On This Day

1941 > WW2

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

May 28, 1941

HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), embarked two landing barges, and sailed for Crete with HM Ships PHOEBE, CALCUTTA, COVENTRY, GLENGYLE, JERVIS, JANUS, and HASTY.

The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS BOMBO, was commissioned. BOMBO was laid down in 1930, and owned by Quarries Pty Ltd, NSW. She re-commissioned as a store-carrier on 27 January 1944.

HMA Ships NAPIER and NIZAM, (destroyers), with HM Ships KELVIN and KANDAHAR, landed stores and ammunition at Sfakia, Crete. The Australian ships evacuated over 400 troops. NAPIER landed LEUT L.M. Hinchliffe, RAN, as Beachmaster. LEUT Hinchliffe’s work as Beachmaster was recognised by the award of the DSC.

May 27, 1941

The German battleship BISMARCK was sunk in the North Atlantic Ocean. HMAS NESTOR, (destroyer), was one of the ships involved in the hunt. Other RAN personnel, then serving in British warships, were also involved in the action, including LCDR G. G. O. Gatacre, RAN, who was serving in HMS RODNEY, (battleship). Gatacre was later awarded the DSC for his conspicuous gallantry in this action.

May 26, 1941

HMA Ships VOYAGER and VENDETTA, (destroyers), along with HM Ships HEREWARD and DECOY, (destroyers), escorted the damaged HMS FORMIDABLE, (aircraft carrier), to Alexandria.

HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and HM Ships ABDIEL and HERO, landed reinforcements at Suda Bay, Crete. They also evacuated over 900 wounded troops on the same day.

May 25, 1941

HMA Ships VENDETTA and VOYAGER, (destroyers), were part of the screen protecting the 1st Battle Fleet in its air strikes on Scarpanto, in the eastern Mediterranean. Aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE launched attacks on the islands airfields, which were being used by the Germans to re-supply their troops on Crete.

May 24, 1941

The sloop HMAS YARRA, (CMDR W. H. Harrington, RAN), was involved in the attack on Iraqi positions at Habib Shawi, and landed Gurkha troops to neutralize the position. On completion, the troops were re-embarked. HMAS NAPIER was sent to relieve destroyers and joined in a sweep. Four members of RAN killed when HMS Hood was sunk – HALL, David G, Ordinary Seaman (RANVR) HALL, George W, Ordinary Seaman (RANVR), SHANNON, John D, Ordinary Seaman (RANVR) and STARTUP, Ian G E, Ordinary Seaman (RANVR),

May 23, 1941

HMA Ships STUART, VOYAGER, and VENDETTA were sent to help HMS FIJI reported sinking after aircraft attack.
Ordinary Seaman Ian Rhodes, a RAN Volunteer Reserve sailor, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for courage in action when HMS Kashmir was sunk during operations to defend Crete. Ordinary Seaman Rhodes was part of the gun crew for the Aft Port Oerlikon gun. With the water rising up around the weapon as the ship sank, and under fire from German aircraft which strafed the ship and survivors already in the sea alongside, Ian Rhodes climbed up to the weapon on the other side of the ship and commenced returning fire, shooting down an aircraft. For his courage in action, he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, the award for gallantry second only to the Victoria Cross for sailors, and the only Australian Sailor to receive the decoration during both world war.
HMAS WATERHEN delivered stores to Tobruk during the night of 23/24 May

May 22, 1941

Six ratings from HMAS YARRA, (sloop), disguised as Arab fishermen, carried out a daring reconnaissance of Maqil, Iraq. This was in preparation for Operation Scoop, which was the British invasion of Iraq to prevent the country siding with Germany.

HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), sank a caique loaded with troops, north of Crete, and together with HMAS NAIAD, (destroyer), engaged enemy destroyers. During the day the ship was under continuous German air attack. A signal was received from the C-in-C, Mediterranean, that night; ‘Stick it out. Navy must not let the Army down. No enemy force must reach Crete by sea’. In the next 24 hours the Luftwaffe sank two cruisers and two destroyers, and damaged two battleships and two destroyers.

May 21, 1941

HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), in company with HM Ships JERVIS and ILEX, bombarded enemy airfields at Scarpanto, which were being used by the Germans to re-supply their forces in Crete.

HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), fought off an attack by two German E-Boats, to the west of Crete.

May 20, 1941

The Battle of Crete commenced, and lasted until 31 May, 1941. HMA Ships PERTH, STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, WATERHEN, NAPIER and NIZAM, (destroyers), were all involved in evacuating Allied troops from the island. LEUT L. M. Hinchliffe, RAN, (from HMAS NAPIER), was landed at Sfakia Beach, and took control as the Beachmaster, and coordinated evacuations from that port. He was later awarded the DSC for his conspicuous service during this time.

May 18, 1941

The sloop HMAS YARRA, (LCDR W. H. Harrington, RAN), provided close support for British troops landing at Basra, Iraq, during the Allied takeover of the country. HM Ships FALMOUTH, COCKCHAFER, EMERALD and LEANDER, were also involved in the landing.

May 16, 1941

HMAS Vampire (I) delivered 102 troops & stores to Tobruk to support the besieged 7th & 9th AIF Divisions. Vampire departed Tobruk the next day just as an air raid began, evacuating 180 wounded troops.

May 15, 1941

CAPT J. Burnett, RAN, took over command from CAPT J. Collins, CB, RAN, of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser). Just over 6 months later SYDNEY was sunk in her ill fated action with the German raider KORMORAN.

HMAS Mildura, minesweeper, was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney.

May 14, 1941

Australian merchant vessel RABAUL, was sunk by the German raider ATLANTIS, 700 miles north-west of Walrus Bay. Nine members of the ship’s crew were killed in action.

May 12, 1941

HMAS WHYALLA, (minesweeper), was launched at Whyalla, SA.

May 11, 1941

The tug HMAS WATO, was commissioned. WATO was laid down in J. T. Ettingham & Co in 1904 for the Adelaide Steam Tug Co, and served with the RN in WWI. She was requisitioned for the RAN on 11 May 1941.