joined the pre- Fleet) in December 1905 before promotion dreadnought battleship HMS Mars (Home to Sub-Lieutenant on 15 January 1906. In Fleet) for further training. He was promoted February he commenced his professional

28 Naval Historical Review June 2017

Chief Officer Barden and Captain Williamson of SS Kiawo with Commander Frederick Darley (to right of picture).

flag’ cruises. His reports described him as a very good officer being …skilful at mechanical and other drawing. Very zealous, especially in gunnery work in which he takes a keen interest. A good rifle shot and possesses good physical qualities as well as sound judgement for his years. In mid-1909 Lieutenant Darley returned to England training courses in Seamanship, Pilotage, and joined the gunnery training ship HMS Gunnery, Navigation Parts 1 & 2 and Revenge (another pre-dreadnought battleship) Torpedoes. He received a £10 book prize based at Portsmouth. This was the first step for gaining six First Class Certificates for in the next phase of his career as a gunnery this training. In June 1906 Darley joined the specialist. His February 1910 report stated Armoured Cruiser HMS Sutlej (North Good knowledge of French and good at mechanical America and West Indies Station). He was drawing. Able and zealous officer with good promoted to Lieutenant on 15 January 1907 physique. Recommended for Lieutenant (Gunnery). aged 20. Following service in Revenge he In August 1907, Lieutenant Darley was commenced training at the Royal Navy’s appointed to the protected cruiser HMS Gunnery School, HMS Excellent, based at Pyramus serving on the Australia Station. The Whale Island (Portsmouth) on 6 August Royal Australian Navy had not yet been 1910. Training at Whale Island was created and the Commonwealth Naval intensive and demanding as gunnery was Forces were a ramshackle collection of old considered the premier skill within the vessels inherited from the colonies at Royal Navy at that time. Again Darley did Federation in 1901. At this stage the defence well in his training and was described as of Australia rested clearly with the Royal …able and zealous. Navy Squadron based at Sydney, which On completing the Gunnery Course often ventured out to the far flung portions Lieutenant Darley was sent to Chatham of the British Empire in the Pacific. Naval Barracks (HMS Pembroke) in That said, life on the Australia Station September 1911 as …additional for Gunnery was quite pleasant and it was often termed Duties. He was involved in the training of the ‘Social Station’. There was also ample junior gunnery ratings and also represented time for Darley to reacquaint himself with the Navy at the Bisley rifle shooting his family. During his two years in Pyramus competition in 1912. In early October 1912 she carried out the normal run of peacetime he returned to Excellent to assist with exercises and visited a number of Australian gunnery trials for the newly commissioned and New Zealand ports on ‘showing the battle-cruiser HMS New Zealand. Darley

Naval Historical Review June 2017 29 undertook these duties with his normal its capture of German New Guinea. Due to skilful and zealous attitude and as a result Australia’s 12-inch guns the German East was selected, in late October 1912, to assist Asian Squadron avoided Australian and with the commissioning of the new Royal New Guinea waters and steamed eastwards Australian Navy (RAN) battle-cruiser across the Pacific. Australia was sent in Australia. pursuit but failed to catch up with the He was lent to HMA London Depot on 26 German warships before all but one were January 1913 and thus began a long period sunk at the Battle of the Falkland Islands on of service with the RAN. The battle cruiser 8 December 1914. Australia had been ordered by the Australian Darley was automatically promoted to Government in 1910 and built at John Lieutenant Commander on 1 January 1915, Brown and Company Ltd. shipyard at after the requisite eight years as a Lieutenant, Clydebank, Glasgow. She was commissioned and also on this day Australia entered the on 21 June 1913 as HMAS Australia and South Atlantic. On 5 January 1915 she soon sailed for Australia, arriving in Sydney intercepted and captured the German liner on 4 October 1913 with the formal entry of Eleanore Woermann north of the Falklands the Australian Fleet Unit. and soon after the battle cruiser’s 12-inch guns helped sink the vessel when it was Transfer of naval defence decided not to take her as a prize. These This also signified the transfer of the naval shells were to be some of the few hostile defence of Australia from Britain to the shots of the war for Australia. Australian Government. In early 1914 the On 28 January 1915 Australia arrived in commanding officer of Australia, Captain England and was soon attached to the 2nd Stephen Radcliffe, RN described Darley as Battle Cruiser Squadron based at Rosyth, showing …great zeal and ability and Rear Scotland. From here she made regular forays Admiral Patey, commanding the fleet, into the North Sea conducting convoy agreed entirely. During early 1914 the escort duties and searches for the elusive Australian Fleet operated off the east coast German Navy. The next three years proved conducting training exercises and port visits to be dull but very hard work for the ship to show off the new warships to the and bad luck, following a collision with the Australian public. battle cruiser HMS New Zealand, kept her in On 4 August 1914, however, following port for repairs when the Battle of Jutland weeks of political machinations, the First was fought on 31 May 1916. World War commenced. Britain declared In mid-1916 Captain Radcliffe described war on Germany and Austria-Hungary and Darley as: Above average. A very keen gunnery the next day Australia also declared war on officer with good ideas and plenty of knowledge and the Central Powers. War had been expected takes great pains with the training. He is and the Australian Fleet, already at sea, was unmethodical which detracts from his otherwise good sent to conduct operations against German qualities. Six months later his report was colonies in the South Pacific. The German similar: Above average. Most zealous and East Asian Squadron, normally based at hardworking. His whole interests are centred in the Tsingtau in China, was also at sea. Service. Has good ideas and considerable knowledge Australia escorted the New Zealand of gunnery. He is slow and unmethodical which Expeditionary Force to capture German detracts from his good qualities. Samoa and then supported the Australian In May 1917 Darley distinguished Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in himself when a 12-inch shell became

