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 25

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Official Records

Status:

Open to contributions

Accession number:

AWM2022.1720.28641

Difficulty:

13.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
27/5/42	350°	E to SE mod to		Sky partially overcast, sea mod to
		fresh breeze with		rough with fair swell. Wind freshening
		swell from Easterly		during day.
		direction
	295°		0650	Crew putting awnings away making ready
				for sea.
	260°	Sky overcast	0720	Started engine.
		cloud on to	0734	Under way 600 revs. Have to to pick up
	280°	6/10, clearing		two green back turtles in Port Langdon.
		in late
		afternoon
	270°		0745	Course 360
	Thence various courses		0940	Breeze freshening; squalls on all
	to anchorage; proceeding			sides; as to 295; over to starboard
	with lead line.			tack.
			0950	Weather clearing to E & SE but heavy clouds ahead in NW.
			1000	North point Is about [1/4] mile away to port.
			1030	Chasm Is. close on port quarter, course [260°].
			1040	Wind now true SE Course 260 Magnetic; on starboard tack with jib and mainsails only.
			1130	Alt. course to 280 to pass between Low Sandy Is and W edge Rock Low Is. now 5 miles off on port bow.
			1330	Burney Is abeam to starboard.
			1400	Off NW of Blokerton; stopped to take surroundings; [5½] fathoms.
			1425	In Lowrie Channel Course 270 for Cape Barrow.
			1430	Stopped engines to sound.
			1510	Entering Bennett Bay. Anchored in Bennett Bay in [8 F]. approx 1600.
29/5/42		SE off land		At anchor Bennett Bay. Good
		Vis. good; fine and clear		anchorage inshore in Bennett Bay; mud bottom. Native patrol sent ashore yesterday. Camped ashore; reported
				no natives seen, nor any signs of recent occupation. Old grass still unburned, water scarce, region very arid. Exceptionally dry conditions. Turtles numerous in Bennett Bay; turtle eggs plentiful on eastern side of Cape Barrow
				Work on ship: Advantage was taken of
				quiet anchorage to carry out necessary
				routine work on ship as under:
				Holds. Main hold restowed and tidied.
				Mast hoops fitted on main mast to replace several broken hoops & all re-lashed.
				Main mast, mizzenmast, jiboom, gaffs
				and booms all stripped of ropes and oiled. Main sail. Seam resewn. Weapons. Rifles, guns, 1 TSMG etc cleaned and inspected.
		No natives; no signs recent occupation.		All patrols reported no signs recent occupation by natives. Fires observed all day to NNW over Morgan Island, Blue Mud Bay.

14.

Date	Changes	Winds	Time	Remarks
29/5/42		NE light		Bennett Bay. Weather clear and fine [[?]]
		breeze.		anchorage; slight swell aiming rd Cape
		Typical NE		Burrow into Bay.
		season day,	0600	Turned out, preparing to move into Woodah
		Vis. good		Island, Blue Mud Bay.
			0630	Brought native detachment under Corporal
				Raiwalla, camped ashore, on board.
	18°[[North?]]		0645	Under way; Increased to 800 revs
	110° "		0700	hoisted mainsail and jib only. Wind freshening from SE.
	Thence various courses when manoeuvring to anchorage		0745	Approaching Morgan - Woodah Is. entrance Stopped for sounding 6F Resumed at 800 revs
			0800	Sounding SP.
			0815	" SP
			0840	S.E. 110 to bring vessel into sheltered bay in lee of Woodah Is. 3F
			0850	Anchored in 2F mud bottom - deep blue mud from which Matthew Flinders named this Bay in 1803
30/5/42		SE	1100	Bay provides excellent anchorage, sheltered from both S & SE winds. No natives on Woodah Island, and no signs of any recent occupation. Fish abundant but no wallabies or other game. Wind moderating. About to proceed to mouth of Koolatong River the nearest anchorage for the main camping ground of the Blue Mud Bay natives at Mataraupaltj
			1230	Anchor up.
			1235	Under way, proceeding slowly, using lead line 2F; 2½ F 1240 hrs 3 F; hoisted jib sail only.
			1245	Shall patch 1 F. A.G. closer in shore 12.50 2½F. 12.55 5F. close inshore to Woodah Is.
	[[315]] for Koolatong River. Hence various courses.		1300	2gF. 1515. 3F 1327 increased revs. course for Foster Is off Koolatong RIver. Course 515° Mag.
			1520	Water shallow, [[?]]
			1545	Dropped anchor in 2 fathoms on NW side of Round Hill Is.
			1615	Launch ashore with natives.
31/5/42				At anchor, Round Hill Island. Sounded with dinghy to endeavour to locate anchor off Mainland, but failed to find suitable anchorage. On return moved vessel closer inshore under lee of Round Hill Island. Cpl Raiwalla returned to report no natives in vicinity but patrol has crossed Koolatong River as ordered and will return tomorrow. Fires noted to N & NE.

