On this day:
1919-1938 > Depresssion and between the wars
There are 198 entries in this era
- 08 Jan 1919
HMA Ships PARRAMATTA and HUON, (torpedo boat destroyers), were damaged in a gale off Cape Finisterre and put into the Spanish port of Ferrol for repairs.
The Admiralty presented six J class submarines to the RAN as a gift.
- 14 Jan 1919
HMAS FANTOME, (survey ship), resumed survey duties after WW1.
- 09 Feb 1919
HMS VENDETTA, later HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), engaged Bolshevik ground troops with gunfire at Windau in the Baltic to relieve Red Army pressure on the Lettish Army.
- 11 Mar 1919
HMAS PLATYPUS was commissioned as a submarine depot ship, and HMAS KURUMBA as oiler for the flotilla of “J” class submarines presented to the RAN as a gift by the British Admiralty.
- 13 Mar 1919
The depot and repair ship HMAS PLATYPUS, (CMDR E. C. Boyle, VC, RN), was commissioned. PLATYPUS, (ex-PENGUIN, ex-PLATYPUS), was laid down in John Brown Yard, at Clydebank, Scotland, on 14 October 1914, and launched on 28 October 1916. As both of the RAN’s submarines, (AE1 and AE2), were lost, PLATYPUS remained in service with the RN for the duration of WWI.
- 15 Mar 1919
The J class submarines J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J7, were gifted to the RAN. All were built in the UK under the Emergency War Programme with J1 and J2 being built in Portsmouth Dockyard, J3 and J4, in Pembroke Dockyard, South Wales, and J5 and J7, in Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth. They sailed on 9 April 1919 with HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine depot ship), for Australia, arriving on 10 July 1919 in Sydney.
- 21 Mar 1919
HM Ships ANZAC, TATTOO, SWORDSMAN, SUCCESS, TASMANIA, and STALWART were transferred to the RAN. The S class destroyers were replacements for the six torpedo boat destroyers used during the World War I.
- 22 Mar 1919
CDRE John Saumarez Dumaresq, CB, CVO, MVO, RN, was appointed Commodore Commanding Australian Naval Squadron, and hoisted his flag in the cruiser HMAS MELBOURNE. Although a RN officer he had been born in Sydney in 1873, and later joined the Royal Navy as a cadet midshipman.
- 25 Mar 1919
Britain’s gift submarines to the RAN, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6 and J7, were commissioned into the RAN. The Flotilla Commander was CMDR E. C. Boyle, VC, RN.
- 09 Apr 1919
HMAS SYDNEY, five J class submarines, and the submarine depot ship HMAS PLATYPUS, departed England for Australia. The submarines had been gifted to the RAN by the British Admiralty, but their service was to be brief. Upon arrival in Australia the submarines required major refits, and all had been disposed of by the mid 1920’s.
- 10 Apr 1919
HMAS BILOELA, (fleet collier), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
HMA Submarine J5, (LEUT J. R. Peirson, RN), collided with the French sailing ship TERRENEUVIEN YOLANDE, south of Portsmouth, England. The Australian Government later paid £4922 in compensation to the French owners.
- 22 Apr 1919
The Prince of Wales and ADML Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, (First Sea Lord), inspected HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), at Portsmouth.
- 23 Apr 1919
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), sailed for Australia from Portsmouth, England, after a farewell inspection by the Prince of Wales and the First Sea Lord, ADML Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, RN.
- 28 May 1919
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), arrived in Fremantle, WA, from Portsmouth, England.
- 01 Jun 1919
The ‘HMAS AUSTRALIA Mutiny’ occurred on the battle-cruiser while berthed at Fremantle. AUSTRALIA had returned to Fremantle on 28 May, after an absence of over four and half years from Australia. The ship spent four days alongside, and when she was due to depart about 80 ratings gathered on the quarterdeck and requested that the ship stay longer in port, in order to entertain civilian friends and repay their generous hospitality. The Commanding Officer, CAPT C. Cumberlege, RN, advised that this was not possible, and directed the men to disperse, which they did. However, when Cumberlege tried to take the ship to sea the stokers walked out of the boiler room. A scratch crew managed to get the ship to sea, and Cumberlege ordered the arrest of five sailors considered to be ringleaders in the ‘Mutiny’. The ensuing courts martial, on board HMAS ENCOUNTER in Sydney Harbour, up to 2 year prison sentences, and intervention by the Australian Government, were to have a dramatic and long lasting effect upon the RAN.