30 Naval Historical Review June 2017 jammed in one of Australia’s hydraulic Guerre (London Gazette, 30 November ammunition hoists. One of her officers 1917) …for distinguished services rendered during described this incident: the war due to his service as Australia’s It was in the North Sea in 1917. We were gunnery officer in more than three years of ‘clearing the ship for action’ a common exercise in active service. By this time however he had those days and at this command all guns are loaded left the ship and was admitted to Chatham and every soul onboard stands by for the next naval hospital in early September, suffering development. from neurasthenia (a general term for being On this particular occasion one of the 12-inch ‘worn out’). He was re-admitted to hospital projectiles for the turret guns was being sent up from in mid-October with suspected appendicitis. the shell-room to the loading chamber by hydraulic power. It was a Lyddite shell weighing 850 pounds ‘Cleansing’ of difficult officers and fitted with a highly sensitive nose fuse or Despite his zeal and competence, however, detonator. A coloured signal showed that the shell there is some evidence to suggest he was and cordite were being sent up from below and the removed from Australia as part of a powerful hydraulic lift was seen to start on its way ‘cleansing’ of difficult officers. In June 1917, but the shell never came to the top of the trunk. Darley acted as Prisoner’s Friend to a rating There was a tearing straining noise and the lift being court martialled for insulting a stuck. Midshipman. Evidence uncovered by Darley Eager faces looked at each other and a petty revealed that this junior officer had been officer, after giving the order ‘Still’ looked inside the instructed to falsify evidence to protect the hydraulic lift. To his horror he saw that the shell reputation of the Officer of the Day; who had not been rammed into the cage sufficiently and had been found asleep in the Wardroom the nose fuse had been allowed to catch on a while on duty. projection inside the trunk. The tremendous strain of Darley succeeded in having the sailor the hydraulic lift had crushed in the detonating fuse acquitted but was accused by others, and at any moment the slightest further movement outside the ship, of disloyalty to his might explode the shell. Strong men turned white, commanding officer (Captain Backhouse) but waited death if needs be for the whole magazine and the Fleet Commander (Rear Admiral would have gone up and they knew it. Leveson) for winning the case on a Commander Darley who was informed of the ‘technical point’. Despite this his report for position quickly arrived on the scene and after a brief September 1917 by Captain Backhouse examination quietly but grimly ordered everyone out stated: Above average. Temperate. Has more than of the turret, magazine and shell rooms. When alone average gunnery skills. Useful in training of he climbed down the lift and with a crowbar and efficient officers. Very useful in training and spanner proceeded to release the jammed shell and to handling of men in this ship. Rear Admiral extract the damaged fuse. Leveson concurred and wrote: Very marked Officers and men held their breath and waited industry, zeal and keenness under difficult for the hundred to one chance that the detonating circumstance. I should be glad to have him with me needle inside the fuse would touch the tiny film of again and have recommended him for promotion. composition which meant – ‘eternity’. But he won Many of Australia’s junior sailors recalled through and when he had thrown the fuse Darley fondly and one later wrote: Those who overboard he went to his cabin and lit the inevitable knew him will remember the smile that so often cigarette. appeared through his pointed sandy beard. Lieutenant Commander Darley was He was in and out of hospital for the subsequently awarded the French Croix de remainder of 1917, finally reverting to Royal

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Navy service on 31 December 1917. Darley was now nearing completion). In 1921 the commenced the Long Gunnery Course at decision was made to close the Excellent on 4 February 1918 and completed Williamstown Naval Depot and transfer all the course in July 1918. His course report training activity to Westernport. As a result stated: Above average. Strongly recommended for Cerberus III became Flinders Naval Depot promotion in due course. Very zealous, enthusiastic (HMAS Cerberus) and Darley its first and able officer. Above average lecturer and executive officer on 1 April 1921, with instructor, popular with his class. Excellent power of Captain Stanley Miller, RN in command. command. Smart and of good physique. Darley completed the loan service to the On 16 July 1918, Lieutenant Commander RAN on 12 April 1922 and the Darleys Darley joined the light cruiser HMS Calliope returned to England where he reverted to as her gunnery officer. He married Edith RN service on 27 July. Gore Brown (nee Holdship), a widow, at Holy Trinity Church Dunfermline, Fife, ‘Hare brained’ Scotland on 5 October 1918, but shortly His final report from Captain Miller was after was hospitalised again with kidney very candid: Conscientious and very good mental issues, and was posted ashore on qualities but at times a bit hare brained. Very good 13 November to HMS Vivid (the Devonport physical qualities but takes no active part in outdoor Naval Barracks in Plymouth). sports. Even temperament. Shows good zeal and is In early January 1919 he applied for the keen on the service in general. Very good tact. Good position of Officer in Charge of the RAN administrative qualities. Rather inclined to arrive at Gunnery School at HMAS Cerberus faulty decisions through not giving the subject (Williamstown Naval Depot). His sufficient consideration. A keen officer and popular application was accepted and he was again with the men. Has the welfare of the service at heart, lent to the RAN on 13 February 1919. His but is inclined to see on the side of leniency towards duties at Williamstown encompassed not the men who take advantage of it. Many at only the Gunnery School but he was also the Cerberus, however, recalled him as a popular, Executive Officer (second in command) and efficient and gallant officer. responsible for morale and discipline Commander Darley had now been in the amongst the men. These were extensive Navy for over 20 years and served entirely at duties and added to this were his increasing sea or in training establishments. On return family responsibilities as two of his three to England he undertook Technical and War children were born at Williamstown Courses and in January 1923 commenced an (Daphne in 1919 and John in 1920). Intelligence Course at the Royal Naval His 1919 report was again glowing: A College (Greenwich). In May 1923 he was very zealous and capable officer. Has carried out his appointed as Naval Secretary to the duties of Executive Officer with conspicuous ability Ordnance Committee at the Admiralty in and tact. Is very much respected and liked by the London. ship’s company. Is in charge of the Gunnery School. His reports during this period described Very strongly recommend for promotion - likely to him as a man of equable temperament, do well in the higher ranks of the service. pleasant personality, tactful, good mannered, Darley was promoted to Commander on thorough and with good organising and 30 June 1920 and on 1 September 1920 was administrative skills; and that he would make given command of HMAS Cerberus III, the a good executive officer afloat. new RAN base under construction at After two years of service in the Westernport (work had begun in 1912 and Admiralty, Darley was selected for

