Australian Naval History on 23 May 1941

HMA Ships STUART, VOYAGER, and VENDETTA were sent to help HMS FIJI reported sinking after aircraft attack.
Ordinary Seaman Ian Rhodes, a RAN Volunteer Reserve sailor, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for courage in action when HMS Kashmir was sunk during operations to defend Crete. Ordinary Seaman Rhodes was part of the gun crew for the Aft Port Oerlikon gun. With the water rising up around the weapon as the ship sank, and under fire from German aircraft which strafed the ship and survivors already in the sea alongside, Ian Rhodes climbed up to the weapon on the other side of the ship and commenced returning fire, shooting down an aircraft. For his courage in action, he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, the award for gallantry second only to the Victoria Cross for sailors, and the only Australian Sailor to receive the decoration during both world war.
HMAS WATERHEN delivered stores to Tobruk during the night of 23/24 May