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HMAS Huon I

Captain Harry L. Howden OBE, CBE, RAN

Material in this article is from a paper “Portrait of my Father” by Dr Patrick ffyske Howden and is used with Dr Howden’s kind permission.

Captain H L Howden
Captain H L Howden

Captain Harry L. Howden was a great character – “warts and all”. An unusual man of many parts. Such characters were not rare in the navy in the earlier decades of this century, but one has the impression that they no longer flourish in this age of political correctness. A great pity, as they so often showed outstanding leadership and ability, particularly in war.

Such a one was Harry Howden, affectionately nicknamed “Captain Harry” (sometimes “Den”) by his ship’s company in HMAS Hobart I, and still fondly remembered – almost venerated – by those remaining members now in the Hobart Association.

He joined that ship in late August 1939, and the day before the outbreak of hostilities – WW II – sailed from Sydney on what was to be a three-year absence. These were to be his “finest hours” and he and his ship built up an enviable reputation as a most efficient – and lucky – fighting unit.

Captain Harry was born in Wellington, NZ in 1896 and “had a strict though carefree upbringing, with six doting sisters”, holidaying in Furneaux Lodge on Queen Charlotte Sound. He grew to love the sea and was influenced in choosing the navy as a career by a Scottish uncle who was an Admiral in the Royal Navy, and whose sword is now a family heirloom. In WW I he served as a midshipman RNVR in the battleship Benbow and transferred to the young Australian Navy in 1917. His first Australian ship was HMAS Sydney 1 which, at that time, was experimenting with gun-turret launched Sopwith aircraft. This exciting innovation in naval warfare greatly influenced his future views on the use of ship borne aircraft at sea.

“Naval lifestyle bred in young Harry an uncompromising discipline, un-nerving curiosity and enthusiasm, inventiveness, a precision for detail, encyclopaedic knowledge, unorthodoxy, legendary skills, a total duty to King and country, plus total intolerance for incompetence, which often scared me as a kid.”

“He had a short temper, foul mouthed at times, but despite this, he was a thoughtful and kindly person, an interesting host with many friends and a flair for exotic food and liquor. He was a great fun lover and sportsman, always attracting affection, popularity and devotion.

However, to this high-living, religious Presbyterian, ostentatious even foppish philanthropist, the safety, welfare, performance and pleasure of all those under him was top priority. Beer would appear miraculously and morale-boosting relaxation would be granted during a break in some Red Sea operation, or after covering an exhausting amphibious landing. He was not averse to deliberately disobeying orders when he thought it necessary. ”

Harry served in many RAN ships:- Protector, Platypus, Brisbane I, Parramatta 1, Huon, Anzac 1, Tasmania, Australia, Albatross, Canberra I, Yarra II and Adelaide I. He commanded Cerberus (FND) on two occasions.

On one period of loan service with the RN, he was given command of HMS Mantis, a gunboat of the Insect Class, on the Yangtze Kiang in China. In her he led an exciting life and was awarded the OBE when he disguised an armed boat as a sampan and rescued two missionaries and a Roman Catholic Bishop from bandits. He was married to an English girl during this time. Some years later (1937-38) he served in the Naval Intelligence Division in the Admiralty and while in that, appointment became convinced of the inevitability of WWII.

He returned to Australia to command HMAS Yarra for a short period before commissioning HMAS Adelaide in March 1939 after her major refit in which she was converted from coal to oil fuel.

He joined Hobart at the conclusion of Adelaide’s short working up commission and his first war-time tasks were escorting troop convoys to the Middle East.

In April 1940, in anticipation of war with Italy, a Red Sea Force was formed, based on Aden, with Hobart as its first large component.

The ship distinguished itself in assisting the allied troops in Somaliland and, later, Hobart commanded the operation of the withdrawal of those troops from Berbera – 38,000 men!

The RAN’s Destroyers

Surely destroyers are the backbone of our Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-nine destroyers have served in the RAN since Foundation in 1911, from our first destroyers – HMA Ships PARRAMATTA (1), and YARRA (1), of only 700 tons, to our latest DDGs PERTH, HOBART and BRISBANE displacing over 4,500 tons.

