MV LEAVING, (RN landing barge SD15), arrived at Sidi Barrani. The vessel was stolen from the Germans in Crete, and was sailed across the Mediterranean by a crew of Australian and English soldiers. An Italian submarine intercepted the barge two days out from Crete and removed the officers. Although ordered by the Italians to return to the island, the intrepid band made sails from blankets, and continued their voyage to freedom.
The auxiliary minelayer, (mine warfare vessel), HMAS BUNGAREE, (CMDR N. K. Calder, RAN), was commissioned at Sydney. BUNGAREE was laid down in 1937 for the Adelaide Steamship Company, and requisitioned into the RAN in October 1940.