On This Day

On This Day - 10 June

1927

HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), visited Dili, Timor, on a flag-showing cruise.

1939

HMAS PARRAMATTA, (sloop), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.

1940

Italy entered the war on the side of Germany. An officer in HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), at the time of the announcement commented, 'The news came like the proverbial bomb in our midst.' HMAS MANOORA, (armed merchant cruiser), shadowed the Italian merchantman ROMOLO in the Pacific, west of Nauru.

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.

1944

The Fremantle-based USS HARDER, (submarine), reported three battleships, four cruisers and six destroyers leaving Tawitawi for the Philippines.

1945

Dentists were first attached to destroyer flotillas in the RAN. HMA Ships SHROPSHIRE, HOBART, ARUNTA, LACHLAN, HAWKESBURY, WESTRALIA, MANOORA, and KANIMBLA, engaged in the invasion of Brunei.

1966

HMAS VAMPIRE, (Daring class destroyer), and the Danish ship EMILIE MAERSK, collided in the Bangkok River, Thailand. As damage to the destroyer required dockyard assistance, VAMPIRE set course for Singapore at 23 knots, arriving in  Singapore Dockyard at 0812 on Saturday 11th June.

1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), was Naval Gun Fire Ship for US II Corps' operations in Vietnam.

1975

The Australian Naval Institute was founded in Canberra, under the leadership of CDRE V. A. Parker, RAN. The Institute exists to advance knowledge and understanding of naval and maritime affairs among serving and retired members of the RAN, and produces a quarterly journal.

1988

Mrs. Sheila Kenworthy, (nee McClemans), CMG, OBE, first Director of the WRANS died in Perth, WA.

1999

HMAS JERVIS BAY, (high speed catamaran), was commissioned in Hobart. The vessel was a civilian high speed catamaran leased from the builders, (INCAT), for a two year period. She was based in Darwin and used extensively to ferry troops and equipment to and from Dili, (East Timor), following the arrival of the International Force, (INTERFET), which had been deployed to restore peace to the troubled region. Known fondly as the 'Dili-Express', she was returned to her owners in 2001.