HMAS Melbourne was involved in the dramatic rescue of 18 people from the sinking US registered schooner Helen B Sterling. The Helen B Sterling had departed Newcastle in early January bound for San Francisco with a cargo of coal. The schooner encountered a storm north of New Zealand and began to sink. Fortunately the Helen B Sterling had a wireless onboard and sent out a distress call which was received by Melbourne, then on a deployment to New Zealand waters
Australian Naval History on 21 January 1921
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