On This Day

On This Day - 14 December

1915

The River class destroyer HMAS HUON, was commissioned. HUON was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 23 January 1913, and launched as HMAS DERWENT on 19 December 1914. Mrs J. A. Jensen, wife of the Assistant Minister for Defence, performed the launching ceremony. The name was changed to HUON to avoid confusion with the RN destroyer HMS DERWENT.

1917

CAPT Dumaresq, RAN, commanding HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), signalled Scapa Flow Aerodrome:- 'As DUBLIN's pilot has to return shortly request that CAMPANIA may be asked to supply a pilot and Camel or standard Pup, complete with two mechanics to SYDNEY'. Two days later a perplexed query came back 'Does Camel refer to part of equipment or to a particular type of aircraft?' SYDNEY promptly replied: 'The machine referred to is a Sopwith Camel aeroplane. It is the test standard fighter and has succeeded the Pup'. CAPT Dumaresq received his aircraft shortly afterwards.

1941

Three gallantry awards to RAN officers for service in the Mediterranean were announced:

• DSC CMDR M. J. Clark
• DSC CMDR G. McD. Wilson; Both received for gallantry in the Battle of Crete.
• DSC LCDR R. Rhoades. Received for gallantry while commanding HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), in the Mediterranean.

1944

Australian Fleet Auxiliary Bishopdale, in San Pedro Bay Leyte Gulf, was hit by a crashing Japanese VAL dive bomber which struck the starboard upper bridge and then No: 3 wing tank, exploding on contact, was extensively damaged and was out of action for the next few months.  DEMS Gunner/Deckhand Stuart William Savage RANR was killed and one other later died of his injuries. DEMS Gunner Stuart W Savage was buried at the US Military Cemetery at Leyte, the Philippines the same day. His body was subsequently moved to Sai Wan War Cemetery, Hong Kong HMAS SHOALHAVEN was launched at Walker's Yard, QLD. HMAS NAPIER covered Allied troop attacks in the neighbourhood of St Martins Island, Burma, with close-range gunfire.

1968

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BANDOLIER, (LEUT R. S. Blue, RAN), was commissioned. BANDOLIER was laid down in Walker's Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in July 1968, and launched on 2 October 1968. Mrs Mary Benson, (Wife of CAPT S. J. Benson, RD, MP), performed the launching ceremony. BANDOLIER was transferred to the Indonesian Navy on 16 November 1973, and renamed KRI SIBARAU.

1981

Cadet AB Kenneth Dax died onboard HMAS TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy), from a hydrogen-sulphide gas leak from the ships sewage tank.

1997

The former destroyer escort HMAS SWAN was sunk as a dive wreck in Geographe Bay, WA.