Written Records, AWM54 741/5/9 PART 2 - [Patrols - Reconnaissance:] Report on Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit, by Sqn Ldr D F Thomson RAAF [Report minus maps] - Part 24

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Official Records

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

AWM2022.1720.28641

Difficulty:

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
2/4/42	Various	C1.W1.sea O	0130	Entering Crocodile Islands.
			0310	Anchored Millingimbi 2 fth.
				Sent boat ashore for information regarding stranded pilot. Report plane arrived today to take him to Darwin.
	Various	Sea 1 B.C.	0615	Hove up and left under power.
		S.K.1.
	N.W. W X E	S.1. Sea O. B.C.	0745 0900	Clear Yantoom Isld. Cape Stewart abeam to port Dist.1-76
	WNW	NE. sea 1	1345	All Co. 1620 clear shoal patch Alt Co
		B.C.		WXE.
	WXN	E2. sea 2. B.C. N.E.T. Sea 1 C.1.	1700 2000	Engine breakdown. All sail Set. 1810 Resumed under half-speed. N.Golbourn Isld abeam. 2045 Engine cut out.
	WSW		2130	All Co. 2200 Resumed under half speed. Richardson off duty (sick)
3/4/42	WXS.N.3	Nil sea 001	0300	Cape Cockburn abeam Alt Co.
	WXN	SE3 sea 071	0450	Entering Bowen Straits
			0710	Anchored NW and Bowen Straits at Crocker Isld. Sergeant Elkington effecting repairs to main engine. Richardson off duty (sick) treatment quinine and aspirin.
			1500	Engine trials unsatisfactory.
	N.57°W	NE2.0C.C	1500	Hove up and left under sail.
			1730	Engine working 1750 Danger Point abeam.
	E.75°W		1810	Sandy Isld No. W abeam.
	S.59°W	NE2.sea 2 C.	2020	Alt Co. 2400 Alt Co. S.10°W
4/4/42	S.10°W	NE1.sea 0. C	0040	Engine stopped again.
	S.		0330	Engine restarted 0430 Alt. Co. SE XS
	SSW	SE2 sea 1 0.	0615	Alt Co. 0915 No 1 Buoy abeam Co.350°W
	S65°W		1145	Cape Hotham abeam Alt Co.
			1245	Ho2 Light Buoy abeam
			1330	Anchored Vernon Isld in 3 fths. Air raid in progress over Darwin.
5/4/42		NE6 1 COH	0030	Heavy NE squall force 6.
	W	SW1 0 B.C.	0705	Hove up and left under power.
	S6°W		0910	No 6 Light Buoy abeam Alt Co. Strong head tide.
	S		1150	Charles Pt. Light bearing 3 50°W AltCo
			1300	Hove-to spoke. Examination vessel. Air raid in progress.
			1330	Entered Wood Boom defence.
			1430	Anchored Fanny Bay in 3 fths. S/L Thomson at Darwin.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
6/4/42		SE3.2.B.C.		At Darwin. Out to Adv HQ with S/L
				Thomson. Requisitioning for supplies. Arrangements with Navy re repairs to engines, and report on same.
7/4/42			0300	Alert. Stand by. 0400 Stand down all
				clear. At Rear HQ getting stores.
			1440	Stores arrived at wharf loading same.
		SE1.C.B.C.	1500	Fuel arrived.
8/4/42				At Darwin. Commenced loading fuel.
				Self to H.Q.
			1400	Engine ports from H.M.A.S. Platypus
				arrived. Unable to procure .50s amn. .45 TSMG amn. Stores not arrived from Q Branch. Soap, matches, 12 gaug. 22 25/20 cont. igniters, waste Engine room stores.
			1600	Maj. Walker aboard 1630 Maj. Walker
				departed.
			2245	Loaded stores outstanding excepting
				igniters and engine room stores. W.N.M on wireless setoverhaul. Report on Aroetta's engine not handed into H.Qs yet by Lieut Commander Butcher.