River Class

HMAS Parramatta
HMAS Parramatta

Australia’s first destroyers were known as the River Class (I Class in the Royal Navy). The first two, PARRAMATTA and YARRA, were completely built in the UK during 1910/11, with WARREGO 1910/12, built in England, then disassembled and shipped to Australia to be rebuilt in Cockatoo Island Dockyard in NSW (for the ship building experience). The remaining four were completely built in Cockatoo Island Dockyard – WARREGO 1910/11/12, HUON (laid as DERWENT, but renamed HUON so as not to be confused with HMS DERWENT) 1913/15, TORRENS 1913/15 and SWAN 1915/16. They had a displacement of 700 tons, length 250ft, beam 24½ft and a 9ft draught. They carried one 4″ gun forward, 3x 12pdrs, 3×18″ torpedoes in tubes. Speed of 26/27 knots, with a complement of 66 officers and men. The cost of the UK built ships was £81,500, and the Australian built ships £160,000. (How times have changed.)

These ships served in the Mediterranean and the Pacific areas during World War I, and after the War, from 1919 in various duties, and for Naval Reserve training.

Gift Destroyers

In 1919 the RAN received six gift destroyers from the Royal Navy, the first was HMAS ANZAC (1), 1917 to 1933, a Marksman (Destroyer leader) Class destroyer of 1,660 tons, length 325ft, beam 31½ft, draught 12½ft, with three funnels. Her armament was 4×4″ guns, 2x12pdrs, 4×21″ torpedoes. She had a speed of 34 knots from her triple screws, with a complement of 122 officers and ratings. ANZAC transferred to the RAN, leaving Plymouth (England) in February 1920 and sailed to Sydney, arriving there on 29 April. There was little to do after the War (Great War), and she spent her time on the Australian east coast, though she visited New Guinea and New Britain in 1924, 1926 and 1930. But she remained the only destroyer kept through the depression years, till she was paid off in 1933, and scrapped in 1935. Sold for £1,800, ANZAC was sunk off Sydney on 7 May 1936 as target practice for RAN ships.

S Class

The other five S Class Destroyers – HMA Ships STALWART (1), SUCCESS, SWORDSMAN, TASMANIA and TATTOO were of 1,070 tons, 276ft in length, beam 26¾ft, draught 10½ft, with 3×4″ guns, 1x2pdr, pompoms and machine guns, 4×21″ torpedoes, speed 34 knots and complement of 90 officers and ratings.

For these ships, the majority of their service life was spent in port, and on the east coast, the only exception being TASMANIA, which visited New Guinea in 1924.

These S Class were famous ships, and over sixty more were built for the Royal Navy to replace WW I ships, and though many were scrapped between the wars, eleven still served in the Royal Navy during WW II.

The RAN’s five were built in the UK 1917/18, and commissioned into the RAN 1920. They paid off and went to Reserve in the late 1920s to 1930, and were all sold by 1937.

TATTOO was the last to pay off in 1933. On one of its last trips outside Sydney’s Heads, when passing the Matson Liner MARIPOSA, it signalled ‘Are you catching any fish’. Poor TATTOO! At least – they claimed – TATTOO never broke down.

V&W Class

Next, after service with the Royal Navy from 1918 to 1932, STUART transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in October 1933, along with four V & W Class destroyers (to replace the old S Class destroyers).

HMAS STUART (1) was a Scott Class Destroyer Leader, with displacement of 2,000 tons, length 332ft, beam 31¾ft, draught 12¼ft. Her armament (original) was 5×4.7″ guns, 1×3″ AA and small arms, and 6×21″ torpedoes. Speed 36½ knots and ship’s complement of 185. In her RAN commission, she was the Flotilla Leader, and up to 1939 served mainly in Australian waters, though being decommissioned for two short periods in that time.

With the declaration of war in 1939, STUART (Cmdr H.M.L. Waller, RAN), with the V & Ws HMA Ships VAMPIRE (1), VENDETTA (1), VOYAGER (1), and WATERHEN (1), sailed for the Mediterranean, where the Flotilla saw much action along the North African coast, with the British Fleet all over the Eastern Mediterranean, and with HMAS SYDNEY in action against the Italian Fleet at Calabria, through to the Battle of Matapan, then landings of troops on Greece and Crete, and later evacuating those troops after German occupation. STUART departed the Mediterranean August 22nd 1941, to return to Australia to commence a long and overdue refit, till April 1942. She then served in north eastern Australian waters till 1946, paying off 27th April 1946 and was scrapped in 1947.

The RAN in the Black Sea

IN 1918 the Allies had cast their lot with the White Russians in the savage civil war which was raging in Russia. They offered to give support to any state prepared to take up arms and resist the Bolshevik expansion. Ukraine had been declared an independent state in the German-Russian Peace Treaty of 1917 and the Austrian and Germans had immediately occupied the state to obtain control of its wheat. When the defeated enemy forces withdrew after the Armistice, Cossack forces prepared to resist the Bolsheviks and appealed for Allied support.