15.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
1/6/42	At anchor, Round Hill Island. Awaiting return of patrol and contact with natives of this area.			Strong breeze in east. Sea mod. Sky clear at daybreak becoming overcast; cloud as 5/10 overcast. wind blew strongly during the night, moderated before daybreak and later freshened. Now E not SE.
			0840	Sent dinghy ashore on mainland opposite Round Hill Island with Raiwalle, three Aboriginals and Tikki, two natives to make contact with patrol inland across the Koolatong River, the other three to hunt. No signals received on first two morning schedules or at 1130.
			1155	Wind back in the SE quarter, Weather clearing. Sent two boys ashore on Round Hill Is. to collect wood and to spear fish. Makau & Tausia cleaning cartridges inloaded Vickers belts. 1345 put on Kapiu to strip Vickers gun from starboard side. Native detachment returned 0630 hrs to report that there are no natives in Koolatong River Camp.
2/6/42		SE		Wind blew very fresh and strong during night. Sent detachment of natives to make contact with any natives in vicinity and to proceed overland to Trial Bay, South of Caledon Bay under Corporal Raiwalle. Fires not close to northern shoreline of Blue Mud Bay indicate presence of natives there but am unwilling to take the vessel close to that shoreline during SE weather as it is lee shore and almost uncharted. Corporal Raiwalle to rendezvous with ship at Trial bay by June 4th.
3/6/42		SE Sea mod		Returned to anchorage in bay under Woodah Island. Before proceeding, made examination of shoal and reefs that run out in a NE direction from the NW point of Round Hill Island. There is a fringe of rocks extending along the western side of Round Hill Island but it is very close inshore and there is a good anchorage in 2F well inshore that I had not located when here with the "St. Nicholas" some years ago.
	250°E		0825	Started engine, 0840 4F. increased to 800 revs.
	Thence various courses to Woodah Island.		1080	Anchored in 2F close inshore under Woodah Island.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
4/6/42		Chiefly E	0300	Clear and fine, sea calm with light breeze from E.
			0420	Turned out crew to heave up anchor.
	30°N		0435	Under way 800 revs.
	33°N		0445	Increased to 900 revs. Course 050°N
	32°N		0610	Birney Island abeam. Wind fresh N & E SE, sea choppy with fairly strong swell.
	Thence various to anchorage		0645	AC 033°, hoisted mainsail and jib.
			0700	Strong tide up, much broken water, shipped some water during the crossing of this rough stretch
			0724	Course SE.
			0800	Cape Shields abeam to port.
			0900	Sgt Harvey repts no call from RAAF Darwin for past four Schedules. Pt. Arrowsmith abeam. Numerous natives fires noted in vicinity of Trial Bay.
			1010	Pt to South of Trial Bay abeam.
			1115	Took in sails, proceeding to enter Trial Bay.
			1215	Anchored in 2F in Trial Bay. Canoe noted at entrance. Many natives camped in vicinity.
5/6/42				At anchor in Trial Bay. Trial Bay is still the chief camping ground of the dominant groups of this area but Wongo, head man of Caladen Bay camped there, about 15 miles to the northward of anchorage. Nil reports of Japanese activities from natives who report sighting a few aircraft presumably on reconnaissance. A name plate (wooden) apparently from a ship, inscribed "Horseman" brought in by natives who report finding it on the beach at entrance to Trial Bay.
6/6/42		SE		At anchor in Trial Bay Corporal Raiwalla returned late yesterday afternoon with his patrol. He had made contact with natives from Blue Mud Bay who reported having sighted low-flying twin-engined aircraft over Arnhem Land about the middle of May. Careful checking of these accounts and close cross-examination suggests that these were RAAF Lockhead Rudsons possibly engaged in search for lost Gannet aircraft for which we are searching. Watering vessel from wells on beach. Nowabout 100-150 natives at Trial Bay.