32 Naval Historical Review June 2017 command and undertook commanding On the morning of 5 September 1926 officer training courses from August 1925 Kiawo went alongside Wanhsien, where all until the end of the year. He was then appeared quiet, but as soon as the boarding appointed as the commanding officer of the party leapt aboard hundreds of hidden light cruiser HMS Despatch, then serving on Chinese soldiers opened fire. Darley and the China Station, and assumed command several of his men were killed instantly. on 28 February 1926. British sailors onboard Kiawo returned fire China in the 1920s was a country in and …did frightful execution amongst the massed name only as rival warlord generals and Chinese. The next day a large British naval political factions sought to gain power and force arrived at Wanhsien and Chinese control of the nation. The major powers of forces handed both vessels over and the time (Britain, France, Japan and the peacefully departed the scene. United States) had substantial mercantile Before going into action Darley wrote a investment in the country and maintained letter to his mother stating: If you ever get this naval forces in the region to protect their letter, I will have ‘passed on’ before you and I pray citizens and national interests. God that I may do nothing that may bring discredit In late August 1926 an incident occurred on the White Ensign under which I shall fight. This when Nationalist Chinese soldiers seized morning I read to my men the 1st and 2nd Prayers control of SS Wanhsien and SS Wantung, two for those at sea, the Confession and the Lord’s British steamers then operating on the Prayer…and I have done my best to persuade my Yangtse River in the vicinity of Wanhsien men not to kill unnecessarily. (Wanxian) Central China. Attempts by the Commander Darley’s body was British Consul General at Chunking to recovered after the action and was buried in negotiate the release of the two vessels failed the British Cemetery at Ichang, China on and the Chinese forces were reinforced with 15 September 1926 by the Reverend Walter more troops and artillery. Two Royal Navy Scott (Chaplain of HMS Hawkins). Whether gunboats operating on the Yangtse were no this grave site still exists is unknown. match for this force which prevented the Frederick Campbell Darley was steamers from leaving Wanhsien. posthumously awarded a Mention in The Royal Navy devised a plan to re- Dispatches for services at Wanhsien on capture the two British vessels by stealth, 5 September 1926 with the citation reading: rather than force, and the steamer SS Kiawo Organised the expedition, acted with considerable was requestioned and 60 men, under the gallantry, and by personal example instilled leadership of Commander Darley, were enthusiasm in all officers and men under his embarked and departed the river port of command in HMS Kiawo. (London Gazette Ichang (Yichang) on 4 September 1926. The 6 May 1927). In October 1927 a bronze plan was for Kiawo to steam to Wanshien memorial plaque to Commander Darley was and go alongside the two captured vessels erected at HMAS Cerberus and is still there where Darley’s men would board and re- today in the Church of England chapel. take them with supporting fire from the And so Frederick Darley died as he had British gunboats. The plan was described as lived - leading by example and doing his …bold, but would entail heavy casualties. duty to the utmost.

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HMAS Leeuwin

Recent planning for the redevelopment of the ex-HMAS Leeuwin site has aroused considerable interest amongst the naval community and we are pleased to have some further thoughts from Roy Stall, who was from the first intake of Junior Recruits in July 1960. Roy continues to reside in the West. By Roy Stall

HE STONE FRIGATE HMAS Leeuwin, like planning of building construction, and also Ta number of other institutions, has been the infrastructure required leading up to in the news in recent years, and not for the the commencement of the Junior Recruit best reasons. The Gillard Government’s Training Establishment, or JRTE as it Royal Commission into institutional became known, the government cut it very responses to child sexual assault covered fine, with facilities being planned and schools, educational establishments and provided only months before the scheduled ‘care institutions’ but in November 2012 we July 1960 commencement of JR training. also saw the establishment of the Defence I was one of those in the first intake so Abuse Response Taskforce. Cases of abuse let me provide a little personal background at places like ADFA led to others coming to the main theme of this contribution, viz. forward with their stories of alleged abuse the abuse which took place within the JRTE. that took place decades earlier. Prior to joining the RAN I had been a But let me go back a few decades, to boarder at a Marist Brothers’ college in New when Leeuwin was initially established as a Norcia for a year as a thirteen year old, naval depot. NHS members will be aware of following which I had attended a day school the contribution by Vic Jeffrey in the for two years in Highgate, WA, run by the September 1990 edition of the Naval Christian Brothers. I recall the extremely Historical Review and his article, HMAS strict discipline and harsh punishment of Leeuwin - a short history. This provides a both institutions, and where corporal concise account of the early days of the punishment was a regular practice. When I presence of the Royal Australian Navy, think back on my year at New Norcia I can including the war years when a torpedo say I was honestly totally unaware of any maintenance depot was built on the north- sexual abuse that was taking place at that east corner of the base. time. (But it certainly was taking place as we After the War, the base was used for have subsequently learned.) training of Naval Reserve personnel as well And revelations from the recent Royal as national servicemen, until the decision of Commission show there had been Marist the Naval Board to introduce a ‘Junior Brothers and Christian Brothers, as well as Recruit’ training scheme. The plan was to some of the monks from the Benedictine attract boys aged 15½ to 16½ to undertake Community of New Norcia, involved in twelve months of academic and naval many cases of sexual abuse from the 1950s training before they headed to other shore through to the late 1980s, when all establishments in the eastern States. secondary education at New Norcia ceased Having visited the National Archives due to the declining demand. The New office in Perth and read many of the files Norcia Catholic College closed its doors in relating to the acquisition of land, the December 1991 and there has been no