Parramatta sailed early on 25 November from Ismid with a combined fleet which included the battle ships Superb, Temeraire, Justice, Democratie, Roma and two divisions of F destroyers which also included Swan. They passed through the Bosphorus at 0830 and increased speed bound for the famous Crimea Peninsular.

This was the destroyers first entry into the Black Sea and it was anything but comfortable. Heavy seas buffeted the ship and visibility was poor. She steamed a mile on the starboard beam of the battleships and a keen lookout was kept for submarines.

Shortly after dawn on the 26th the south end of the peninsula was sighted and at 1000 speed was reduced while Superb made her entry into Sevastopol. She was allowed by the ships of the battle fleet and Parramatta and the destroyers entered last.

The Russian port showed no signs of war damage. Several old units of the Russian Fleet were in the harbor and a number of German torpedo boats which had been scuttled after the Armistice.

A detachment was landed on the 27th to pick up mail and despatches. They were surprised to meet large numbers of Germans and Austrians, still in uniform, wandering the streets. Mounted Cossacks were also seen guarding the docks and government buildings. The civilian population was poorly dressed and appeared to be dazed.

At 1330 Parramatta weighed and commenced her duty as despatch ship between Sevastopol and Constantinople. She was to continue in this role until 16 December.

While Parramatta was involved in her despatch ship duties, Swan, together with the French destroyer Bisson, was engaged in a task which took her through the Sea of Azov. She embarked the Russian Admiral Kernoff and an interpreter to make contact with the Commanding Officer of Anti Bolshevik Forces, General Krasnoff at Rostov.

Included in this party was Commander (D), Commander A.G.H. Bond, Engineer Lieutenant Commander G.W. Bloomfield, Lieutenant J.G. Boyd, Paymaster Sub- Lieutenant D. Munro and six ratings from Swan. They were landed by the destroyer at Marioupol and travelled by train through a blinding snow storm to Rostov and Novocherkasak.

The purpose of the expedition was to report on the position of Krasnoff’s forces. They cut the visit short when the Bolshevik Armies broke the defence line at Bobrov, and returned to the destroyer. A number of Russian awards were made to the party. Bond received the Order of St. Vladimar and Bloomfield, Boyd and Munro the Order of St. Anne.

On 5 December Hill landed a large party for a route march in the vicinity of Sevastopol. They landed at the city steps and visited the battlefields of the Crimea War, which were close to the port. The weather was cold and the sailors marched with surprising vigour.

The Japanese Navy had been active in the Mediterranean since the previous year, and on the 6th, a cruiser and a flotilla of destroyers joined the Allied naval forces at Sevastopol. The Bolshevik forces, which out- numbered the defenders by 10 to 1, were rapidly advancing on the port.

HMAS Brisbane, the first Australian built cruiser, arrived on the 10th and joined Parramatta, Huon and Warrego. Later in the day the four vessels weighed and steamed for Constantinople.

Christmas 1918 was spent at anchor at Ismid. Commander Bond visited each of the destroyers during the morning and wished all the seasons greetings. He then handed over command of the Flotilla to Commander W. Burrows before entering hospital.

Swan remained at Sebastopol until 15 December and helped guard the railway station at the head of the Valley of Inkerman which was invested by the Bolsheviks. She visited Taganrog and Ekaterinodar before returning to Constantinople. On several occasions the destroyer operated within small arms range of Red troops.

On Boxing Day Parramatta, Swan, Yarra and Huon sailed for Malta. Warrego, which was in dock at Constantinople, followed later and rejoined the Flotilla at Gibraltar. Torrens, plagued by condenser troubles also was in dock and joined the ships of the Flotilla at Malta.

A Peaceful Scene – Sydney 1921

Sydney Harbour - 1921
Sydney Harbour – 1921

H.M.A. Ships Encounter and Australia with Huon and two other “Rivers”, and Tattoo and two other
S class boats laid up in Sydney Harbour in 1921.

This Man Howden – Captain Harry L. Howden, CBE, RAN

Captain Harry L Howden, CBE, RAN

No member of the Royal Australian Navy who served in wartime could show as much appreciation of their captain as did the crew, officers and ratings of the three Amphion class (Improved Leander) six-inch cruisers, Sydney, Hobart and Perth.

CERTAINLY THERE WAS, in command, first class material, products of our Naval College; but with four straight rings on each sleeve, to indicate equality with each other on the bridge of whatever cruiser’s bridge enters the comparison’s field, none was of similar background. None, in fact, therefore could claim other than Royal Australian Naval College training – that is, none other than Harry Howden. Of all the ‘pusser’ bred and indoctrinated true-blue Naval Officers, strange it seems that the one of whom we write was never to experience the boy-man training, nor receive the foundation for the future world-recognised qualifications accompanying many officers of our Australian Navy, so often tested under trying but proving war conditions.