17.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
7/6/42		SE.A.M. 2100 hrs calm		At anchor in Trial Bay. Strong SE wind during night, sky overcast at times with heavy cu and nimbus cloud. Some light showers of rain. Morning clear and fine. Light breeze from SE and calm sea all day. Wind dropped completely by 2100 hrs. Had Wongo, old man of Caledon Bay on board to sift reports from various nomadic groups of Aircraft sightings. No definite information obtained. Natives gathering here in numbers.
				Work on Vessel. Crew at work on outside of hull preparatory to painting. [[?]] turned out; also to be painted. Kapiu on Vickers cartridge belts cleaning and polishing rounds. Sgt. Bilkington not heard from Roper C.F. since June 5th and no satisfactory call for some days.
8/6/42	Light breeze, East - South East. Vis. 8			At anchor in Trial Bay. Sea calm, sky clear, light E to SE breeze all day. Re-establishing important contacts with natives from Caledon Bay and Blue Mud Bay. All of Wongo's sons and all the group that returned home from Roper River without permission are willing to return with me and many other natives, including some of the "big" old men, volunteer to accompany ^ ship considering the value of a depot and base if such were established here. Big deputation of sick natives and women with children showing lesions on gums. Went ashore with medicine chest and was hard at work on medical treatment most of AM. Save large no. of routine infections with F.A.H. for [[?]] Turned out Fo'castle and had crew on painting it most of the day. Right gun of twin .50 Brownings stripped this PM. Flies very bad and troublesome, but no mosquitos.
				At anchor in Trial Bay. Light breeze in northerly quarter veering during the day to more typical south-east wind. Sky fine and clear, sea mod. Took on more wood and water preparatory to return to Groote Eylandt for safe hand mail and to despatch reports. have doomed it advisable to maintain NT silence throughout this patrol and have therefore maintained listening watches only for past 14 days. Much time and labour occupied in taking water and a fresh well had again to be sunk today. Ashore at 1030 hrs to visit Wongo and the old men in camp to maintain good relationship with them. Dried sails all day, main and mizzen. Inspected anchor round of ship sentries, eto.

18.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
10/6/42		SE, fresh, overcast 0730 dropped to calm. Sky clearing now 1/10 sea calm.		At anchor in Trial bay. 0630. Signal from Advance HQ Norforce, the first signal since leaving C. Islands.
				Work on vessel. Crew at work painting bulwarks and taffrail. Ashore, and made reconnaissance with launch of river in western corner of Trial Bay. Wide and shallow; many sand banks. Had the head old man Wongo and Kardarang aboard at night.
			0345	Wind in east, light breeze, sky clear.
11/6/42		SE 1230 Wind is N.E. 2230 Wind again in E-SE light breeze.		At anchor Trial Bay. Natives who left Roper River with Caldeon Bay group not yet arrived and despatched two runners today to locate them and bring them in. No further information obtainable from natives re aircraft. Nil sightings since leaving Groote Eylandt.
			1430	Ashore to hunt, returned to ship approx 1730 hrs.
				Work on board. All .50 caliber ammunition cleaned to remove verdigris etc and case polished, with brasso by crew. Crew also cleaning and turning all .303 ammunition loaded in belts for Vickers and also that in Bron Magazines, and inspecting rounds.
12/6/42	0630 hrs SE, light breeze. Sea Mod. Sky clear (cloud 1/10) Vis. 8 1050 hrs Wind- NE to E fresh, rain clouds and some local squalls.			Trial Bay. Preparing for return to Groote Eylandt. loading wood and again filling all water tanks. Ashore to warn all natives of departure, returning with some of Caledon Bay detachment but have had to refuse numerous volunteers as it seems certain that when certain of their number have been away with the vessel and have had arms training they will serve a more useful role in their own home territories then elsewhere.
				Crew at work on ammunition belts. Sgt Harvey reports no sign of Sgt Elkington and that he is unable to establish contact with him. Sent signals to Adv HQ, Norforce, breaking N.T. silence for first time since leaving Groote Eylandt.