9/4/42	N.XW	Sea 0.BC Nil	0635	Hove up and left under power
	N.XW	Sea 0.BC Nil	0730	Clear Defence Boom.
	N.32^°E	K2 sea 0. BC	0640	Alt Co. 1040 No. 6 Buoy abeam
	N.56^°E	Nil o.BC	1145	East Vernon Isld. abeam
			1230	Cape Hotham abeam 1300 No. 1 Buoy
				abeam.
	N.16^°E	Nil 0.BC	1700	Alt Co N15^°E 1925 Cape Don abeam.
				N25^°E. Visibility poor.
			2015	Anchored Popham Bay in 9 fths.
10/4/42	N26^°W	0. C. Nil	0415	Hove up and left under power.
	N35^°W		0430	Alt Co.
	E.		0730	Smith Point abeam. Alt Co 0900 N2
				Sandy Isld. abeam.
	S.E.	SE1. 0. BC	1015	Alt Co. 1310 Alt Co. NNE^°E.
		NE1. 0. BC	1315	Anchored Mission Station in 2 fths.
	E.	Nil. 0. BC	1745	Hove up and left under power.
	S. 50^° E		1845	Clear Birch Isld. 2015 Grant Isld.
				abeam.
			2400	Going well. North Golbourn Isld.
				abeam. Stabd. 7' Dist.
11/4/42	S.60°E	Sea 3 C E3	0200
	S.70^°E	Sea 4 N4 C	0600	Alt Co. Ship taking a lot of water
				aboard.
		SE3 Sea 3 C	900	Wind changed. 1145 Cape Stewart
				bearing S37^°E Dist 7'
	N85^°E	Sea 1 BC 5E	1500	Mooroonga Isld abeam port.
			1730	W/T set reported unserviceable by
				operator.
			1900	Anchored Lee Elcho Island. Operator
				working on W/T set.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
12/4/42	N.45^°W	SE1 O. C.	0415	Hove up and left under power.
			0900	Anchored Lee of Stratton Isld. awaiting
				tide in channel.
			1115	Operator reported W/Tset working.
		.	1150	Hove up and left under power.
	S.65^°E	E.3.3. B.C	1215	Clear Stretton Str. 1515 Clear
				Cunningham Isld.
	N.80^°E S.60^°E S.50^°E	ENE4.3.B.C E4. 4. B.C. E3E4. B. C.	1545 1810 2110	Entering English Company Isld. Cape Wilberforce abeam. Clear Bremmer Isld.
			2345	Cape Arnhem abeam.
13/4/42	S.11^°W	NE1. 4 3. C.	0010	Alt Co for Groote Isld. Channel
				Set main sail and jib going well.
	S.25^°W S.30^°W	SE3.3.B.C. SE2.2. 0.	0630 1200	Alt Co. Alt Co. Winchelsea Isld. abeam.
	S.	S.4. 2 OCM	1245	Connexion Isld. abeam. Alt Co. took in
				sail.
			1600	Anchored Lee of Sandy Point Groote Isld
				in 3 fths.
		N.E.3.0.OCM	1800	Heavy rain squall from E & NE. Visibility
				very bad.
14/4/42			0105	Hove up and left under power.
	S.45^°W	SE3. sea 3	0415	Clear Sandy Cape. Set Course Low Rock
		B.C.		Island. Set all sail.
			1000	Hove to under sail sent boat ashore
				for eggs.
	S.50^°W	SE2 sea 2 B.C.	1100	Resumed under power and sail.
	S.50^°W		1330	Alt Co. W.11^°N Maria Isld. bearing
				E.11^°S
			1425	Alt Co. N.50^°W for Gulnare Bluff.
	Various	SE3. sea 0	1515	Clear sand bank on stabd Land. Alt Co
		B.C.		for River Mouth.
			1930	Anchored Roper River in 3 fths. (approx)
				50' from Mouth.
15/4/42	Various	SE3 O. C.	0600	Hove up and left under power.
			0830	Reduced speed to dead slow. Mt. Roper
				sand bank.
			0915	Clear Mt. Roper sand bar. Full speed.
			0900	Reduced speed to dead slow. Kangaroo
				Isld. sand bar.
		SE.2.O.	0940	Vessel grounded on bank. Insufficient
				water. Tide falling.
			1550 1615 1815 1845	Resumed under half speed. Clear Kangaroo Isld. Full speed. Anchored Mission Station 3 fths. Resumed under power.
			2100	Anchored 4 mile in 3 fths.
				S/L Thompson here with native detachment.

