- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- History - WW2, Letter to the Editor
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Canberra II
- Publication
- March 1995 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
As a survivor of HMAS Canberra in 1942 and as one who assisted in establishing a memorial to that ship. I feel it my duty to reply to Russ Prior’s letters of 23/8/94 and 30/10/94.
The reason that the memorial plaque shows that HMAS Canberra assisted in sinking the Coburg and Ketty Brovig is, because although 215 rounds of 8″ shells were fired at the ships, their own crews more than ably completed the job by scuttling both vessels. Nowhere is it suggested that HMNZS Leander had anything to do with the action.
South Atlantic is mentioned on the plaque because HMAS Canberra was assigned for service with the Commander in Chief South Atlantic at the end of June 1940. According to G. Herman Gill in “Royal Australian Navy 1939-42” Page 258 HMAS Canberra arrived at Capetown on the 11th July and for the rest of the month was on patrol and escort duties on the South Atlantic Station.
Therefore in the limited space available on the plaque both matters were factually mentioned and I fail to support your assertion that there was an inaccuracy in the inscription.
Keith Noadahl