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EAST
COAST CONVOY DUTY 1942 - 1943
This page includes more stories, anecdotes and photos
from HMAS MILDURA's war years.
THE
MUTINY ON HMAS MILDURA
Recollection
of Alan Newitt
HMAS MILDURA operated on the East Coast convoys from
June 1942 until late 1943. The weather was invariably foul, speed had
to be slow, shore leave was scarce - there was always another convoy
to be collected and delivered. Bruised and bloodied bodies were common,
decks awash from heavy seas, tempers frayed and frustrations at peak.
Many of these convoys were sheer torture. On one occasion this build
up of tension"snapped" in the MILDURA and the boys refused
to turn to.
This eyewitness account is from the former "Buffer",
Alan "Bonk" Newitt. From his first day aboard, Bonk found
himself in conflict with the First Lieutenant for opposing a suggestion
that there should be a regular pool of sailors under punishment to
provide labor for duty outside normal hours. Not surprisingly,
morale at this
time was at an all time low. This is how Bonk remembers a trip up from
Gabo Island with a north bound convoy in late 1943. (Respect for
the
participants, either living or dead, compels me to delete all names
except to acknowledge the skipper at the time was Lt/Cdr. John
Little
who had only recently joined the ship. Prior to hostilities he had
spent many years in the merchant service and was greatly respected
by all
who served under him - Allan Waugh).
"The weather during the return trip up the
New South Wales coast could never be forgotten. Plates and mugs
were dislodged
from the racks in the pantry and smashed to pieces. The ship internally
was in semi-darkness as many of the electric light globes were
shattered.
As the ship neared Sydney the weather abated and it was time to clean
up the mess and get ship shape again. When it came to replacing
the
mess crockery, the Jimmy (First Lieutenant), said it must be paid
for out of mess funds. This was strongly resisted by the Buffer
who
stated the damage was the result of the storm and was therefore the
responsibility of the Navy. Quite a dispute took place between
the
Buffer and the Jimmy with the latter eventually relenting. The crew
were in a miserable condition, clothes wet, bedding damp, tempers
frayed and discontent seething."
Officers and Crew on the deck of the MILDURA
"On entering Newcastle harbour, MILDURA (Senior
Ship), made fast along side South Wharf. A few minutes later HMAS
ROCKHAMPTON came along side and secured port side to. At
1100 hours the Buffer approached the First Lieutenant with a
request for
make and mend leave. This was refused by the Jimmy who said shore
leave would be from 1630 until 2300 hours only. Considering
the battering
the ship had taken on the run up the coast, this was outrageous.
When hands were piped to dinner at 1200 the Buffer was asked
what shore
leave would be. When he relayed the First Lieutenant's orders for
restricted leave, bitter discussion followed and it was decided
to
hold a meeting on the mess deck. This was interrupted by the Bosun's
Mate on the ROCKHAMPTON
alongside piping leave for their own men from 1230 to 0700 the next
morning. This was the straw that broke the camel's back and the
crew
demanded action. The question of further tactics was debated and
the men realizing that they had no direct links with the Captain,
decided
not to turn to after dinner."
"All hands realized the gravity of the situation,
as officially this constituted mutiny in time of war. Consideration
was also given to the position of the Captain and how he might be
affected. As a result of the final decision, the Cox'n was advised
to take a long walk down the pier after dinner. The Buffer, because
of his previous differences with the First Lieutenant, was advised
not to become involved and the Bosun's Mate of the afternoon watch
was told to carry out his normal duties as if nothing was afoot."
"It was decided to batten down the for'd hatch,
and close, clip and lash the bulkhead doors barring entry to the
mess
deck. When the Bosun's Mate was unable to enter the mess deck to
pipe hands turn to, he reported to the Buffer who was on the after
gun
deck in full view of the Quarter deck, reading a newspaper. The Buffer
told the Bosun's Mate to report to the Officer of the Watch. He
in
turn summoned the Buffer and asked what was to be done in this situation.
The Buffer suggested he inform the Jimmy the and the Skipper.
When
the Jimmy was informed of the situation, he went in search of the
Captain who happened to be dining with the skipper of the ROCKHAMPTON,
alongside."
"In the meantime, the Officer of the Watch obtained
a piece of timber from the timber rack, ordered the Bosun's Mate to
assist and tried to batter the bulk head door. The attempt failed,
so he ran into the galley and obtained a large carving knife which
he inserted in a crack between the bulk head door and the surround
in an endeavour to cut the lashing."
"At this stage the Captain arrived back on board
and told the Officer of the Watch not to be so bloody stupid. The
Captain considered the situation and then turned to the Buffer and
asked "Buffer, do you think you can get the men on deck?"
The Buffer replied that he thought he could. He was told to proceed
and muster all hands on the Foc'sle."
"When all hands were mustered on the upper
deck, the Captain showing signs of emotion, proceeded to lecture
the crew
on mutiny in time of war and the ultimate punishment. He then went
on to say that for the men to take such drastic action, something
must be very much amiss. He gave the Buffer orders to dismiss the
hands and send them to the mess deck for the purpose of electing
a
delegation to be sent to his sea cabin to state their case. When
the men had gone below, he turned to the Buffer and said, "You
go with them Buffer."
"A meeting was convened on the mess deck and
the delegates were elected. Those elected were the Buffer, because
he knew all the facts, a Leading Seaman who was popular with his shipmates
and an Able Seaman who had done two years at law school prior to his
enlistment. The delegation then proceeded to the Captain's cabin and
were invited to put their case. When told of all the circumstances
leading up to the event, the Captain was visibly shaken. He then asked
why he was not approached directly and he was reminded that in the
R.A.N. things could not happen the way they did in the merchant service.