Date	Course	Winds	Time	Remarks
16/4/42				At 4 mile landing.
				S/L Thomson to Police Depot and back.
			1300	Hove up and left under power.
		E3sea0B.C.	1515	Anchored Mission Station in 3 fths.
17/4/42		E3sea0.B.C.		At Mission Station. Unloaded all fuel
				oil and petrol at Mission Station. Filled fuel tanks with 308 gals.
18/4/42	Various	E3 B.C. O	0900	Hove up and left under power.
			1030	Have to speak to Capt Thompson. No 4Coy.
			1115	Resumed under power.
			1210	Anchored 4 mile landing in 3 fths.
				Unloaded rations and other stores to Police Depot. Landed Pte. Richardson to go to Katherine for medical attention, at first available opportunity.
19/4/42			0600	Hove up and left under power half speed..
	Various	E4. sea O C	0700	Clear of wreck of Young Australia. Full
				speed.
			0730 0930	Vessel struck some obstruction in river. Anchored at Mission Station in 3 fths.
			1600	Shifted vessel to bend in River
				for better lee.
20/4/42		E4 O°CE		At Mission Station. Filling water tanks
				landing sundry gear ashore.
			1115	Hove up and left under power.
				Severe noise and rattle in stern gear. Reduced to half speed.
			1315	Anchored junction of small creek at
		E.E3.0		Rocky Island. Inspected stern gear to
				find one blade of propeller torn off. 1445 Resumed under reduced speed.
			1750	Anchored 1 mile West of Kangaroo Isld.
				in 3 fths.
21/4/42	Various	O.OCB.NE3	0925	Hove up and left under power.
			0940	Vessel aground on bank awaiting full tide.
			1330	Small launch from No 4 Coy came alongside.
				Loaded 1½ gal. petrol.
	Various	Nil. O.OCE	1830	Hove up and left as tide sufficiently
				high.
			2110	Anchored East of Lone Isld in 4 fths.
22/4/42			0650	Hove up and left under power.
	Various	OC.NE3. C.	0725	Anchored Long Isld. in 3 fths.
				Awaiting arrival of native detachment.
			0900 1100 1115 1700	Resumed under power. Hove to landed food for natives. Resumed under power. Anchored No 1 Camp in 3 fths.

Date	Course	Winds	Time	Remarks
23/4/42				At No 1 Camp. Awaiting arrival of
				native detachment. Recce Patrol to South of River mouth to Childers Creek by Lieut Palmer with two halfcastes from Groote Eylandt boat.
		E4seaoB.C.	0745	Mission launch arrived on route Groote
				Island. Work on ship recaulking decking over main cabin which has been leaking on account of unseasoned timber.
			1545	Hove up and left under power.
			1700	Anchored Mt. Moore in 3 fths.
				Recce of Mt. Moore suitability for O.P.
			1900	Resumed under power.
			2000 2215	Anchored No 1 Camp in 3 fths Mission launch left for Groote Isld.
				Sent safe hand mail to Groote for Townsville, addressed SD 1 at RAAF HQ N. Area.
24/4/42		O.C.2.NE3	0910	At No 1 Camp.
				Repairing Canvas.
			0910	Aircraft passed E. S. N. Course. Yellow
				painting.
25/4/42				At No 1 Camp. S/Ldr Thomson preparing
				for Recce Trip, Rose River.
			0905 0935	Flying Boat passed E.S.E. Course. By-plane passed S.S.W Course VE-UZC.
	Various	N.5.E.2	1225	Hove up and left under power.
		Sea O B.C.
			1400	Hove to landed S/Ldr Thomson with
				native party.
			1415	Anchored Mt. Ross. Sgt Elkington
				and party ashore looking for native well.
			1545	Sgt Elkington resumed reporting no
				sign of well.
26/4/42		N2.C.sea O		At Mt. Ross. Natives preparing O.P. at
				Mt Ross in charge of Sgt Elkington.
			1200	Lieut Palmer with native party on
				south bank of River on Recce Patrol
27/4/42				At Mt Ross. Working on O.P.
			0930	Aircraft passed E.SE Course 10,000 ft
				approx. (silver colour).
			1440	Lieut Palmer returned from Reece Patrol
				of South Bank.
		ESE.2. B.C. O		Sending stores and ammunition ashore
				to O.P.
			1630	A/V Hurricane arrived in charge of
				Lieut Burton No 4 Coy. Engine trouble and out of rations.

