- Author
- d'Alpuget, L.A., Lieut., RANVR (Rtd.)
- Subjects
- WWII operations
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 2000 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
The next day, May 13, at the request of Ormiston’s master, I took aboard a group of Ormiston’s crew members who had been mustered by the ship’s mate, Mr McCallum, and, as requested, landed them at Coffs Harbour. I also landed at Coffs Harbour a member of my own crew, signaller Able Seaman H. Young, who had had a heart attack, into the care of a local doctor, Dr Yarrod, who put him in hospital. (Young was later discharged, medically unfit.)
I returned to the Ormiston with two specialist salvage captains, who had been sent to Coffs Harbour. One was Captain Childs. When they inspected the No. 2 hold, with its stiffish mulch of tallow and sugar (many bags had burst) and other materials, they said that soft wet cement could not support the bulkhead better.
I resumed anti-submarine patrols near the Ormiston.
Later, a powerful salvage tug, named Sprightly drew alongside Ormiston and passed across hose pumps. The vessels subsequently proceeded south to Sydney. I think Sprightly towed Ormiston.
I believe the submarine that attacked Ormiston may have remained near the coast and two or three days later could have been the one that sank the hospital ship, Centaur, about 100m further north.