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Parade Ground Drill HMAS Leeuwin c 1965 RAN

staff. This, of course, does not mean that none took place. There were among the JRs quite a few who found the transition from civvy street to the RAN as being pretty rough, especially when being bawled out by a red-faced CPO, PO or school operating in the town since then. ‘kellick’ with bulging eyeballs as he screamed Indeed, a student who had been at New abuse at some poor sod who did the wrong Norcia at the same time I was there in the thing during parade ground training. And as late 1950s contacted me some years ago with most males living in close quarters regarding his treatment, and we there were some who felt the need to assert subsequently met and discussed his themselves with some sort of ‘pecking traumatising experience. And later, to order’. This occasionally led to fights which provide moral support, I accompanied him took place between the dongas, with little or to the Perth hearings of that Royal no staff intervention. (Perhaps they adopted Commission when he gave evidence of his a ‘boys will be boys’ attitude but as I recall abuse. (I had been compiling ‘stories from there were no serious incidents or injuries.) past students’ at the boys’ college which I Hazing was a different matter. When the subsequently published on a CD.) second intake of JRs marched through the Another relevant factor that influenced gates in January 1961 they found themselves me personally at Leeuwin was the fact that I with the rank of JR2, the first intake were had two years service as an Air Training the ever so slightly senior JR1. Both were, of Corps cadet whilst at high school, course, pretty close to the ‘lowest form of immediately prior to joining the RAN. As marine life’ - as we were frequently such I was somewhat used to parade ground reminded. ‘Initiation’ ceremonies were discipline, which certainly made it easier for alleged to have taken place but I have me to accept the treatment dished out by absolutely zero recollection of any such navy Chief Gunnery Instructors and others events in the twelve months I was at Leeuwin. when learning how to march, handle a four However, I was aware of cases of kilogram .303 Lee Enfield rifle, do the ‘beat ‘nuggeting’, where an individual was singled the retreat’ routine, as well as take part in a out for the degrading treatment of having firing party at a naval funeral. black shoe polish applied to his genitalia - During the years 1960 and 1961 when I indeed, this happened occasionally at camps was a Junior Recruit, I have to state or ‘bivouacs’ that the Air Training Corps categorically that I was unaware of any provided. sexual abuse that took place, either by JRs At the JRTE we had to call ALL other themselves or by any senior instructional uniformed navy personnel ‘Sir’, including

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JRs HMAS Leeuwin c 1969 RAN those of Able Seaman rank. Of course there sole dissenter who spoke out of turn, also were some ABs who were unable to adjust threatens to ‘PT’ his recruits ‘until (they) to the elevation of being called ‘Sir’, had f***ing die’. PT or physical training as a delusions of grandeur and exercised their form of punishment? Yes, this was often authority ruthlessly. applied at Leeuwin in the Drill Hall next to I don’t want to blur the boundaries the parade ground - with unbridled between Hollywood and the real world but enthusiasm by some PTIs to JRs if they were some readers will have seen Stanley seen to misbehave or had fallen behind in Kubrick’s film, Full Metal Jacket. In the the desired state of obedience. The wall opening sequence a marine drill sergeant is bars fixed to the walls of the Drill Hall were berating a new intake of recruits with where you had to hang suspended from your colourful, demeaning, racist, and obscene arms, as you attempted to obey the language. Take away the racist slurs and you instruction to extend your legs horizontally could see one of the POs or CPOs at in front of you. And thick ropes hanging Leeuwin as he tore strips off Junior Recruits from the ceiling had to be scaled, using your as they attempted to march in step, in line, feet to grip the rope as you ascended. Then or in accord with the shouted instructions. when you were at a suitable height you were And yes, instructors would stand inches in ordered to take your feet away and take your front of you and deliver a foam flecked body weight in your hands. tirade of personal abuse. This was standard - MUPs or ‘men under punishment’ was it was NOT out of the ordinary. another form of what these days would be Kubrick’s drill sergeant, when seeking a regarded as flagrant abuse. MUPs had to get

36 Naval Historical Review June 2017 up early, undertake extra duties, do at least could be upset onto ‘the deck’ (aka the floor) another hour of parade ground drill after and the JR ordered to repeat the exercise one’s normal day duties, and also retire later and fold, arrange, and display his kit in the at night. The parade ground ‘drill’ could correct manner. include being frog-marched with your .303 In many ways, the Junior Recruits of the rifle held high above your head. You could first intake were guinea pigs. The officers, also be ordered to ‘double’ around the senior sailors, and other ship’s company parade ground with your rifle either held were very much feeling their way with the above your head or on your shoulder, new scheme and so mistakes were bound to bumping painfully against your collarbone. be made. Even those in Navy Office, who This was a daily occurrence for defaulters. in initiating this new scheme were taking Woe betide you if you let your rifle dip or something of a gamble with the investment sag as you shuffled around the gravel parade of manpower and resources. ground. In 1960/1961 the parade ground, or So did it work and was it all worthwhile? ‘bull ring’, was gravel and not bitumen, as it In my personal view, yes, it was a winner. was in later years. This gravel dust didn’t Over the years that followed about 13,000 exactly make it easy to keep your rig in a boys were trained via the Junior Recruit neat or clean state, either. scheme. An excellent account history has Kit inspections, both scheduled or been written by Brian Adams, as one of the ‘spontaneous demands’ for inspections, were ‘Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs (No. another opportunity for abuse, though not 29)’, with the subtitle ‘HMAS LEEUWIN - always taken up. Like kit inspections in all the Story of the RAN’s Junior Recruits’. services, each item had to be neatly ironed, Brian Adams, who was in the 22nd intake of laid out, and in a very particular manner. JRs went on to become a Rear Admiral - And now and then, if something was sure proof of the value of the scheme. displayed in the wrong way, the entire kit

Secret Devices used to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte By Mick Graham-Smith In February 2016 this paper was presented to the Western Australian Chapter of the Naval Historical Society. They considered it to be of such merit that it should be included in the NHR for the benefit of all members. We thank the Chapter and the author for permission to reproduce this illuminating story.

