HMA Ships SYDNEY, (cruiser), and STUART, (destroyer), supported a combined British and French Squadron in the bombardment of Bardia. During the action SYDNEY’S Seagull amphibian aircraft was shot down by three Italian fighters, and crashed on landing. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant. T. McB. Price, RAAF, was awarded the DFC for this action.
LEUT V. A. T. Smith, RAN, participated in an attack by six Swordfish torpedo bombers of 821 Squadron, on the German battleship SCHARNHORST, off the coast of Norway. The attack was unsuccessful. LEUT Smith, who was serving in HMS ARK ROYAL, (aircraft carrier), was MID. He was later to be awarded the DSC for gallantry while serving in ARK ROYAL in the Mediterranean.