- 02 Jun 1919
HM destroyers Voyager (later HMAS) and Vivacious attacked the Russian Bolshevik destroyers Azard and Gavril at the entrance to Petrograd Bay.
- 03 Jun 1919
The first AFC was awarded to Flight Lieutenant A. Frauenfelder of No. 2 Flying School. Frauenfelder was an Australian serving with the RNAS, and trained pilots in aerial combat tactics.
- 04 Jun 1919
The British Government offered Australia 100 aircraft as a gift, to establish an Air Force and a RAN Air Service. The gift was not accepted at this time, however, when the Royal Australian Air Force, (RAAF), was formed in March 1921, many of its aircraft were gifts from Britain.
- 08 Jun 1919
HMA Ships GERANIUM, MARGUERITE, and MALLOW, (sloops), arrived in Australia. The ships were transferred from the RN.
- 15 Jun 1919
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), returned home after four years service in WWI.
- 19 Jun 1919
CAPT H. P. Cayley, RN, led a landing party from HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), to put down a civil disturbance in Penang.
- 20 Jun 1919
SBLT F. L. Larkins, RAN, was washed overboard and drowned from HMA Submarine J2, in the Karimata Strait, (between Borneo and Sumatra), while the vessel was returning to Australia. Larkins was one of the original entry to the RAN College in 1913.
- 23 Jun 1919
HMAS SUVA, (special service vessel), was commissioned for the visit of Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe, to the Australia Station and Pacific Islands. The ship was paid off on 12 August, and returned to her owners.
- 12 Aug 1919
Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe, reported to the Admiralty on Australian naval defence:- ‘One of the earliest requirements of the Commonwealth is the acquisition on loan of an aircraft carrier’.
- 08 Sep 1919
HMA Ships MAEGUERITE, GERANIUM, and MALLOW, (sloops), swept for wartime mines off Cape Everard, VIC. One mine was swept and destroyed
- 10 Oct 1919
The Treaty of Versailles is signed and formally ends WWI.
- 19 Oct 1919
The Australian Naval Board approved the inclusion of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ in the repertoire of RAN bands.
- 21 Oct 1919
Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe, presented his report on the future development of the RAN, to the Australian Government.
- 06 Nov 1919
RADM P. E. F. P. Grant, First Naval Member, tendered his resignation. His resignation was in protest to the Australian Government demanding the Admiralty release five sailors gaoled for participation in a mutiny aboard HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), at Fremantle, WA. Nine days later the Commodore Commanding His Majesty’s Australian Squadron, (CDRE J. S. Dumaresq), joined the Admiral. The Government stood firm on its demand, and the sailors were released on 20 December. Both officers withdrew their resignations on 13 February, after receiving conciliatory letters from the Prime Minister, Mr. W. M. Hughes.
- 10 Dec 1919
HMAS SYDNEY, (light cruiser), patrolled the Timor Sea as beacon ship for Ross and Keith Smith’s flight from England to Australia.
The aviators recorded the cruiser was sighted exactly on station.
- 20 Dec 1919
After an exchange of messages between the Australian Government and the British Admiralty, it was announced that the balance of the sentences, handed down as a result of the mutiny on 1 June 1919 on board HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), would be remitted.
This action led to the two most senior officers in the RAN, RADM Sir Edmund Grant, (First Naval Member of the Naval Board), and CDRE Dumaresq, (Commander of the Fleet), tendering their resignations.
Both officers withdrew their resignations and the matter ended there.
- 14 Jan 1920
The Australian Government constituted a temporary Air Board to advise the Minister for Defence on military aviation. Two naval officers were members of the Board.
- 27 Jan 1920
The Marksman class destroyer, (flotilla leader), HMAS ANZAC, (CMDR S. H. Simpson, RN), was commissioned. ANZAC was laid down in Denny Bros. Yard, UK, on 11 January 1917. In 1919 ANZAC was gifted to the RAN along with five S class destroyers.