13/6/42	123°N 120°E	SE fresh to strong	0730	All natives including Caledon Bay detachment aboard; ships getting ready for sea.
	200		0740	Started engine. (Noticed ticking noise in engine which I am unable to locate).
			0800	Increased to 900 revs.
			0815	Passing out of Trial Bay.
			0850	Set course for SW. Groote Eylandt; hoisted mainsail and jib. Course 193° Mag.
			0930	Blowing strongly from E, mod to heavy swell, shipping some water.
			1025	Point Arrowsmith abeam. Winding holding K.
			1150	Increased to 1000 revs. No excessive vibration, no smoke from exhaust. First occasion on which engine has been operated at full normal speed since damage to propeller in Roper River.
			1155	Cape Shields abeam 9 miles to starboard, bearing 268.
			1305	Wedge Rock abeam to starboard.
	2030	Nil Calm clear still night but overcast	1340	Alt. Course to 190.
			1410	Empire Flying Boat (Short) sighted on approx course 880 eastern.
			1625	Set course to 200, 1650. Brought in sail, approaching anchorage SW Groote Eylandt.
			1740	Anchored in 2F off A.O.B's Mission in calm water.
			1745	2 boats away to land all mainland natives under Corporal Raiwalla. Calm still night. No wind, overcast.
14/6/42		0600 Nil Sky clear Vis. 8. sea [[?]] at anchorage	0830	At anchor SW Groote Eylandt off A.O.B. Took launch into river up to Mission aprx 4 miles upstream. Saw Harris and met P/O Stevenson Officer in charge G. Eylandt.
		SE fresh to strong	p.m.	RAAF AOB. No signals, mail, or safe hand letters, but RAAF tender proceeding tomorrow 15th to Flying Boat Base and returning 16th & will bring anything there. Had P/O Stevenson & Sgt on board [[Argetts?]] for lunch. Work on vessel. Routine scrubbing of decks & some hours on painting otherwise took opportunity to give crew rest and to allow them off for fishing. Gave shore leave to Sgt Harvey, W/T Operator from 1330 on to visit A.O.B.

20.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
15.6.42		S.E.		At anchor Groote Eylandt. Routine work on ship. Nil signals from Norforce. Sentries posted every night when at anchor from approx. 1800 hrs ^ to 0650 hrs crew taking watches of two hours. This practice has been maintained for some months
16.6.42		S.E.		At anchor, Groote Eylandt. Routine duties on ship.
17.6.42		S.E.		At anchor, Groote Eylandt. Routine duties aboard ship. Brief visits to shore with native detachment, only unable to leave vessel for lengthy periods until return of Lt. Palmer.
18.6.42		Nil at dawn clear still night with very heavy dew. SW fresh p.m. Nil at night		At anchor off Groote Eylandt. Work on vessel completed chipping of windless gear and drum and painted with red lead
		Sky clear	2030 hrs	Removed safe and all timbers covering steering quadrant and scoured this with strong disinfectant to kill the small cockroaches which infest it. Painting deck houses, completed work started yesterday.
		Still calm cold at night with another heavy dew.	1500 hrs	Harris, Missionary & Payne. Commonw'th Dept (apparently foreman of works) came aboard for about two hours. Natives all hunting and fishing all day.
19.6.42		Nil		At anchor of Groote Eylandt Still calm night, cold with very heavy dew. Work on Ship. Second coat of red lead on windlass. Sailing dinghy (left skiff) on counter for painting. Had crew at work scouring and preparing boat. Painted decking of Charthouse, taken off duty on shore leave. Crew at work P.M. on cleaning of weapons.
		Rifle Inspection		Inspected rifles of native crew. Two signals despatched to Norforce. P/O Stevenson (RAAF) came aboard at approx 1300 hrs. with a signal from N.E. area informing me that Lieut A.E. Palmer will return by Flying Boat NTA Groote Eylandt 21/6. Sent for half caste Harold to obtain check on reports of sighting of A.V. Marouhra at WINCHELSEA Isld. Harold aboard 1830 hrs.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
20.6.42	10°m 30°m 55°m	NE Strong breeze Mod sea Vis 7	0930	Calm night with heavy white mist in morning almost completely obscuring shoreline only 1 mile away. Calm with no wind. Later overcast with light rain squalls and fresh to strong breeze from SE to SSE. Half caste native Harry from Groote Eylandt Mission brought aboard to pilot through inside passage to Base. One signal at 2340 Z/19 to Norforce re unsatisfactory signals communications. Left all natives except two of the two sections brought to Groote, in camp.
	Thence various to anchorage under Chasm Is.		0930
			1300	Started engine; 1308 under way, 1310 increased to 900 revs. 1340 Mainsail & jib. 1345 set course 10°m
			1500	Connection Is. abeam to Port wind SE
			1545	Altered course; 30°m 1610 [[?]] to clear reef/ Fixed bolt of Vickers for practice from shipin motion.
			1630	Approaching Chasm Isl. 1715 anchored under Chasm Is. in 5F. on sandy bottom.
			1710	Engine run at 900 revs; no excessive vibration. Speed approx. 8.5 knots under engine and sail. Vickers on starboard side stripped by Pte Rapul and reassembled; 1800 hrs. Sentries posted as usual.
21.6.42	At anchor Chasm Isd.	SE Strong wind Sky clear, no cloud, vis 7	0600	Wind blew very fresh from NE throughout night becoming strong after daylight. prepared for sea but decided dangerous to proceed through narrow rocky passage until weather abates.
		Report on Arms held		Furnished report by "safe hand pilot" to Advanced HQ Norforce of arms and ammunition held by this Unit requested in signal 081/040 of 8/6/42.
		Work on Vessel		Routine work on decks and engine room; painting sailing skiff. Sent two of crew off to fish returned 1120 hrs.
			1120	Sgt Harvey. W.T. Operator reports NIL sigs from Darwin.
			1130	Sky fully overcast, still blowing hard. P.M. Carrying on with work on board. Painting canvas covers of Port and Starboard Vickers. and .50 cal. also canvas covers on both port and starboard deck tanks. 1600 Wind eased. Weather moderated; preparing to leave anchorage.
			1610	Under way; 700 revs. 1620 Increase to 800 revs.
			1630	Increased to 900 revs.
			1800	Heavy rain squall ahead over Port Langdon 1805 entering Port Langdon. Jagged Hand abeam. 1835 resumed to 900 revs. 1830 anchored in 2 ½F. in Fort Langdon near to buoys N of Base. Lieut Palmer returned from Brisbane by P/B.