Date	Course	Winds	Time	Remarks
28/4/42				At Mt. Ross.
			0900 1000	"Hurricane" left for Roper Bar. Depot Cpl Raiwala left with 5 natives to
				contact S/Ldr. Thomson.
			1540	Challenged by two Lockheed Bombers.
				Sgt. Elkington stationed ashore at O.P. Instructions for maintenance of O.P. covered by Operation Order No. 3 of Special Reconnaissance Unit.
29/4/42				At Mt. Ross. Crew drilling.
			0600	Making Survey of S.E. side Mt. Ross for
				water.
		E.3.N.3.	1400	S/Ldr Thomson arrived back from Recce
		Sea O B.C.		Patrol.
30/4/42			0700	At Mt. Ross. Sent native detachments
				up South Bank to contact vessel Kangaroo Isld. Arranged call signs and schedules with Sgt. Elkington May June.
	Various	E.3.E.3. O.	1310	Hove up and left under power.
		B.C.
			1915	Anchored ½ west of Kangaroo Isld.
				in 3 fths.
1/5/42	Various	E1.O. B.C.	0650	Hove up and left under power.
				Trouble with generator not charging at engine speed.
			1130	Anchored Mission Station in 3 fths.
				Painting iron work and general maintenance.
			1815	Slight fire in engine room caused by
				backfire from Auxiliary Petrol Engine. Extinguished without damage to Engine Room installations.
2/5/42				At Roper River Mission Station.
		ESE.3.O.B.C.		General overhaul and cleaning of
				quarters. Received signal re arrival of propeller Townsville.
3/5/42		ESE.2.O.B.C.		At Roper River Mission Station.
				Charging batteries at Mission House.
4/5/42			0600	At Mission Station.
				Killed and quartered bullock from Mission for Rations - Native detachment.
	Various	ESE.3.O.B.C.	1130	Hove up and left under power.
			1450	Anchored ½ mile upstream 4' landing.
				A/V Hurricane No 4 Coy anchored landing.
			1500	Landed native detachment to Camp on
				North Bank.