The S class destroyer, HMAS TASMANIA, (LCDR H. O. Joyce, RN), was commissioned. TASMANIA was laid down in William Breadmore Yard on 23 November 1918.
The S class destroyer, HMAS TATTOO, (LCDR A. M. Roberts, DSO, RN), was commissioned. TATTOO was laid down in William Breadmore Yard, UK, on 21 December 1918.
The S class destroyer, HMAS SWORDSMAN, (LCDR C. E. Hughes-White, DSC, RN), was commissioned. SWORDSMAN was laid down in Scotts Yard, UK, on 28 December 1918.
The S class destroyer, HMAS SUCCESS, (LEUT O. R. Wace, RN), was commissioned. SUCCESS was laid down in Doxford Yard, UK, on 29 June 1918.
The S class destroyer, HMAS STALWART, was commissioned. STALWART was laid down in Swan Hunter Yard, UK, on 23 October 1918.
- 28 Jan 1920
The S class destroyer, HMAS TASMANIA, (LCDR H. O. Joyce, RN), was commissioned. TASMANIA was laid down in William Breadmore Yard, UK, on 23 November 1918.
- 07 Feb 1920
Major S. J. Goble, the RAN’s representative on the Commonwealth Air Board, recommended the adoption of Admiral Jellicoe’s proposals for an Australian Naval Air Service. The proposals allowed for one squadron of ship-borne seaplanes, a squadron of fighters, a squadron of torpedo bombers and 11.5 squadrons of flying boats.
- 19 Feb 1920
HMAS SLEUTH, (patrol vessel), was sold out of service and renamed AURORA.
- 25 Feb 1920
Navy Order 27 introduced an Australian code of discipline to the RAN. The order was issued as a consequence of the inquiry into a mutiny in HMAS AUSTRALIA in 1919.
- 03 May 1920
The RAN reached its highest peacetime strength. Metric Main SpeedShips Class Tonnage Armament (knots)AUSTRALIA Battle cruiser 19,507 30.5cm 25 SYDNEY Light cruiser 5486 15.2cm 25.5 MELBOURNE Light cruiser 5486 15.2cm 25.5 BRISBANE Light cruiser 5486 15.2cm 25.5 ENCOUNTER Light cruiser 5894 15.2cm 20 PIONEER Cruiser 2235 10.2 cm 20.5 PROTECTOR Gunboat 934 15.2cm 14 ANZAC Flotilla leader 1331 10.2cm 34 TASMANIA Destroyer 1092 10.2 cm 36 SWORDSMAN Destroyer 1092 10.2cm 36 SUCCESS Destroyer 1092 10.2cm 36 STALWART Destroyer 1092 10.2cm 36 TATTOO Destroyer 1092 10.2cm 36 PARRAMATTA Destroyer 711 10.2cm 26 YARRA Destroyer 711 10.2cm 26 WARREGO Destroyer 711 10.2cm 26 TORRENS Destroyer 711 10.2cm 26 HUON Destroyer 711 10.2cm 26 SWAN Destroyer 711 10.2cm 26 MALLOW Sloop 1219 5.5kg 16.5 MARGUERITE Sloop 1269 10.2cm 16.5 . GERANIUM Sloop 1269 10.2cm 16.5 FANTOME Gunboat 1087 1.4kg 13 COUNTESS OF HOPETOWN Torpedo boat 76 - -PLATYPUS Submarine depot ship 3531 11.9cm 15.5 UNA (ex KOMET) Sloop 1460 10.2 cm 16 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 Submarines 1848 10.2cm gun 19 surface 45.7cm tubes 9.5 submergedAuxiliaries CERBERUS Coast defence 3220 25.4 cm 9 PENGUIN Depot ship 1147 4572 kg 11 TINGIRA (ex-SOBRAON) Training ship 2165 KURUMBA Oiler 4041 - 12FRANKLIN Yacht - - 12.5Under Construction ADELAIDE Light cruiser 5181 15.2cm 25.5 BILOELA Collier 5684 10.2cm 11
- 24 Jun 1920
HMS STUART, (destroyer), operated with the British Fleet deployed in the Sea of Marmara, to put down a Turkish rebellion.
- 05 Jul 1920
The fleet collier HMAS BILOELA, was commissioned. BILOELA was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, 21 October 1918, and launched on 10 April 1919.