The two other Amphion class cruiser Captains referred to were the late H. M. L. Waller, DSO and Bar, RAN, and Vice- Admiral Sir John Collins, KBE, CB, RAN, the latter joining the hero’s ranks through his masterly handling of the action in the Mediterranean Sea when his ship Sydney wounded to death the Italian cruiser of equal stamina and power, Bartolomeo Colleoni, the former entering these ranks already a hero – thanks to his outstanding ability against German and Italian forces, air and sea, again in the Mediterranean theatre of war. And now we see our third member of The Hero Trio emerging, already well established as a tried member, through experience gained in a capacity seldom, if ever, found in the pages of personal exploits of RAN officers during peacetime service – on the China Squadron, as Commanding Officer, with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, later Commander, of a Royal Navy River Gunboat. It does strike an echoing note that Captain Howden’s only wartime command should be of the second of the three sisters, in the same area of activity as those of the men mentioned, yet his most recognised hour was closer to his appointed homeland. His ship, Hobart, managed to do justice to her sister’s reputations, whilst operating out of Alexandria and into the Mediterranean Sea, and whilst as guardian of our Australian shores. Still enjoying sea duties with Perth, her Captain was to become the leader of a crew which showed more respect for him than for any other under whom they were to serve, either on this ship or another to which they may have been drafted. Such was this man’s power of command, his power of leadership, and his powerful humanitarianism that not only did he do well for his own crew, but, as we shall see, he did well for other ships’ crews. And this man’s finest hours were to come whilst under constant attack by aircraft of the Japanese forces during the period of Singapore’s fall, the East Indies over-running and the wiping-out of the major portion of the surviving Allied fleet, so hard pressed in a do-or-die stand against overwhelming Japanese Naval forces. Such heroics as were witnessed by so many respecting men will unfold during this biography.

This man Howden started off on a seafollowing career, as has been the case of thousands of British youths over the centuries.

Born in New Zealand of English/Scottish parents, evidently young Harry was keen, from an early age, to join the sea-going fraternity, being influenced by a family relation who had shipping interests. His father had previously held command of a sailing ship, experiencing the rigours of the tropics and the frozen lands, United Kingdom to India via the Capes.

Schooling in New Zealand seemed to provide little of interest either to the reader or Harry – or he spent whatever periods he could on a friend’s ship under sail, finally, at the outbreak of war in 1914, succeeding in gathering his father’s permission to sail to England.

Harry Howden just prior to sailing to the UK to join the Royal Navy, 1914.

Without qualifications of the sort needed by such staunch-hearted men to be preened for commission in His Majesty’s Navy, Harry Howden managed, we imagine through displays of determination and enthusiasm, to gain entry, in the uniform of midshipman, Royal Naval Reserve. We can only imagine his delight. And we can more readily imagine his delight when, in 1916, he was serving in the battleship Benbow, attached to the Grand Fleet, this after a period in a minesweeper.

The Australian Government of the day had sent out feelers for officers to transfer to the newly founded Royal Australian Navy, and it is here that we learn of the offering of his services, and acceptance of them, by the RAN.

So Midshipman (Probationary) Harry Leslie Howden, RAN, entered the service which was to be served so well by him, and which he found served him to equal standard. The story was passed around at the time of Midshipman Howden’s arrival in this country that the one hundred or so junior officers had transferred knowing that things would not be so good for them once the war had ended, and that Australia would offer better conditions and, at least, food and work. So they were named ‘The Hungry Hundred’.

Prior to service in Australian waters, and whilst having transferred to the RAN, Midshipman Howden saw service in two of Australia’s modern cruisers, firstly Sydney, 1918-1919, then Brisbane immediately followed, until 1920. Promotions came quickly once having gained the confirmed rank of Sub-Lieutenant in July 1917, for, in just under two years, he was confirmed Lieutenant. Although he was to wait eight years before gaining his ‘half-ring’ of Lieutenant-Commander, once gained it was only four and a half years before Commander’s rank introduced Harry Howden to the Senior Officer’s field and under circumstances unique in the history of the Royal Australian Navy.

Here it was that, whilst in command of HMS Mantis, River Gunboat of the Royal Navy’s China Station, Commander Howden’s most memorable peacetime exploits were to unfold. Also, the opportunity of command brought out this man’s independent attitude, and ability to execute inspirations not of the orthodox.

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