Background to the Peninsula War Britain’s contribution to the Napoleonic otherwise known as the ‘Continental War effort was made mainly in the Iberian System’. To be effective, it had to be applied Peninsula. Many of Wellington’s army across the whole continent of Europe. In commanders and men, who subsequently 1807 Napoleon joined his ally Spain to fought at Waterloo, learned their trade or occupy Portugal. Once this was cut their teeth in Portugal and Spain during accomplished he then turned on the Spanish this period of 1808 to 1814. Unable to royal family, forced their abdication, and subdue Britain because of the strength of placed Joseph, his brother, on the throne in the Royal Navy, Napoleon attempted to Madrid. The Spanish people rose against the strangle her economically through blockade, French and a general uprising spread across

Naval Historical Review June 2017 37 the countryside and into Portugal. Napoleon was incensed. Increasing his military strength, he systematically reconquered central Spain. Answering cries for help from Spanish and Portuguese resistance, Britain sent a small force led by Sir John Moore to the peninsula, but superior French forces obliged it to retreat to Corunna where it was evacuated and Moore was killed. A second British expeditionary force under Sir Arthur Wellesley landed in Portugal and swept across the border into a captain’s commission in the 4th Spain in a final effort to drive the French Dragoons. The officers in cavalry out of the peninsula. At this time the French regiments came from wealthy backgrounds were facing a guerrilla menace; to help with spending habits that George could overcome this they employed cryptography not match on his meagre annual salary of as a means of ensuring messages remained less than £200. A captain and friend in the undetected. It is not commonly known that 57th Foot Regiment offered to purchase code-making and code-breaking were used the captain’s commission from George, prior to the German Enigma Code in the which resulted in their swapping Second World War. At this point in the regiments. This was a stage down for him story it is pertinent to introduce here a with less prestige, but nevertheless it person who, together with others, was enabled him to get married. instrumental in the defeat of French forces George Scovell’s first campaign with his in that campaign. His name was George regiment after 13 years of soldiering was Scovell. during the disastrous retreat to Corunna in 1808. Back in England the experiences of Meeting George Scovell that campaign convinced George that the Born in 1774, George was the eldest son of Army desperately needed reform and he felt a family of five siblings living in London. He that he could play a part in addressing some excelled at school, particularly in of its inadequacies. Science and brain power mathematics and languages, mastering were more important to securing victory French, Greek and Latin. His parents could than noble birth or the maintenance of not afford academic pursuits for their son patronage. He set about solving some of its and so he was apprenticed to an engraver to problems by joining the staff of the learn a trade at the age of 14. George Quartermaster-General and being part of a yearned for a career as a cavalry officer, a much larger and better equipped desire achieved when he was 19, initially as a expeditionary force to the Peninsula under lieutenant and after with the purchase of Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1809.

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Code Breaking numbers that could be included in the It was imperative that the Army should be in middle of a word to make guesswork even possession of up-to-date intelligence of the harder. Amongst the tricks of the trade, a enemy’s activities and dispositions. To this number of vacant codes could be included at end, George established a new unit called the end of a despatch, as code breakers the Corps of Guides which was made up of usually tackled the end first and an a motley band of Spanish deserters, intelligent decipherer would be wasting his Portuguese smugglers, Swiss and Italian time on meaningless numbers! Thus if letters mercenaries and Irish soldiers of fortune. of utmost importance were intercepted, These men were recruited for their local nothing would be lost. Couriers were a knowledge of the countryside, ability to natural target and in order to improve the speak the language and ride horses. He even chances of messages getting through, the employed an Irish Roman Catholic priest as French were forced to send more than one a spy! Scattered like ‘penny packets’ across copy of each despatch. the Spanish countryside, the Guides set The first captured French message using about the task of gathering intelligence by the new code occurred while Wellesley was capturing French communiques. Letters planning the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo. were written on tiny scraps of paper hidden George pored over intercepted documents in the seams of clothing, inside saddles and and made gradual progress using letters that even riding crops. The French were using a contained encoded words and phrases so code consisting of a combination of 150 that the coded sections could be inferred numbers, known as the Portuguese Code, from the context. The information on troop which George was able to crack in two days! movements gathered by his band of He was a gifted linguist, having spent 20 brigands or army Guides was critical when years studying French grammar and syntax, making assumed guesses about the identity as well as speaking Spanish and Italian of persons and places in coded letters. By fluently. He was fascinated by the workings taking shortcuts and mixing language, he of secret messages, codes and signals. was able to break enough of the code to Wellesley rewarded George for his natural enable Wellesley, who had by now become ability in this area by promoting him to the the Duke of Wellington, to achieve a rank of major. resounding victory at Salamanca in May The French soon realised they were 1812. Wellington knew exactly what the being hoodwinked and a new Great Cipher French dispositions were and what tactics with 1,400 numerals was circulated to they proposed to adopt. The secret was Napoleon’s field commanders and his shared by only three officers in his brother Joseph, the King of Spain. There headquarters, namely Wellington’s two field were two tables: one for enciphering, the commanders, Lieutenant-Generals Thomas other for deciphering. This Grand Chiffre, as Graham and Rowland Hill, and George it was known, allowed more permutations in Scovell himself. Following these successes writing a single phrase or even a single word. George was promoted to Lieutenant- A place name such as Seville could be a Colonel and Mentioned in Dispatches, not single number or six numbers of a single for drawing blood, but for application of letter code or two codes for SE and VILLE. science and intellect. Besides his work on This enabled different applications to be intelligence, George was remarkable for mixed up when a recurring word was used in inventing practical things such as a portable a despatch. The cipher even had vacant forge with bellows for blacksmiths which

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Portrait of Lieutenant General Sir George Scovell by William Salter National Portrait Gallery, London could be carried by two mules instead of cumbersome carts. In 1813 George was appointed to form a new unit called the Staff Cavalry Corps, a regiment of headquartered horsemen able to turn their hand to a variety of duties. Besides code making and code breaking, they gathered intelligence, drew maps and acted as postmasters for all mail and communications, as well as maintaining discipline in the army. This multi-skilled unit developed in later years to form further specialised units in the British Army such as the Royal Intelligence Corps. The Royal Engineers assumed the task of map making and postal services, and later, the Royal Signals, for communications. George Scovell’s red coated gendarme or disciplinary force set the precedent for the Royal up with a solution which was most Military Police to wear red caps and ingenious. He made sure that both armbands. The Red Caps were often Headquarters had copies of the same edition referred to as ‘the other enemy’ by men of an English pocket dictionary which could serving in the ranks! be used as the basis of his code. To quote an example given by him, the code 134A18 Communications between Army and could be deciphered as follows: 134 is the Navy page number; A is the column; and 18 is the As Wellington’s army marched closer to the number of words or letters from the top. In coast in northern Spain, co-operation with this particular case the word was the Royal Navy became a necessity. The ‘chessboard’. With his knowledge of a ‘two Navy’s local commander, Commodore book’ system, it is remarkable that a man in Popham, had written a treatise called charge of Wellington’s communications ‘Telegraphic Signals or Maritime Vocabulary’ arrived at a virtually impregnable solution so for the Royal Navy which made quickly! communications between warships more efficient and secure. Operating along the Victory in sight Biscayan coast, he wrote to Wellington Interception of letters revealed squabbles suggesting the communications between and jealousies between the French marshals them across no man’s land ought to be and Napoleon’s brother. Their disposition protected by cipher. George Scovell came of forces, including numbers of cavalry,

