On This Day » Naval Historical Society


On This Day - 20 June

1814
HMS NELSON, later HMVS NELSON, was launched on the River Thames, London.
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.
1925
The, surveying vessel, HMAS MORESBY, (CAPT J. Edgell, RN), a former 24 class convoy sloop HMS SILVIO, was commissioned at Sydney. MORESBY was laid down in Barclay, Curle & Co., Scotstoun, Glasgow, in 1917, and launched in 1918. After WWII she was layed-up in 1924-1925, refitted in Pembroke Dockyard, South Wales as a surveying vessel.
1944
HMAS MATAFELE was sunk. 4 officers, 20 ratings, and 13 native crew lost their lives. ADML Crutchley, USN, was appointed Officer in Tactical Command of a force of Australian and United States cruisers in the Philippines.
1984
Training ship HMAS JERVIS BAY, (CMDR J. Scott, RAN), rescued five survivors from the sinking yacht SHALOM, in heavy seas off Port Macquarie, NSW.
Credit:
'On This Day' is based on the book "Navy Day by Day: Historic Naval Events in Australia and Abroad" written by the late Lew Lind. More information.

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