On This Day
1941 > WW2
On This Day - 1941
- June 14, 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS LITHGOW, (CMDR A. V. Knight, RANR), was commissioned. LITHGOW was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Balmain, Sydney, on 19 August 1940, and launched on 21 December 1940.
CMDR E. F. V. Dechaineux, RAN, was awarded the DSC for conspicuous gallantry in HM Ships VIVACIOUS and EGLINGTON, (destroyers), during the evacuation of Dunkirk.
- June 12, 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS MARYBOROUGH, (LCDR G. L. Cant, RAN), was commissioned. MARYBOROUGH was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, on 16 April 1940, and launched on 17 October 1940.
HMAS STUART, (destroyer), screened the British squadron bombarding Saida, Syria.
- June 11, 1941
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS NARANI, was commissioned. NARANI was laid down in E Wright Yard, Tuncurry, NSW, in 1914. She was requisitioned for the RAN from her owners, The Illawarra & South Coast Steam Navigation Co on 5 December 1940.
- June 9, 1941
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.
- June 8, 1941
HMAS Narani was commissioned as an auxiliary minesweeper.
- June 7, 1941
The captured Italian vessel GIOVANNI, (schooner), commanded by Australian LEUT A. Palmer, DSC, RNR, ran aground in the approaches to Tobruk, and was destroyed by German ground fire. GIOVANNI and her captain, had a legend built around them through their ghosting in and out of the besieged port with vital supplies. Palmer, who lost an arm in the engagement, was repatriated from a German POW camp in 1943.
- June 4, 1941
LCDR R. C. Robison, RAN, was awarded the DSC for ‘bravery and enterprise’ while serving in HMAS STUART, (destroyer), at the battle of Matapan. Robison was later to command HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), and was in command when the ship ran aground, and was subsequently destroyed, at Betano Bay, Timor, in September 1942.
- May 31, 1941
The evacuation of Crete ended. During the campaign the RAN committed HMA Ships PERTH, STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, VENDETTA, WATERHEN, NAPIER, and NIZAM. Despite frequent attacks by enemy aircraft, only PERTH suffered serious damage and fatal casualties.
The following awards for gallantry were made to the ships company of HMAS PERTH, for her role in the Battle for Crete:
DSC Surgeon LCDR E.M. Tymms, RANR
DSC LEUT W.S. Bracegirdle, RAN
DSC Warrant Officer H.C. Hill, RAN
DSM SBPO W.R. Aird
DSM Stoker W.J.H. Reece- May 30, 1941
The sloop HMAS PARRAMATTA, (LCDR W.H. Harrington, RAN), re-floated the streamer MOUNT OTHRYS, which had run aground on a sand bar near Port Suez.
HMA Ships NAPIER and NIZAM, (destroyers), went again to Sfakia, Crete, where they embarked 1403 troops between them.
HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), came under heavy air attack from German dive bombers south of Crete. At 0943 the ship was hit by two bombs, (one hit a gun turret and the other penetrated the deck and exploded in No 1 Boiler Room). Four of PERTH’s crew were killed, and nine soldiers, being evacuated from Crete were also killed. PERTH also suffered further damage from a number of near misses in later attacks that day.
- May 29, 1941
HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), and HM Ships CALCUTTA, COVENTRY, GLENGYLE, JERVIS, JANUS, and HASTY, evacuated over 6000 Allied troops from the beach at Sfakia, Crete, PERTH’s total being 1188. During the three day return passage to Alexandria, the ships were subject to heavy enemy air attack. PERTH suffered two near misses, but with only minor damage resulting, and no casualties