On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- June 16, 1942
Australian Coastwatcher SBLT Cornelius Lyons Page, RANVR, was captured by the Japanese on Tabar Island. Page was later executed.
The tug HMAS ELWING was commissioned. ELWING was laid down in Rockhampton, QLD, in 1933. She was requisitioned for the RAN from her owners, the Rockhampton Harbour Board on 16 June 1942.
HMS JAVELIN, (LCDR Alliston, RN), removed the crew from, and sank, HMAS NESTOR, (destroyer), which was crippled south of Crete the previous day.
- June 15, 1942
HMAS NESTOR was severely damaged when near-missed by two heavy bombs, 100 miles north of Tobruk. NESTOR was an escort for the Operation Vigorous convoy to Malta. The destroyer was taken in tow by HMS JAVELIN, but was sunk by JAVELIN on 16 June when it was realised she could not reach port. For their courageous efforts Surgeon Lieutenant Watson was awarded the DSC and Petty Officer Ellston the DSM. Four ratings lost their lives in the action.
- June 14, 1942
HMA Ships NAPIER, NIZAM, NESTOR, and NORMAN, (destroyers), were subjected to ceaseless air attacks whilst escorting an eleven-ship eastern Mediterranean convoy, and were forced to turn back to Alexandria, well short of their objective.
Bombers from the Japanese 23rd Air Flotilla based on Timor, attacked Darwin, NT. During this series of raids the RAN Victualling Yard was heavily hit.
CMDR O. F. McMahon, RAN, was admitted to the OBE for distinguished service in HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser).
LEUT H. D. Reid, GM, RANVR, was awarded the Bar to the George Medal for rendering safe enemy mines buried underground in various locations in England. Reid received the George Medal in June 1941 for similar acts of gallantry.
- June 13, 1942
RADM V. A. C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN, was appointed to command the Australian Squadron. He had been awarded his VC for services in HMS VINDICTIVE, during the raid on Zeebrugge in 1918.
- June 12, 1942
The Japanese submarine I-24, torpedoed and sank the Panamanian steamer GUATEMALA, 40 miles north-east of Sydney. The crew of 51 were picked up by HMAS DOOMBA.
- June 11, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR D. H. Richards, RANR(S)), was commissioned. ARMIDALE was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Balmain, Sydney, on 1 September 1941, and launched on 23 January 1942. The Reverend A. G. Rix performed the ceremony, which was a floating rather than a launching.
- June 10, 1942
CMDR J. C. R. Proud, CBE, VRD, RANVR, was appointed Director of FELO. This organisation conducted the propaganda war in the Pacific for the Allies. One of its first operations was the dropping of leaflets printed in Pidgin English along the Kokoda Trail, urging native carriers to desert the Japanese. The operation was successful, and contributed to the success of the campaign.
- June 9, 1942
The bodies of four crew members of the midget submarines sunk in Sydney Harbour were cremated with full military honours, at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney. The ashes were later taken back to Japan.
- June 8, 1942
HMA Ships ARUNTA, KALGOORLIE, ROCKHAMPTON, DOOMBA, MORESBY, BINGERA, YANDRA, KYBRA, and WHYALLA were assigned to convoy escort duties from Sydney as a result of the Japanese raid on Sydney Harbour.
- June 7, 1942
The Japanese submarine I-24 shelled the eastern suburbs of Sydney. On the same night I-21 shelled Newcastle. Damage in both attacks was negligible.