Australian Naval History on 10 July 1943

The invasion of Sicily, (Operation Husky), began. Among the escort ships for the troop convoys were HMA Ships CAIRNS, CESSNOCK, GAWLER, GERALDTON, IPSWICH, LISMORE, MARYBOROUGH, and WOLLONGONG, (corvettes). Over the ensuing three months, all eight were involved in dangerous convoy escort work, which saw them under frequent attack by German aircraft. In September, CAIRNS, CESSNOCK, GERALDTON, MARYBOROUGH, and WOLLONGONG, returned to the Indian Ocean for service there. GAWLER, IPSWICH, and LISMORE, conducted convoy escort duties to Cyprus and Lebanon, before returning to the Indian Ocean in November 1943.