HMAS Armidale (l) under aerial attack, 1 December 1942
The Loss of HMAS Armidale (I)
Shortly before 14:00 on 1 December 1942, Armidale, by then separated from Kuru, was attacked by no less than thirteen aircraft. The corvette manoeuvred frantically. At 15:15 a torpedo struck her port side, and another hit the engineering spaces; finally a bomb struck aft. As the vessel listed heavily to port, the order was given to abandon ship. The survivors leapt into the sea and were machine-gunned by the Japanese aircraft. Once he had helped to free a life raft, Sheean scrambled back to his gun on the sinking ship. Although wounded in the chest and back, the 18-year-old sailor shot down one bomber and kept other aircraft away from his comrades in the water. He was seen still firing his gun as Armidale slipped below the waves. Only 49 of the 149 men who had been on board survived the sinking and the ensuing days in life rafts.
- About John Ford
The following information is from the Australian Society of Marine Artists.
John Ford OAM is a renowned marine artist whose artwork displays the subtle hues and intricate detail of the watercolour style. While his works are substantially based on maritime themes, his portfolio also includes historical buildings, steam locomotives, military subjects and animals.
John arrived in Australia from the UK after serving 18 years in the Royal Air Force. He served in two areas of conflict, the Middle East and Northern Ireland. During his first seven years in Australia he was employed in various roles - working in a tool room, car air conditioning and even juke boxes and pinball machines to name a few. In 1982 he joined the inaugural committee to build South Australia’s sail training ship, One and All. He is still a member of the Board.
With numerous exhibitions and art awards to his credit, John is one of South Australia’s leading artists. John’s work has been commissioned for many Australian and international, private and corporate collections. These include Make a Wish Foundation, S.A. Maritime Museum, Royal Australian Navy, Australia Post, Encounter 2002 Official Event and the ABC series “The Navigators”, SA Aviation Museum and the National Cancer Council Research Foundation. His works have been used in numerous family history books.
John Ford was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the Arts and the Community. The award was made in 2013 on Australia Day by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council.
- About HMAS Armidale (l)
HMAS Armidale was a Bathurst Class, Australian Minesweeper (commonly known as a corvette). Armidale and her sister corvettes were routinely used for convoy escort work. That service ended for Armidale in October 1942 when she was ordered to join the 24th Minesweeping Flotilla at Darwin.
More reading
- Additional resources for John Ford
- Additional resources for HMAS Armidale (l)
