On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- October 7, 1942
The first Australian-built Fairmile motor launch, ML 813, was launched at Lars Halvorsen Yard, Sydney.
- October 5, 1942
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS MARY CAM, was commissioned. MARY CAM, (as JOHN FISSER), was laid down in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1918. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, Cam & Sons Pty Ltd, Sydney, (who renamed her MARY CAM), on 5 October 1942.
- October 3, 1942
RAN rates of pay were increased. They were:- Able Seaman, 8s 6d per day;Chief Petty Officer, 12s 6d per day; Midshipman, 7s 6d per day; Sub-Lieutenant, 12s 6d per day; Lieutenant £1 per day; Lieutenant Commander, £1 11s 6d per day; Commander, £2 1s 6d per day; Captain, £3 1s 6d per day; Rear Admiral, £5 1s 6d per day.
- October 1, 1942
Foundation date of WRANS. First 14 girls were sworn into the Navy as enlisted personnel with enlisted status.
RANNS established with 23 qualified nursing sisters in RAN hospitals and Miss Annie Ina Laidlaw was appointed superintending sister, with the equivalent rank of lieutenant commander.
- September 30, 1942
A Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMAS CANBERRA delivered its report to the Australian Government. It found CANBERRA was not in a state of readiness when attacked by Japanese ADML Chokai’s cruisers. HMS QUICKMATCH was completed at J. Samuel White’s Yard, UK. QUICKMATCH was transferred to the RAN in 1945.
- September 29, 1942
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and aircraft, participating in Operation Stream-Line-Jane, intercepted the Vichy French ship AMIRAL PIERRE, off Lourenco Marques The vessel was scuttled on 30 September.
- September 28, 1942
Coastwatcher LEUT W.J. Read, RANVR, signalled from Buka Passage:- “A ship, which may be a cruiser and probably another, entered Kessa 1 pm, believe from the north. Heavy destroyer and light cruiser, derrick on stern, just entered Buka Passage. Unusual air activity today, nine fighters landed drome. Believe about 20 fighters and bombers now here. First mentioned ship now leaving Kessa, believe may come this way”.
The anti-submarine escort vessel HMAS ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN, (LEUT A.I. Chapman, RANR), was commissioned. ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN was laid down in Werf Gusto, Schiedam, Holland, for the Royal Netherlands Navy, and launched on 22 September 1936, completed in 1937. She had escaped to Australia and arrived at Fremantle on 20 March 1942. She was the last vessel to successfully escape from Java
- September 27, 1942
HMA Ships WARRNAMBOOL, and KALGOORLIE, (corvettes), arrived back in Darwin, NT, after rescuing the ship’s company of HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), from Betano Bay. Some were wounded, but not a man was lost.
- September 24, 1942
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), captured the French Vichy vessel MARECHAL GALLIENI in the Mozambique Channel. LEUT V. Cohen, RANVR, sailed the ship as a prize to Durban.
- September 23, 1942
HMAS STUART re-embarked the Australian 2/10th Battalion, and eight Japanese POWs, from Normanby Island. The prisoners were survivors of the Japanese destroyer YAYOI, sunk off the island by American bombers on 11 September.
The destroyer HMAS VOYAGER, (LCDR R. C. Robison, RAN), ran aground at Betano Bay, Timor, while attempting the relief of the Australian Commandos of Sparrow Force. Despite attempts to free VOYAGER, Robison found the pounding sea had built up a sand bar between the vessel and open water, and she could not be freed without assistance, which was not available. The next day demolition charges were placed under her keel and exploded to prevent her falling into enemy hands.