40 Naval Historical Review June 2017 infantry and artillery, together with supplies French, was on Wellington’s staff on that of ammunition and other supplies were momentous day of 18th June. He was lucky ascertained through George Scovell’s to escape injury or even death. When his handiwork. At this time news was filtering horse reared, he raised his arm to prevent through to the French hierarchy that his hat from falling off and a ground shot Napoleon’s Russian campaign was doomed carried away the armpit of his coat. Had he and about to become an unmitigated not raised his arm, the shot would have hit disaster. He had set out with half a million his arm and possibly his shoulder. The men but only 20,000 returned alive to impact knocked him off the horse. France. This had a devastating effect on morale amongst the French forces in Spain. Sandhurst Marshal Soult, the instigator of much of the For his services George was knighted in that unhappiness in the Iberian army, was year. He received the Waterloo Medal and recalled together with 15,000 veterans was awarded the Russian Order of St. needed to reconstruct the French army at Vladimir. With the war over, nearly all home. military personnel were placed on half pay. Wellington started to prepare for the He contemplated migrating to New Zealand final battle for control of Spain. At this stage where he had been offered the position of George Scovell had mastered virtually the Commissioner of Police. Instead he became whole of the Grand Chiffre and Wellington Lieutenant-Governor (1829-1837) and then was able to employ this to advantage by a Governor (1837-1856) of the Royal Military series of flanking movements to force the College at Sandhurst, positions he held for enemy back from Burgos to Vittoria where 27 years. In 1847, now a Lieutenant- the French army was put in full retreat. With General, he was honoured with the victory secured on 21 June 1813, his troops colonelcy of his old regiment, the 4th seized Joseph Bonaparte’s baggage train and Dragoons. After becoming a full general in discovered a copy of the tables. The code was 1854, he retired from active service, dying at now completely broken. The remnants of the the age of 87 in 1861. Fittingly, he was French forces were pursued back into France buried at Sandhurst in the grounds of the and the Iberian Peninsula was freed from Royal Military College. Napoleon’s yoke. The final battle at Toulouse Sadly he and his wife Mary had no was inconclusive when both sides learned children. However he had a very fruitful that Napoleon had abdicated in Paris. career and aspired to remarkable heights far Throughout the five year Iberian removed from his formative years as an campaign Wellington never lost a single engraver’s apprentice. As the father of secret battle and this achievement can be credited business at the time, George Scovell was the in large measure to George Scovell’s forerunner to the great code breakers of the amazing code breaking and related skills. 20th century. With this acquired knowledge, Wellington judged when to refrain from action and An Australian Twist with utmost patience, he would bide his I would like to finish here by mentioning time and seize a winnable opportunity only two bits of rather useless information that when it presented itself. came up in my research: The final battle to eliminate Napoleon from continental Europe did not occur until Mary and George Scovell were great 1815 at Waterloo. George, who had taken friends with Jane Austen, the famous part in all previous major battles with the novelist. Apparently she attended their

Naval Historical Review June 2017 41 wedding in Manchester and this event is of South Australia in the 1880s. He decided recorded in her novel Mansfield Park. to name one of the wine producing areas One of the battles in the Iberian ‘Barossa Valley’ and the town nearby Peninsula campaign was at Barrosa. Thomas ‘Lyndoch’ in recognition of the battle and Graham (later Lord Lynedoch) led a British- his former commander. Spelling was Portuguese division that routed a French obviously not his strong point. force twice its strength during a bid to lift Both names were incorrectly spelt and the siege of Cadiz. (Cadiz was the port from in posterity they have remained as such! which the combined French and Spanish There is a museum in Lyndoch which fleets sailed to meet Lord Nelson at the displays items of historical military famous Battle of Trafalgar.) A junior memorabilia covering that period in officer at the Battle of Barrosa was William history. Light who later became Surveyor-General

Book Reviews HMAS Sydney II in Peace and War. By Wes Olson, Privately published at Hilton, WA in 2016, of 610 pages with maps and photographs. Available direct from the author at email: [email protected]. Price $60.00 plus postage.

Aside from wartime publications such as Grey Gladiator of 1941, books dedicated to the most famous of Australian warships, HMAS Sydney II, have predominately focused upon the contentious circumstances of her loss. Author Wes Olson arguably produced the genre’s most convincing work in Bitter Victory (2000). Olson’s hypothesis, that a ‘line of best fit’ could be drawn through German eye-witness evidence to explain Sydney’s defeat, was a refreshing approach and one largely vindicated by the examination of her wreck in 2008. Until now, Australian naval history has lacked a full account focusing on Sydney’s achievements and wider experience of the pre-war and early wartime navy. Olson’s HMAS Sydney II in Peace and War achieves a written and accurate as well as profusely history easily accessible to the general reader illustrated with photographs; many of them as well as concise enough to appeal to the published for the first time. Photos of enthusiast and professional alike. Bartolomeo Colleoni, at full power and laying a The 600 pages of the book are both well smoke screen as salvos from Sydney fall

