HMAS Ipswich (l) anchored at Khor Khui Persian Gulf 1943
HMAS Ipswich anchored in the inlet Khor Khui, Musandam Peninsula, Oman. This sketch was used as a preliminary sketch for a later illustration entitled ‘HMAS Ipswich at Khor Khui’, 1979. The long, sheltered inlet at Khor Khui was a safe refuge where vessels could anchor between periods of duty while refueling and re-supplying.
- About John McBryde
Little is known of John Smyth McBryde who was born in Port Logan, Scotland on 30 May 1896.
During World War 2 he served in numerous ships including HMAS Ipswich.
At the time of Cessnock’s collision on 8 May 1943 HMAS Ipswich was serving in the same theatre of operations. That is, on escort and anti-submarine patrol duty in the western Indian Ocean and between the Persian Gulf and India. In May 1943 she was transferred to the Mediterranean for service as a unit of the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla. In the Mediterranean she took part in the Sicily campaign and on escort and patrol duty she steamed over a wide area of the Mediterranean.
There is a strong possibility that John McBryde either witnessed the collision or had first-hand knowledge of this event in the Red Sea.
- About HMAS Ipswich (l)
HMAS Ipswich was one of fifty-six Bathurst Class, Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War II in Australian shipyards. Ipswich was almost constantly at sea on escort and anti-submarine patrol duty in the western Indian Ocean and between the Persian Gulf and India.
More reading
- Additional resources for John McBryde
- Additional resources for HMAS Ipswich (l)
