AMSA in a different Vogue.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

John.
If I remember correctly the cats name was Simon. It depended on which side of the river the shots came from.
Des

[j.sabourn]

They came from the opposite bank where the Amethyst finished up on. Remember the famous flag hoist when cleared the estuary , “ permission to rejoin the fleet “ , the commander who succeeded the original was the naval attaché from the Shanghai Consulate think If have the right one was A bloke called Kerens. I sailed with a chief engineer who sailed with him during the war and according to him all these naval attaches that finished up in consulates were the ones who weren’t too familiar with ships. JS

[Thomas James]

Please don't forget their Flotilla Leader HMAS "Stuart", commanded by Commander 'Hec" Waller, another candidate for a VC after the action in the Java Sea on HMAS "Perth".

[j.sabourn]

Yes there’s 2 pages in the Independence about him Hector “ Hec” Waller DSO and Bar . Would be 122 years of age if alive today. He was the youngest of 10 children who some might think was a lot , but nearly a football team ? JS

[Doc Vernon]

Australian cruiser of 6,830 tons launched in 1934 under the name HMS Amphion. Transferred to the Australian Navy in 1939 and renamed HMAS Perth. During the Battle of the Java Sea the Perth's commander, Captain Hector Waller, pulled his ship out of line when the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter was hit and placed it between the Japanese warships and the Exeter to save it from further damage (the Exeter later sank). The Perth, accompanied by the American cruiser Houston, was later sunk in the Sunda Strait half an hour after midnight about four miles from St. Nicholas Point in Java as the two ships attempted to escape southwards from the battle area and into the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately they ran straight into a Japanese invasion fleet of destroyers and troop transports in Banteng Bay and after a long running battle during which all ammunition was expended, both ships were sunk by torpedoes. On board the Perth were 45 officers, 631 ratings, 4 civilian canteen staff and six Royal Australian Air Force personnel, a total of 686 men. Casualties were 23 officers and 329 ratings killed. There were 334 survivors who were taken prisoners of war. Of these, around 106 died in captivity. Not one of the Perth's officers died while a prisoner of war, due no doubt to the privileges granted to men of officer rank. For this heroic act, Captain Waller never received the equivalent of the British VC as did the captain of the Houston. The Dutch government offered its highest award, the Militare Willems-Orde posthumously to Captain Waller, but to its everlasting shame, the Australian government turned it down. In World War II, twelve Victoria Crosses were awarded to members of the Australian forces engaged in operations against Japan but not a single VC was awarded to the Royal Australian Navy.



Hector Waller - Wikipedia


Captain Hector ‘Hec’ MacDonald Laws Waller | Royal Australian Navy

[j.sabourn]

That Sunda Strait Vernon , one trip binging down a ship from Singapore decided to come that way rather than the normal way via Bali and Lombok I only did it the once , coming down through those islands I was followed by unidentified vessels and assumed they were pirates sighting up their options had every thing battened down wheelhouse doors locked. All steel weather doors battened down and never strayed far from the VHF and on the channel for the Singapore anti piracy department . Was pleased to get Through the Sunda strait and in to open water. As said never went that way again . JS

[seanmac]

post-World War 2 medal posts#32 Mr. Sanbourn make your mind up

[Doc Vernon]

post-World War 2 medal posts#32 Mr. Sanbourn make your mind up

???? Not too sure on this seanmac! Whats the deal mate! LOL

[j.sabourn]

Someone’s Alto-ego ? JS

[seanmac]

What are you not too sure about Doc, have you had a complaint, LOL