It was explained that apart from the time factor, any request to see
the Captain under the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions
had to come through the First Lieutenant and that would have been
impossible."
"After satisfying himself as to the facts of
the case, the Captain explained that he could not countermand the
Jimmy's orders because that would destroy his credibility. However
he made it clear that in future, any orders would come from him through
the First Lieutenant. The delegation were thanked and excused."
"The Captain then summoned his officers and
although it was never disclosed what ranspired, improvements were
immediately noticed. The following day the ship returned to Sydney
where she made fast to the Number 4 buoy, close to the Gun Wharf
and
so ended an interesting chapter in the life of HMAS MILDURA and her
ship's company."
The MILDURA was not the only RAN ship
to have a "mutiny" during the war. The corvette HMAS PIRIE
became famous when less than sympathetic handling of a similar incident
led to the ringleaders being court-martialed and gaoled in Townsville.
PAINTING
THE SHIP
Recollection
of Alan Newitt
Here is "Bonk's" eye witness account of that epic piece of
exterior decorating which took place immediately after the troubles
(the "mutiny") previously reported.
"The
following day the ship returned to Sydney where she made fast to No.
4 buoy, close to the Gun Wharf. At 1530 the 1st Lieut. summoned the
Buffer and informed him that the following day the ship was to be
painted. The Buffer asked the Jimmy if this was to be followed by
the usual paint ship leave, which means that on completion of the
job, all available hands go ashore. The answer was "Yes".
Painting the funnel of HMAS MILDURA
"Immediately
the news was imparted to all hands and at 1600 a meeting was convened
on the mess deck. It was decided that an all-out effort was to be
made commencing at dawn the following day. After tea, the painter
with a couple of helpers went to the fore peak where they broke out
the stages. The paint stages were placed over the side, adjusted and
then brought back inboard. The
Buffer instructed the Bosun's Mate of the morning watch to call the
duty cook one hour before daylight to make kai for all hands. He was
then to call all hands half an hour before dawn, when kai was to be
served on the mess deck."
"At
first light the stages were again placed over the side and paint pots
were put in place with the brushes. As the sun rose the hands went
over the side and painting commenced at a feverish pace. Even the
Engineer Officer in white overalls came to assist."
"By
0900 the painting of the ship was completed from waterline to truck
and all gear returned to stowage. Hands were piped to clean and as
soon as they were ready, proceeded ashore."
"At
0945 the 1st Lieut. arrived at the Gun Wharf and called for the
motor boat to return to the ship. Immediately he arrived on board
he summoned
the Buffer and demanded to know why the painting of the ship had
not
commenced. The Buffer told him the painting was in fact finished,
the men were ashore, and invited him to inspect the ship. The Jimmy,
realizing that he had been shown a point, turned livid and stomped
off to his cabin. What happened after this is another story."
Another
eye witness account of the painting from Darrell Timothy said the sailors
were throwing pots of paint against the ship's side and then smoothing
it out with the brushes.
Snowy Moore painting the Mildura
(Picture courtesy Dean Moore)
STORM
AT SEA
In
November 1942, the ship was sailing from Melbourne with a North
bound
convoy and HMAS INVERELL as the other escort. Lt/Cdr. Guille reported:
"At
2000 21st November wind freshened and visibility became poor,
INVERELL
lost the convoy although I was not aware of this until a signal was
recieved bt W/T to this effect the following day. With great
difficulty
contact was maintained with the convoy until dusk on the 22nd. By
this time the convoy was scattered all over the ocean, the wind
was
blowing gale force and a heavy sea and swell was running from the
Southeast. By the time the ship had got far enough to the Eastward
to turn on a course Northward along the coast of NSW, the sea was
so high and the swell so big that it would have been suicidal
to put
the ship before it. I therefore decided to ride it out. The convoy
was scattered, INVERELL was making for Jervis Bay, and MILDURA
hove
to. I informed NOICS of these facts and the ship settleddown to pass
fifty hours of very uncomfortable life to say the least. The
gale
was quite as severe as anything I have ever experienced. Throughout
the ship behaved very well indeed and the only damage sustained
was
a small amount of canvas gear blown away and some electrical gear
in an exposed position sodden thus putting the searchlight out
of
action. However this gear is so badly sited that the same thing can
happen in quite reasonable weather."
"By
0315 25th November when in a position of 100 SE of Gabo Island the
weather eased sufficiently to enable the ship to turn around and run
before it. Arrival at Sydney was 0700 26th."
The
NOIC in Sydney advised the ship to take shelter - where? Lt.Cdr.Guille
replied with this signal(from the collection of Darrel Timothy):
To
NOIC Sydney
From HMAS MILDURA
"Your
2330/22. Weather conditions make it impossible to take shelter. Will
have to ride it out. Wind 90 miles per hour. Precipitous seas and
swell. Barometer 30 inches and rising slowly. Visibility 800 yards.
My position 25 miles SE Gabo Island. Course 120 degrees. Speed 2 knots."
"Bluey"
Herring remembers the big storm well as he celebrated his eighteenth
birthday during the middle of it.
QUICK
DRAW
Recollection
of Murray Rowed, A/B 1943
"I
was returning from Man O' War steps with the motor boat - could have
been the latter end of the first watch. Nearing the ship's side a
shot rang out. I made the boom, secured the boat and possibly got
inboard a bit quicker than normal. Thinking the Quarter Master had
a challenge ignored and let one go, I set off to find him. No sign
of the QM on deck, but located a shaken shipmate in the seamen's shower
room. He enlightened me that he was practicing "Quick Draw McGraw"
when a round left the barrel.
"I
can't recall what the Cox'n Des Roche had to say about the missing
slug. Just a little humour in a day's routine."
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