On This Day

On This Day - 2 April

1917

A Sopwith Baby seaplane was embarked in HMAS BRISBANE, (cruiser), at Colombo, to hunt down the German raider WOLF. BRISBANE was the first ship of the RAN to carry an aircraft operationally. The Australian-born CAPT J. S. Dumaresq, RN, took command of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser). CAPT J. Glossop, CB, RN, who had commanded SYDNEY when she sank the German cruiser SMS EMDEN in 1914, returned to Australia to take command of the RAN base at Garden Island.

1941

HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), sank the heavily damaged cargo ships HOMEFIELD, and COLOUROUS XENOX, after savage German air attacks in the central Mediterranean.

1942

ADML Sir James Somerville ordered his battleships HMS RAMILLES, REVENGE, RESOLUTION, and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, to withdraw to Addu Atoll to avoid a clash with ADML Naguma's superior modern fleet. The overwhelming Japanese carrier force would have sunk the slow British capital ships. HMA Ships NAPIER, NIZAM and NORMAN, (destroyers), were operating with ADML Somerville's fleet in the Indian Ocean.

1990

HMAS BUNBURY, (patrol boat), rescued 118 Indo-Chinese boat people off Koolan Island, on the Kimberley coast of WA.

2000

Following fifteen years out of service HMAS Wewak recommissioned or further service

2005

A Sea King helicopter from HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious, CMDR G. A. McGuire, RAN), crashed and burst into flames at Nias Island, off the west coast of Sumatra, while providing medical support following a devastating earthquake, (Operation Sumatra Assist II). Of the eleven ADF personnel onboard nine were killed. The two badly injured survivors were dragged clear of the wreckage by Indonesian civilians who were waiting for the helicopter to land. Those killed were:RAN; LEUT Mathew Davey, RANR, (Medical Officer) LEUT Matthew Goodall, RAN, (Aircrew) LEUT Paul Kimlin, RAN (Aircrew) LEUT Jonathon King, RAN, (Aircrew) POMED Stephen Slattery, (Medic) LSA Scott Bennett, (Aircrew) RAAF; SQNLDR Paul McCarthy, (Medical Officer) FLTLT Lyn Rowbottom, (Medical Officer) SGT Wendy Jones, (Medic)

2006

HMAS TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy, CMDR M. J. Rothwell, RAN), took part in Operation Peringatan, the first anniversary memorial service, on Nias Island, Indonesia, to commemorate the loss from HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious), of the Sea King helicopter, (Shark 02). The Maritime Commander, (RADM D. R. Thomas, AM, CSC, RAN), and the Commanding Officer of HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR G. A. McGuire, RAN), also attended the service.