Date	Course	Winds	Time	Remarks
5/5/42		ESE.5.O.BC		On Roper River 4 mile.
				Native detachment out hunting. Cleaning and overhauling launch. Sanding decks.
				Writing some reports of River Mouth
				S and N Bank.
			1000	Major Walker and party arrived in
				launch.
			1100	Major Walker left.
6/5/42			0700	At Roper River 4 mile.
				Sent Palmer to Police Depot with launch to arrange impressment of tanks for O.P.
		ESE.2.O.BC	1030	Lieut Palmer returned in launch.
7/5/42			0700	S/Ldr Thomson and Lieut Palmer left in
				Army Truck on patrol to Mataranka via Roper Valley Station and Elsie Station with native detachment. Vessel, in charge Sgt. Harvey.
		ESE.3.O.B.C.	1000	Major Walker and party from No 4 Company
				arrived in launch and took away A.W.A. receiver.
8/5/42				At Roper River 4 mile.
				S/Ldr Thomson and Lieut Palmer on patrol inland.
			0700	Corporal Raiwala repaired 8 natives
				A.W.L.
9/5/42				At Roper River 4 mile.
		ESE.3.O.OC.	1715	S/Ldr ∧Thomson and Lieut Palmer returned
				from Patrol.
10/5/42				At Roper River 4 mile.
			0715	S/Ldr Thomson and Lieut Palmer to
				Police Depot then to Urapingi Station
		ESE2.O.OC		investigations re theft of property.
			1200	S/Ldr Thomson Lieut Palmer returned.
11/5/42			0700	Lieut Palmer and detachment to Police
				Depotfor rations and equipment.
			0830	Major Stokes and Lieut Bogoli arrived
				in launch. Vessel alongside 4 mile landing loading 2.400 gals tanks.
			1130	Lieut Palmer returned with detachment.
	Various	ESE.2.O.BC	1200	Hove up and left under power.
			1520	Anchored Roper Mission in 3 fths.
12/5/42				At Roper Mission, 0700 Caledon Bay
				natives A.W.L. Killed one bullock from Mission for fresh meat for ship. Writing reports and closing mail.
			0800	Received message from O.P.
				(Sgt Elkington) that "Hurricane"
		ESE2.O.BC		has passed down stream.

10.

Date	Course	Winds	Time	Remarks
13/5/42				At Roper River Mission
			0900	Raiwala returned from patrol, unable to
				contact Caledon Bay natives.
			12.15	Civil Aeroplane Markings VH-BUN circled
				ship and mission station for 20 minutes and then left in a S.S.W. direction.
	Various	ESE2.O.BC	1230	Hove up and left under power.
			1900 1930	Ship grounded on bank at Kangaroo Isld. Refloated and anchored.

14/5/42			0600	Moved 1 x 400 gal forrad to lighten
				draught aft.
			0645	Hove up and attempted to pass bar but
				insufficient water.
		ESE2.O.BC.		Natives out putting poles for beacons
				on bank.
			0700	Replaced two sheets metal damaged
				when propeller struck submerged log.
	Various	ESE.3.O.C.	1530	Resumed under power. Strong tide and
				wind.
			1710 1725	Stopped engine to adjust dynamo drive. Vessel grounded. 1745 Refloated and
			1725	resumed.
			2020	Vessel grounded shallow point, awaiting
				high tide to refloat ship.
15/5/42	Various	ESE.4.O.C.	0630	Vessel afloat. Resumed under power.
			1045	Anchored Mont Ross in 3 fths.
				Landed all petrol ashore 24 drums awaiting high tide to land tanks and tranship water.
			1800	Tanks ashore safely with 300 gals water.
16/5/42		ENE4.O.BC	0600	Loaded ships tanks and drums landed
				at O.P. on 18/4/42.
			0710 1030	Hove up and left under power. Anchored 1st bend in river from Mouth.
17/5/42				At Roper River Mouth.
		ENE3.1.BC		Awaiting wind and sea to drop so as to
				safely navigate the bar. Overhauling and checking LMG ammunition.
			1330	A/V "Hurricane anchored. Capt Thomson
				and Lieut Burton of No 4 on board
			1440	"Hurricane" left.