42 Naval Historical Review June 2017 around her, are particularly noteworthy. The HMAS Sydney II in Peace and War is a narrative flows well and contains just concise and wide-ranging history likely to enough ‘scene-setting’ information to place become the preeminent general reference the political climate, as well as the operations work covering the ship’s service career and, the RAN was involved in, in context for as far as this context is concerned, is unlikely 21st century readers unfamiliar with Second to be surpassed. World War history. The book is not written in the style of Reviewed by the recent crop of popular histories focusing Chief Petty Officer Peter Cannon upon the human experience of men at war and the families they left behind. The focus HMAS Canberra - Casualty of is firmly upon the ship although judicious Circumstance. By Kathryn Spurling, use of diary entries has contributed towards Publishers New Holland, Sydney, 2016. this end. The level of detail, both in the Paperback, 255 pp with b & w illustrations, operational handling of the ship as well as maps and portraits. Available most technical areas such as describing Sydney’s bookshops from $33.00 with discounts gunnery team in action, speak to a available. meticulous standard of research. Olson’s inclusion and exploration of more mundane The author served in the WRANS then activities adequately qualifies this work as a devoted her career to history. For 15 years balanced appreciation of Sydney’s career. It she was on the staff of ADFA and she has also serves to impress upon the reader the published histories of HMAS Perth I and true nature of active service at sea as well as Bomber Command during World War II. what it took to maintain a ship’s This book covers the story of the County effectiveness as a weapon system; namely Class cruiser HMAS Canberra, from building drill, drill and more drill. in 1928, commissioning, service during the Olson’s handling of Captain Burnett’s financially constrained years of the Great performance in command of Sydney provides Depression and preparation for operational considerable insight into the commanding service from 1939. The Washington Treaty officer’s appreciation of the evolving nature of 1922 sought to prevent another arms race of the war at sea. Despite the limited tools at among the major navies by limiting naval the disposal of historians, the consideration construction. To wriggle within constraints of Burnett as a professional naval officer, of the treaty the County class cruisers were whilst pulling no punches, is a well-balanced built without 100 mm of armour plating, a assessment that also offers a potential common feature of heavy cruisers of the solution to the crucial question of his day. As the dark clouds preceding World culpability in losing his ship. War II gathered, armour plating was added Whilst Sydney’s final action is well to HMAS Australia, but not Canberra. All described, anyone looking for an in-depth three services were drastically reduced technical analysis should direct themselves during the 1930s and the RAN was diluted to the easily accessible Cole Report of 2009. to 3200 officers and men to retain two heavy Similarly, there is no mention of the decades cruisers and two destroyers in commission. of controversy and conspiracy theories; an During those years Canberra was limited to area this reviewer believes would have home waters, showing the flag and training detracted from the book’s primary aim. ordinary seamen emerging from Recruit

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of class related attitudes are also mentioned when covering senior officers lent from the RN during the 1920s and 1930s. Following the declaration of war in 1939, Canberra’s Engineer Officer, Commander (E) ‘Spanner’ McMahon, made numerous appeals to his superiors to highlight inadequate maintenance and modifications. He warned of the reduced levels of skill and experience arising from rushed training and erratic drafting policies. The outbreak of war saw Canberra involved in convoy duties, a role that irked her ship’s company as they followed the active involvement of their colleagues in the Mediterranean. Her only action prior August 1942 was to force the scuttling of two German support ships in the Indian Ocean. Following Pearl Harbor and the invasion of Malaya and the Philippines, the military might of Japan continued unabated. By early May 1942 the Japanese were established at Rabaul and had landed in Tulagi in the School at Flinders Naval Depot. Examples Solomon Islands to strengthen their plans to of a lackadaisical navy have been taken from continue on to Port Moresby. Although the journals, letters and interviews. Unrest on battle of the Coral Sea interrupted Japan’s the lower deck was aggravated by reduced plans for Port Moresby, the Solomons had rates of pay, poor food and personnel to be secured to stem the tide. The first policies the author relates to the Naval amphibious operation by Allied forces in the Board’s strict adherence to attitudes in the Pacific was planned in mid-July to achieve RN that had failed to keep pace with a this goal. A force of 48 warships and 27 changing society. All impacted on the transports formed to land US Marines at operational effectiveness of the navy. There Guadalcanal. Canberra and HMA Ships are many references to aspects of junior Australia and Hobart formed part of this task officers’ training which required them to force. The landing of the Marines was lightly spend many years serving in ships and opposed, then followed by an air strike from training establishments of the RN, implying Rabaul that was repelled. A Japanese fleet of that this moulded their attitudes more cruisers and destroyers sailed from Rabaul closely to the stratifications of British and was able to attack part of the Allied society, thus creating officers who did not force without warning. Poor intelligence, suit the mores of the less stratified society poor communications between American from which Australia’s ratings were and Australian ships, delayed and unheeded recruited. Ratings that had transferred from information from RAAF patrols and coast the RN were preferred to men who had watchers resulted in Canberra coming under been recruited and trained locally. Aspects heavy fire during the middle watch of

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9 August. Canberra took 29 shells within two presence of enemy aircraft, poor minutes. The boiler room fans were communications and intelligence and that destroyed leaving the ship without steam the US carrier force had withdrawn at a and electrical power. Two hours later USS critical time. Rear Admiral Muirhead-Gould Patterson came alongside to assist with in Sydney greeted survivors with ‘You firefighting and rescue of ship’s company. should be ashamed, losing your ship without Subsequently USS Chicago opened fire before firing a shot.’ His board was made aware of realising she had a friendly target. The the poor preparedness of Canberra through Japanese sank four cruisers and severely lack of modernisation, limited maintenance, damaged one cruiser and two destroyers rushed training and turbulence in changes to with a heavy loss of life, whilst losing just 53 ship’s company. The board members of their own men. The press in Australia seemed unable to comprehend the situation attempted to present the disaster in in a ship that was without power, on fire and favourable terms; however Commander listing with a tenth of her company dead. Walsh, XO of Canberra, admitted the Allies The author closes with ‘Eighty-four men had grossly underestimated the Japanese onboard HMAS Canberra died. They and the who had proved to be an efficient and families they left behind were casualties of daring fighting force. circumstances beyond their control.’ Controversy followed as various This book gives an extensive coverage of authorities ducked for cover and Americans the RAN during the Great Depression and wanted to know why an English Admiral how our Navy was left ill-prepared for the (Crutchley) had commanded ships of the conflict ahead. In general it is a well USN. Both the USN and the RAN prepared naval history which encompasses conducted boards of inquiry. Admiral much more than the history of a single ship. Hepburn, USN concluded that there was inadequate preparedness for night attack, Reviewed by J.W. Ellis failure to recognise the implications of the