22.

Date	Courses	Winds	Time	Remarks
22.6.42		SE. Fresh to strong breeze sky overcast Vis 5	0900 9/10	At anchor Port Langdon Lt. Palmer ashore to get propeller and shaft from Brisbane. Loaded 32 gallons patrol and 16 galls lighting kerosene from Shell Company. All equipment obtained by Lt. Palmer in Brisbane except propeller and shaft to carried to A.O.B. by service aircraft from F.B. area.
			1315	S/Lt. Thomson & Lt. Palmer ashore to visit Fred Gray's camp on Little Lagoon; returned to ship at 1700 hrs. Arranged with Gray to rendez vous with his is bush in case of enemy landing. Instructed Gray to withdraw inland and to take all natives in vicinity, warning them against assisting or fraternising with Japanese.
			1500	Sgt. Harvey ashore on leave to visit air base. Weather cold and overcast with wind in S.E. Firing practice with .50 Browning A.A. Gun 1730 hrs.
23.6.42			0600	Hove up and left under power. Revs 600.
			0610	Increased revs to 1000. 0715 Jagged Head abeam
	N.W.	SE.1 sea C B.C.	0625	Stopped engine hove too W/T Operator transmitting.
	W.	SE. 3 sea 1 B.C.	0645	Resumed under power. Crew burning off point aft cabin.
			0915	Stopped engine Resumed under jib.
			0935	Resumed under power.
			1415	Anchored Mission Stn. in 3 Fth. "Ingene" here.
24.6.42		SE. 2 Sea 2 B.C.		At Groote Eylandt. Crew burning off paint Overhauled steering gear Cached on shore .50 ammunition 41 gals. petrol cached also 8 gals. Kerosene.
25.6.42		SE. 3 sea 2 B.C.		At Groote Eylandt. postponed departure to assist C.O. A.O.B with L.F.G. Loaned Vickers Tripod to A.O.B. Crew painting Cabin aft. Filling water tanks.
26.6.42	S.W.	Nil. 0 G1	0115	Hove up and left under power. Revs 1000
	230°	SE. 1 2 G1;	0230	Clear Sandy Cape. 0400 S/L Thomson took over Reduced Revs = 700 0645 Increased Revs 1000
	226°	SE.3 2. BC.	0815	Anchored Low Rock Island.
	230°	" " "	1015	Resumed under power. Revs 900
			1300	Alt. Co. 275° Reduced speed 800
			1345	Grounded on River Bar in blind channel Tide falling unable to refloat vessel.

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Last edited by:

Ray Stenhouse

Last edited on:

18 January 2025, 10:44 pm

Last updated: 21 April 2025