On This Day

On This Day - 23 August

1934

A Seagull amphibious aircraft from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), blown from its cradle and wrecked, in a gale in the Great Australian Bight.

1940

In Operation DR, HMS NORFOLK (Captain A J L Phillips) and HMAS AUSTRALIA (Captain R R Stewart RN) departed Scapa Flow at 1939 to operate in the area of Bear Island to capture German fishing vessels. No contact was made and they arrived back at 0728 on 29/8/40. HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), covered HMS LADYBIRD, (monitor), when she entered the enemy held port of Bardia, and fired point-blank on buildings and harbour defences. Both vessels withdrew safely after the attack.

1941

C-in-C Mediterranean, ADML A. B. Cunningham, signalled the Australian Naval Board:- 'It is with great regret that we part with HMAS STUART from the Mediterranean Station. Under the distinguished command of CAPT Waller, she has an unsurpassed record of gallant achievement. She has taken a leading part in all the principal operations of the Mediterranean Fleet and has never been called upon in vain for any difficult job'.

1945

HMAS ST GILES was re-commissioned as a navy tug.

1949

The original of the Official Badge of the RAN was designed and adopted for the Cenotaph, in Hobart, TAS. The Design derived from emblems used on a Navy Office booklet, 'Advice to Personnel', 'The Navy List', and rubbings from a badge on the glass doors of 'N'-block of Navy offices in Coventry Street, Melbourne, VIC.

1955

808 Squadron recommissioned at the Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton in the south of England. Then equipped with de Havilland Sea Venoms, the Squadron participated in the RAN’s new carrier, HMAS Melbourne’s flying trials in England. 816 and 817 Squadrons commissioned at the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose to fly the Fairy Gannet    

1962

HMAS SWAN, (sloop), was paid off for disposal in Sydney.

1979

The Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, announced the building of an underway replenishment ship for the RAN at Cockatoo Island. The ship was named HMAS SUCCESS.

2003

HMAS BRUNEI departs Bougainville, bringing to an end six years of RAN support to the peace monitoring group, as part of Operation Belisi II. RAN landing craft heavy had been regularly deployed to Bougainville since late 1997.