Letters to the Editor

Climate Change After some lengthy exchanges John Wells scientific research must be open to full peer- seeks one last word: review—a point lost on Flakelar even I wish to thank the Editor for giving me though he attempted to ridicule the scientific the opportunity for ‘right of reply’ to David code. In his rebuttal, his true colours were F. Flakelar's rebuttal of my recent article. hoisted when he referred in a dismissive His rebuttal, which includes a wad of the manner, to ‘right wing think tanks’. This is a predictable ‘Dr Google’ footnotes including common tactic used not only as an attempt the ‘Sir Humphry’ factor, has not convinced to marginalise opinion, but also to further me to adopt an alternate view—far from it. ideological polarisation. Since he has now The strident language he used is regretful; raised ideology, as evidenced also by many ‘dangerous’ to whom? what nonsense. I of his sources, and noting his article gave make the point again that science is not credence to future climate wars, then I about consensus and more importantly, believe perspective is needed. Now, the Left

Naval Historical Review June 2017 45 might not like hearing this, but it was of 13 days as an ORD QMG in Supply under national socialism (Herr Hitler with his command of Captain, later Rear Admiral, antecedents in the German Workers' Party Murray. It was my first sea time. Supply was a which he later rebadged to the National very hardworking ship with RAS transfers Socialist Workers’ Party of Germany) and and exercises at frequent intervals both day communism (Stalin’s Union of the Soviet and night. It was the hardest physical work I Socialist Republic and their satellites abroad) had ever done, or have since done. Sleep that have led to the greatest loss of life in deprivation was also a new and our planet's recent history. Significantly, discomforting experience. Hitler reneged on the non-aggression pact I don’t recall when news of the change of he signed with Stalin when he attacked ensign passed through the ship. However, I Russia in 1941. Today, we live in an do remember that on 01 March 1967 all uncertain world where national socialism (in hands were formally ‘fallen in’ on the all of its forms) and communism will quarterdeck to witness the change-over. continue to challenge us more so than the Mr Rivett’s article states that apart from ‘sabre rattling’ over carbon dioxide (i.e. plant HMAS Boonaroo, RAN ships had previously food and photosynthesis, vital for the earth’s raised the new ensign at morning colours. health). Nevertheless, I respect Flakelar's This does not accord with my recollection of right to voice his opinion in our modern what occurred in Supply. My recollection is democracy—freedom of expression, a that in the one event the Royal Ensign was concept difficult for the Left to grasp, in the lowered and the Royal Australian Ensign most Orwellian of terms. God willing, I raised immediately afterwards. hope that I live long enough to witness the Even though the event occurred 50 years continued ‘march of folly’ by the ‘climate ago I have good reason to remember seeing change industry’. the lowering of the Royal Ensign and some evidence of this. By Editor: It is of note we have had I was observing the slow lowering of the another recent letter on this topic by one of Royal Ensign, which included detaching it, our members who resides in Chile. He folding it and passing it to a nearby rating, congratulates us for publishing this article as the ship’s PHOT. I saw him put it in a it is also a vital subject in his country where bucket. I kept my eye on the bucket until the they are living through similar difficulties ceremony was concluded, and I followed the attributed to climate change. PHOT as he left the quarterdeck with the bucket in hand. I caught up with him and asked something like this: Who Took the Flag – QC Owns Up Where are you leaving the Ensign?

To the paint store for old rags. Dear Editor, I read with interest Fifty Years under the I followed him to the paint store. As he was Australian White Ensign by Norman Rivett about to go inside I enquired: (Naval Historical Review Vol. 38 No 1 Would you mind putting the bucket down and March 2017). I have a story of my own to turning your back? tell about the change-over of the ensign on 01 March 1967 in HMAS Supply. He looked at me quizzically, winked and On 20 February 1967 I commenced my then turned his back and put the bucket RANR Annual Continuous Training (ACT) down whereupon I made away with the

46 Naval Historical Review June 2017 ensign. This was not a theft of some ‘rags bonus for me, a university student whose old’, rather it was an act of preservation of scholarship provided no living allowance! heritage material. I still have the ensign and I guess that it Yours faithfully could be redesignated from ‘rags old’ to something more appropriate. It is still in David M Quick, RFD, QC, RANR, Rtd good condition (or better put, in the same condition as when I rescued it). It has hung Editor: We responded as follows: in my study for at least the last 10 years and Thank you for your very interesting letter has occasionally been flicked with a duster. I regarding your involvement in this think that the Naval Historical Society important historic event when serving in would be a good custodian and would gladly HMAS Supply fifty years past. entrust it to whomsoever the Society With the initiative displayed as a young nominates. Ordinary Seaman in procuring and saving I also recall that for the occasion of valuable artefacts it is little wonder that you adopting the new ensign, the order went found almost instant promotion and further round the fleet: ‘Splice the Mainbrace’. This satisfaction in an eminent legal career. resulted, in Supply, all hands being issued a We would be interested in knowing at free large (jumbo) can of Foster’s lager. about what time on 01 March 1967 that the An interesting facet of my time in Supply ceremony of changing ensigns occurred in was that three days into my 13 day ACT, HMAS Supply and, where the ship was on unbeknown to me I was commissioned as this occasion. an Acting Sub-Lieutenant (on probation). I We should naturally be delighted if you learned of this on my return to my home in wish to entrust us with further custody of Adelaide. Although the event didn’t attract the fifty- year-old ensign. We shall liaise with any change in my ACT it was noticed by the our next-door colleagues at the Naval Pay Office. Sometime later my pay came Heritage Centre who may have suitable ideas through and I was paid as an Acting SBLT on how best to display this valuable ensign. for 10 of the 13 day ACT. This was quite a

HDML 1321 Steve Youll from Canberra writes: Apropos your HDML 1321 article in the March Review, attached is a sketch I did of her as a 16 year old in October 1958, sitting on the wharf in Rushcutter waiting for my RANC Interview Board. Editor: We have responded thanking Steve for his interest and fine draftsmanship.