On This Day

On This Day - 3 October

1917

The Australian Government offered HMAS BRISBANE, (cruiser), to the Imperial Government for service overseas.

1942

RAN rates of pay were increased. They were:- Able Seaman, 8s 6d per day;Chief Petty Officer, 12s 6d per day; Midshipman, 7s 6d per day; Sub-Lieutenant, 12s 6d per day; Lieutenant £1 per day; Lieutenant Commander, £1 11s 6d per day; Commander, £2 1s 6d per day; Captain, £3 1s 6d per day; Rear Admiral, £5 1s 6d per day.

1943

HMAS PARKES, (minesweeper), was launched at Evans Deakin, QLD.

1948

RADM J. A. S. Eccles, CBE, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding His Majesty's Australian Fleet. His flagship was HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser).

1952

HMAS Macquarie conducted surveillance activities and duties as the weather support ship for the first British atomic test which took place at Monte Bello

1969

The Daring class destroyer HMAS VENDETTA, (CMDR E. E. Johnson, RAN), fired her first rounds in the Vietnam War against enemy rocket sites, and troop staging areas.

1987

The eight members of the RAN who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, were honoured with a welcome home parade for all Australian Vietnam veterans, through the streets of Sydney.

1988

HRH, the Duke of Edinburgh, unveiled the HMAS PARRAMATTA Memorial at the northern extremity of Garden Island, Sydney.

1994

HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), recovered wreckage from a small airliner which crashed into the Tasman Sea, while on passage from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. Nine passengers and crew lost their lives in the crash.