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Letter: HDML 1321 Update

Dear Walter

I have been following your articles and updates on 1321 with interest, and think you may have a use for this informative paper cutting, recently uncovered in one of my old books. I believe it is 1321 during her ‘transformation’ from a Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) to HMAS Rushcutter.

She is shown being moved from the small boat hardstand, which was located on the northwest dockside (now West Dock Wall) to the harbour. This picture is taken from the SMH dated 16 September 1955.

HDML1321 would have had repairs to her ‘woodwork’ undertaken up the river at Woodley’s or similar yard, whilst GID would complete the shafting, props, engines etc., which would have been removed prior to transit.

Best regards

Leyland Wilkinson

Grafton, NSW

By Editor: See NHR March 2017 for further details regarding HDML 1321. It appears that at least two HDMLs were refitted in Sydney in the early 1950s. HDML 1325which transited to Darwin becoming a tender to HMAS Melville in 1953 and HDML 1321which subsequently was transferred to the RANR as a training vessel in 1956.

The fully loaded weight of an HDML was about 60 tons therefore when the crane lift was made at GID the vessel without stores and machinery would have been considerably lighter.

Suspended from a crane, a 65-ton harbour defence motor launch makes a 100-yard airborne trip for refloating at Garden Island yesterday. The launch was stripped at Garden Island and will be refitted at another dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy.

 

Letter: The Kangaroo Symbol on HMA Ships

The picture of the commissioning of HMAS Hobart on the front cover of the December 2017 edition of the Naval Historical Review – particularly that of the red kangaroo symbol affixed to the superstructure – has prompted me to write with a possible explanation of how and when this symbol originated.

Early in 1958, and just prior to a nine month tour of duty with the Far East Strategic Reserve, a Leading Signalman in HMAS Voyager took an Australian penny over to a workshop on Garden Island Dockyard in Sydney and asked his contacts there if a template of a kangaroo could be cut based on the design on the coin.

At that time HMA Ships at sea flew the British White Ensign and carried no other symbols which identified them as Australian. To rectify this – particularly when carrying out RAS with United Navy vessels – the Leading Signalman came up with the idea (supported I believe by the Yeoman of Signals) that a discrete red kangaroo be painted on the back of the 10 inch signal lamps on both sides of the flag deck. These lamps could then be turned around during RAS with our American cousins to show the jumping marsupial – so declaring, to all who saw it, that we were Australians.

It worked a treat and Voyager found within a short time other HMA Ships adopted the practice – some even wanting to borrow our template to paint the back of their signal lamps. When later asked what prompted him to think of this the Leading Signalman, a WW11 veteran (like many of the senior ratings at the time) said:  “He wanted to make sure the first Australian Daring class destroyer to be allotted duty in the FESR carried something that clearly identified her as Australian and the kangaroo design on the penny fitted the bill.”

I played a very modest part in all of this because at the time I was an Ordinary Signalman serving in my first sea draft and, along with other duties assigned, mostly of a manual nature, I was responsible for drawing the paint from the ship’s paint locker and painting the kangaroos!

Gavin Ryan  – Perth, WA

By Editor: In checking our archives our archives the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Headmarkdated December 2013 contains a story on the First Red Roo. In summary this says in the 1950s the RAN converted four of its five Q-class destroyers to Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigates. HMAS Queenboroughcompleted her conversion in 1954 and the following year undertook a global circumnavigation.

While in British waters she operated with an RN squadron which used the Red Hand of Ulster as a funnel emblem. To retain a visible Australian identity, Queenboroughalso displayed her own red kangaroo. This remains the first known use of the red kangaroo on the funnel of an HMA Ship. By the 1980s the insignia had been adopted across the RAN’s major surface fleet.

ML 802 in New Guinea 1945 – AWM

Looking back even further a photograph is found in the AWM collection (078677) of Able Seaman John Conway keeping watch aboard ML 802 during amphibious operations off New Guinea dated 28 January 1945. Fairmiles were known for their harsh living conditions which resulted in a degree of latitude being given to the dress and appearance of both men and boats. In this instance in the background a solid kangaroo motif (colour unknown) is attached to the vessel. The mystery continues.

