On This Day
1944 > WW2
On This Day - 1944
- September 29, 1944
Former HMAS Uki transferred back to the RAN by USN and subsequently returned to her owners on 27 October 1944.
- September 28, 1944
The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, informed the House of Commons: ‘We owe it to Australia and New Zealand to help them remove forever the Japanese menace to their homelands. We have offered the fine modern British Pacific Fleet and asked that it should be used in the main operations against Japan’.
The Fremantle based HMS PORPOISE, (submarine), captured the 100 ton junk MUSTIKA, for use by the Commandos of Operation Rimau.
- September 26, 1944
HMAS Hawkesbury was called upon to assist the burning tanker Misson Ridge following her collision with the Liberty Ship Don Marquis. After taking off the crew she succeeded in quelling the flames using hoses and fire parties
- September 25, 1944
CAPT C. A. G. Nichols, RN, relieved CAPT Showers in command of HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser). CAPT Showers took up the appointment of 2nd Naval Member of the Australian Naval Board.
- September 20, 1944
The air/sea rescue vessels AIR FOAM, (ex-AIR WAVE, SBLT Middleton RANVR), AIR MIST, (SBLT J. R. Needle, RANVR), and AIR REST, (SBLT R. W. Stinger, RANVR), were commissioned.
The ammunition stores issuing ship HMAS YUNNAN, was commissioned. YUNNAN was laid down in Greenock, Scotland, in 1934. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the China Navigation Co Ltd, on 20 September 1944.
- September 19, 1944
LEUT Leon Verdi Goldsworthy, DSC, GM, RANVR, was awarded the GC for undaunted courage in rendering safe various German mines between 12 June, 1943 and 10 April, 1944.
- September 15, 1944
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and SHROPSHIRE with ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA bombarded targets on Halmahera and Morotai.
- September 12, 1944
The Japanese transport RAKUYO MARU was torpedoed and sunk by the USS QUEENFISH off the Philippines. The vessel was carrying 1317 Australian and British POW’s, including survivors of HMAS PERTH. US submarines picked up 152 of the prisoners. US Submarines GROWLER, SEALION, PAMPANITO, QUEENFISH, and BARB were involved. The remainder were lost. Stoker 2nd Class C. A. Petherbridge, RAN, was awarded the GM posthumously for gallantry following the sinking of the RAKUYO MARU. His citation read:- ‘For gallantry in saving life at sea at the cost of his own. When the ship on which he was a passenger was torpedoed, Stoker Petherbridge got away with 20 others on a raft. During the ordeal which followed, Petherbridge left this raft on several occasions, without a life belt, to go to the help of those who through physical weaknesses could not prevent themselves from slipping into the sea. The strain of this merciful work upon himself was such that he could not carry on, and during the night which followed the sinking of the ship, he himself disappeared’. The BEM for coolness and good leadership was awarded to ERA 3rd Class V. R. Duncan, who took charge of No. 2 hatch of the sinking RAKUYO MARU, which resulted in the release of prisoners battened below.
- September 7, 1944
HMAS KIAMA, (minesweeper), embarked an Army reconnaissance party from behind enemy lines at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain.
- September 3, 1944
The sloop HMAS SWAN, (LCDR R. J. R. Pennock), bombarded Japanese positions at Cape Sarme, New Guinea.