11.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
18/5/42				At Roper River Mouth.
	ENE3 sea 1 B.C,			Still waiting favourable weather. Crew ashore, musketry
			1800 1845	Started engine and hove up. Anchored under Lee of North bank at
19/5/42	N.20^°E	NE1.	0600	Hove up and left under power.
	N.20^°E	NE1. sea 1 BC	0645	Clear of bar.
		ENE1.sea 1BC	1100	Anchored Eagle Bay Maria Island in 2 fths. S/Ldr Thomson ashore.
				Reconnaissance.
20/5/42	WW	ENE1.1.C1	0330	Hove up and left under power.
	N	ENE1.sea 2 C	0415	Altered Co.
	N36^°E	ENE2.sea 2 C	0440	Altered Co. 0630 Altered Co. N52^°E
	N.33^°E	ENE2. 2. C	1330	Altered Co. Set all sail going well.
	N.40^°E	N.E O.CB	1530	Sandy Cape Groote Eylandt abeam.
				Alt Co. Took in sail
			1710	Lockheed passed Co. N.E. circled A.O.B.
				and left in W. direction.
			1720	Lockheed sighted to [[?]] in for distance
				Course W.
			1740	Anchored Mission Station in 3 fths.
		NE1.O.C1		A/V Aorana here.
21/5/42				At Mission Station Groote Eylandt.
		ENE1 C.BC	0630	A/V Lecia anchored.
			0940	Empire Flying boat passed en route
				Air Base.
			1000 1100	4 twin engined planes landed A.O.B. Lockheed landed A.O.B.
			1200	Received from M/V Laicis 30 C/ 50
				communication ex N.E. Area.
			1630	Hove up and left under power.
	N.	ENE3. O. BC		Set mainsail and jib.
			1815	Anchored N.W. point Groote Eylandt
				in 2 fths.
22/5/42			0600	Hove up and left under power.
	N.E.	E2. 1 BC	0925	Anchored Chasm Isld. in 3 fths.
			1430	Returned under power taking inside
				channel with local pilot.
	S.E.	NE2. 1. OC	1650	Clear Rocky Isld. set main sail and jib.
			1750	Took in sail.
			1810	Grounded at Entrance in Little Lagoon.

12.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
23/5/42			0600	Tide insufficient to refloat ship
			0930	Put out wedge to port and swung ship's
				head round.
	Various	E.NE2.1.BC	1010	Started engine and moved ahead.
			1145	Anchored Air Base in 3 fths.
			1300	Took vessel inshore stern first so as
				to be able to work propeller at low tide.
			1500 1515	Quantas Flying Boat arrived. Quantas Flying Boat left.
			1600	Received message from Sgt. Elkington.
				"Surface Water finished Wednesday"
24/5/42				At Air Base.
			0730	Working on propeller blades and
				taking necessary measurements for engineers to make replacement.
		E.NE.1.BC		Replaced copper sheathing damaged when
				propeller struck submerged log. Engineers from Air Base overhauling circulating water pump from launch engine. Refloated ship at high tide. Restowing cargo, Loaded 300 gals water and 30 cases of .50 ammunition which had been put ashore.
25/5/42	SE	ENE3.1.BC	0630	Hove up and left under power.
			0700	Anchored entrance to Little Lagoon
				awaiting tide. Unloaded 26 cases of the 30 cases of .50 ammunition which has been stored in shed in bush behind F. Gray's Camp and placed in his charge.
			1500	Hove up and left under power for
				anchorage outside Lagoon.
		ENE3.2.BC	1530	Anchored Port Langdon in 6 fths.
				Preparing mail and data for Lieut. Palmer to take to Brisbane via and Townsville, Service.
			1550	Flying boat arrived Air Base with
				equipt and stores from Townsville for A.O.B. Empire Boat remained at Base overnight.
26/5/42		SE. squally and		Service flying boat left soon after
		overcast.		daybreak. Lieut Palmer left for
				Darwin en route Brisbane by Quantas
	At anchor in Port Langdon			flying boat at about 1400 hrs, carrying
				safe hand mail for Darwin and Townsville. Afternoon overcast and squally. At 14 a heavy rain squall from the SE passed to westward of ship. Went ashore to Gray's Camp and arranged with Gray to hold 26 cases .50 calibre ammunition stored until my return. Made written report by safe hand to Advance Headquarters
	Wet squally night. Brought			Norforce, on the refusal of Hempel,
	natives of detachment aboard			Control Officer at the Flying Boat Base
	preparatory to sailing			to afford facilities in work on propeller
	tomorrow to search for lost			and his defiance of impressment
	GANNET aircraft.			order.

Last edited by:

Deb Parkinson

Last edited on:

15 April 2025, 8:22 pm

Last updated: 12 April 2025