 

 

Letter: HMAS Patricia Cam families visit

The following email was recently received addressed to the President of the Naval Historical Society and your Editor from Michael Owen a Darwin based historian who operates Top End Heritage Services. It provides some background to the behind the scenes activities provided by your Society, including a visit of 32 Pat Cam family relatives, which are not necessary apparent to our members.

Walter & David – a note to express gratitude for the wonderful trip around the historic naval sites of Sydney Harbour. All the families were deeply touched by the respect and recognition so generously afforded them by the Navy and the Naval Historical Society. I’m sure that many of the sea-going descendants will follow up the plaques in the chapel opportunity and contribute to the excellent work being done by your Society to preserve & celebrate the nation’s history.

The descendants believed that the Pat Cam affair had been swept under the carpet and forgotten by the Navy – somewhat akin to being rejected by your parents – with the unresolved grief getting amplified by the next generation to cast themselves down as powerless to avenge the perceived wrongs. This self-sustaining notion of isolation & helplessness makes it difficult for them to separate the events into their respective contexts of war & peace – Navy & Defence Department. The concrete realism of being ferried across the stream to the old fort and fading graffiti then ushered through the Garden Island Gates into the modern naval dockyard worked like a charm – they now feel their forebears have been recognised as rightfully belonging amongst the nation’s great naval tradition. The Pat Cam cap tally at Spectacle Island did the trick – not necessarily pride of place but a place nevertheless.

For me, Spectacle Island was the highlight of the weekend – the relics invite one into their company to hear their stories. Not as a bowed & shuffling pallbearer for the past but a participant in the on-going maritime community. From Nelson’s fleet orders at Cape Trafalgar to the piece of clay pipe dropped by the lads having a crafty smoke behind the powder magazine – it is a living tradition.

The Last Post was an essential part of the recognition process but the place is cold & funereal – more Mausoleum then Museum – needs a few warm cannon to brighten it up a bit. Maybe there would be a bit more humanity in Canberra if Lake Burley Griffin was salt water.

 

Kind Regards

Mike
Michael B. Owen

Letter: HMAS Arunta and Operation Hamburger

Dear Editor

The December 2017 edition of the NHR contains an article on the evacuation of Lancer Force from Timor by HMAS Arunta in January 1943. As my father was CO of Lancer Force I have a little further information which may be relevant.

Dili airport received an abnormal amount of rain in the days leading up to the evacuation. Japanese planes parked adjacent to the strip could not be moved because of the muddy conditions. If they had been airborne I doubt if the evacuation would have been the great success it undoubtedly was. This is further backed up by remarks made by SBLT John Leggoe, RANVR who was First Lieutenant of HMAS Patricia Cam then working out of Darwin. Before Arunta departed for Timor the CO of Patricia Cam, Lieutenant Sandy Meldrum, RANR(S), because of his local knowledge of these waters was temporarily seconded to assist in the navigation of Arunta for the beach landing.

Iris Nesdale in her book “Action Stations – Tribal Destroyers of the RAN” on page 18 contains a summary of a conversation with John Leggoe made some years after the incident in which he says: The Commandos knew that the Japanese had torpedo bombers lined up at Dilli, the monsoonal rains had been exceptionally heavy and Arunta did get away before dawn. The bombers were hopelessly bogged, which was just as well. The rescue operation could have ended disastrously.

Regards, Jim Walker

Letter: HMAS Platypus

Dear Editor,

The article “HMAS Platypus– a Submarine Naval Base “  in the September 2017 edition of the NHR brought back memories of an earlier problem with the local residents in Neutral Bay. On page 2, it states that: Others [residents] complained that noise from the submarines had already cracked walls, brought down plaster from ceilings and rattled windows.

In February 1955, the navy caused much more disruption to the residents. HMAS Queenboroughwas carrying out acceptance trials having just been converted to a Type 15 A/S frigate and being the first RAN warship to be fitted with the Type 170 sonar and mortar mark 10 combination. The following is a quote from her February 1955 report of proceedings. On Tuesday 15th February calibration of the A/S Mortar Mark 10 [Limbo] took place, consisting of firings from the dolphins at Shell Cove. The residents overlooking the ship were apparently quite alarmed at the noise and shock at the firings.

I was the navigator of Queenborough at the time and can vividly recall the day. My principal memory is of young ladies in flats looking out on Neutral Bay coming out onto their balconies in their nightwear – it was early in the forenoon!

Yours aye

John Smith

 

 

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