HMAS MILDURA - THE WAR YEARS 1941-1948 PAGE 3

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THE MINE SWEEPING YEARS 1945 - 1948
This page includes more stories, anecdotes and photos from HMAS MILDURA's war years.

HMAS MILDURA was immediately astern of the WARRNAMBOOL when that ship struck a mine during minesweeping operations near the tip of Cape York on September 13th, 1947. Two sailors were killed instantly and 28 more were injured, and 2 died later from their injuries. Norm Sweeney was sent along side in the MILDURA's whaler to render assistance. A surge of water from an M.L. also alongside was so great that the whaler was immediately sunk. Kevin Dollard (former MILDURA sailor) remembers that after the explosion he burst open his locker and salvaged £11, which he later shared with his destitute shipmates. The crew of the flotilla leader HMAS SWAN had a "whip round" and shared the proceeds amongst the survivors.

"I was helping to carry the wounded to the quarter deck when the MILDURA's motor boat ranged alongside with my old shipmate Matty Matheson aboard handing over medical supplies which were greatly appreciated. When the order to "Abandon Ship" was given we were taken off by HDML's 1326 and 1329 to HMAS SWAN and then to Cairns. As we went ashore to telephone relatives we were each presented with a pound note with the compliments of the SWAN's sailors - a gesture I will never forget." (Kevin Dollard)

Commander Travis being treated on the bridge by HMAS MILDURA SBA
Photo courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

Frank Jones was a young seaman at the time and remembers fearing for his former CERBERUS classmates who were on board the WARRNAMBOOL:

"I had just taken up my position on the port wing of the bridge as duty Quarter Master. I was looking straight at the WARRNAMBOOL when she struck that mine. Skipper Savage immediately requested permission to enter the minefield and drag the sinking ship to safety, but this request was denied. During the proceedings the MILDURA's whaler was swamped which made the CO very unhappy."

Signalman George Lyons remembers Sipper Savage saying "Poor old Nancy", Nancy being WARRNAMBOOL's call sign on the radio telephone.

MINE SWEEPING DANGERS
by Don Nicholson

After the war the ship was involved in mine sweeping along the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns. I had taken over the job of "Tanky" when Ray Foster completed his "12" (retired after 12 years service), and I also took over the job of ship's barber having been apprenticed for a couple of years before joining the Navy. We were sweeping at the time and I was giving one of the boys a haircut in the port waist when I happened to look towards the stern where one of the Subbies was directing the hauling in of the sweep gear. He suddenly screamed to the Chief Stoker that there was a mine tangled in the gear just under the stern. I took off into the passageway to the stokers' mess deck yelling loudly about what was happening. I went straight up the ladder and out the hatch on the deck in front of the bridge and took a firm grip on the jackstaff on the bow. In a matter of seconds I was one of a crowd. We waited for a big bang but it never came. The Skipper ordered the Chief Stoker to release the brake on the winch and let it drift out far enough away before giving the sweep wire a sudden jerk causing the mine to explode. I completed the haircut the next day.

Oropesa mine sweeping float on HMAS MILDURA

SPELL HORSE

In 1946 the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla spent a few days in Port Adelaide. HMAS SWAN was berthed at Birkenhead wharf with ten corvettes and two others, MILDURA and KATOOMBA around the corner near the bridge, but out of sight of the other ships. On the day of sailing these two were to slip and be clear before 1600, the remainder after 1600. All was ready aboard the KATOOMBA and MILDURA when two men in a dinghy exercising a race horse came across their sterns, preventing them from going astern from their berth. So they waited patiently for the horse to swim by. The voice of the Senior Officer in SWAN came up on TBS:

From SWAN: Have you slipped yet?
Reply : NEGATIVE.
From SWAN: Report reason.
From MILDURA: There is a horse in the water.
From KATOOMBA: Same reason.
Senior Officer SWAN after a long pause: Er, spell hawse.
From both corvettes in turn: H-O-R-S-E
From SWAN: Don't you mean H-A-W-S-E?
From MILDURA: Negative
From KATOOMBA: H-O-R-S-E
From SWAN: On arrival Port Melbourne Commanding Officers are to report to me.

This story from the "Three Headed Dog" - Corvette Association Newsletter

SEARCH FOR A DC-3
Recollection from Bill Morgan, Minewseeping Officer, 1946

In March 1946 a DC-3 plunged into the sea after take off from Hobart. The 20th Minesweeping Flotilla was in harbour and the MILDURA was duty ship. Captain Savage was not prepared to hazard his ship in the darkness and bad weather to search for survivors in Frederick Henry Bay, but a search began at daybreak. Scattered debris was found along the beach, but no survivors. A subsequent enquiry found that the pilot was a diabetic who hid his disability from examiners and it was thought he may have suffered an insulin reaction at the controls and put the control column forward, causing the crash.

SEARCH FOR A CATALINA

On July 1, 1945, the MILDURA, while returning to Morotai, was directed to put a party ashore on Makelhi Island to search for the crew of a wrecked Catalina Flying Boat. Six Indonesians walked out of the jungle and reported that the Catalina crew had been rescued already. They pleaded with us for a 'lift' to Morotai to avoid the Japanese on the island. They were very pleased that Lt.Cdr. Little agreed to their request.

MINES

Those who engaged in it knew very well that post war minesweeping was never a picnic. The South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Telegraph on November 13, 1945, reported on damage to the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla as it was preparing to return to Australia. Both BALLARAT and STRAHAN were disabled by mines and three other corvettes, BURNIE, GOULBURN and MILDURA were shaken by mines exploding in their sweeps.

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