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 30

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Official Records

Status:

Open for review

Accession number:

AWM2022.1720.28641

Difficulty:

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	17/1/43
1550	Lt. Palmer orders to ascertain aircrafts movements
1600	Lt. Palmer returned Crew stand down in p.m
	18/1/45 S/L Thomson ashore to arrange emergency V/T calls with Airadio in event of landings or sightings Crew sanding decks. Cpl Ritchie on Arms and ammunition.
			KH.2	c	S.C.
1025	Move up and left under power. 1055 stopped engine stern gland warm	325°	KH.1	C	S.C.
1115	Resumed under power. Shaft is bent or out of alignment as it is impossible to run at 1000 Revs, without the packing being torn up or excessive heating of gland.
1150	Alt. Co, 315° 1210 Alt. Co. 220° 1230 Alt. Co. 230°
1305	Alt. Co. 240° 1400 Alt. Co. 210° 151a
1430	Alt. Co. 200° Alt in light breeze from W	200°	W.1	C	S.C.
1720	Anchored S.E. Groote Eylandt in [[?]] Fathoms Lt Palmer ashore to O.H... Found that only part of equipment shipped here last August is here.
2100	Lt Palmer Returned ship
	19/1/43
0740	Hove up and moved vessel in shore [[into. 2½?]] Fathoms		NW.1	C	S.C.
0815	S/L Thomson, Lt Palmer, Cpl Ritchie, CAO Hazell and Ptes Baker and Takapoli ashore with Bren gun. for practice firing from bipod.
0945	Party returned to ship. Crew under Cpl. Ritchie Cleaned and checked all Bren guns also all Bren Chests. Cleaned and repainted		N.1	C	S.C.
1230	F/Lt. Leyall aboard for lunch. Crew ashore for water. Overcast and rainy over Groote Eylandt		SE1	C	C.C.N
	20/1/45
	At O.B. Groote Eylandt Anchorage. Crew sanding decks. Shipped 4 lots armour plating which were in bad condition
1215	2 Dragon Island at O.B.
[[?]]	Received Operational Order No.11 from C/O		W.1	C	B.C.
1530	Heavy rains lasting one hour. Wind from all quarters
1700	Launch ashore to O.B. with Cpl Ritchie and LAC. Hazell taking stores to O.C. O.B. also returned one RAAF wireless receiver loaned from O.B. last August. Cpl. Egan. W/T Operator reprimanded for failure to carry out instructions to [[efface J -?]] Check on signal from NW area received last night.

16.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	21/1/43
0720	O.C. ashore to catch plane for H.Q. Crew sanding decks chipping ironwork
0120	2 Dragons left for North Western Area
1000	Hove up and left under power	260°	NW.1	C	S.C.
1035	Alt. Co. 1055 Alt. Co. 360° 1110 Alt. Co. 15°	340°
1230	[[Ching?]] Isld, abeam Alt. Co	35°
1745	Jagged Head abeam
1830	Anchored Jagged Head as tide too low to attempt entrance to Little Lagoon Crew ashore cutting firewood Instructions on [[iron?]], setting up tripod for firing line and A.A.
	22/1/43
0700	Hove up and left under power	330°	EW.1	1	S.C.
0810	Anchored off [[Pen?]] as still insufficient water to attempt entrance to lagoon
0935	Respond under power Hove. 600
0945	Clear. [[?]] Hove. 1000. 1015 Lay alongside Civil Aviation wharf. Discharged cargo from main hold and checked same. Removed all ammunition from counter and checked and stored same in No. 2 hold Sgt. Pilkington removed intermediate shaft to check alignment.
	23/1/43
1200	Unloaded, chipped and painted all around plating (24 cadets) Sgt. Elkington reported that examination proved the tail shaft o be slightly bent. Sent signal to O.C. at Norforce (signal originated but not sent to F/L. Thomson [[Sig?]] A.G. Palmer Lieut)
0900	Safe hand and will motors to .... Air Base
1130	[[Dutch?]] [[Corniar?]] loaded and refueled
1400	[[Border?]] departed, 1435 [[Quarter?]] boat arrived.
1800	Quarter boat departed.Received a check for signal [[called?]] on 20/1. signal delayed to C.O. (signal referred to above. [[S?D?]]A.C.F. until evening [[?]] as W/T operator unable to get it away before then. Cpl. Ritchie on Vickers and Bren ammunition boxes.		NE.1	0	B.C.
	24/1/43
1000	S/L Thomson arrived on F/B from Darwin.
1030	F/H departed. Bren loaded fuel all out. It was found the oil left here by Army was unsuitable and had to be returned. In spite of the signal [[?Q-15 15/9/42]] when S.C. pointed out to [[?]]that the oil was furnace oil and we required Diesolene or similar oil.

17.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	24/1/43
[[1 .0?]]	Strong squall from South. moved vessel into stream with ledge as shaft still remained uncoupled		S.4	2	R.
1930	Wind nil. sea 0. sky O.C. Total: " In view of weather conditions & the general improbability of having the vessel US. the coupling of the shaft was ordered immediately and the engine used to move the vessel to a more suitable anchorage. (Bgd) D.F.T.
	25/1/43
	[[Headed?]] out and returned fuel to shore dump and loaded 10 drums Dieselene obtained from Shell Co.
1430	Hove up and left under power. Revs 1000	Var- ious
1445	Revs. 600. 1515 Clear Passage. Little Lagoon. Revs. 1000
1530	Anchored 2. Fathoms off Shell Co. [[?]] Crew loading water and fuel oil After having the fuel removed as noted above arrangements have been made for the supply of suitable fuel from a resource of approx 50,000 gals of FUEL DISTILLATE (not Diesoline) held by Shell Co. at Groote Eylandt. "Q" Branch advised of position by letter.
	26/1/43
0500	Hove up and left under power	275°	SE.1	0	o
0540	Alt. Co. N 10° S 0611 Alt. Co. 250°	10°
0900	Not all plain sail	350°	ENE2	X	o
1050	[[?]] circled ship and continued W. after giving [[?]] Recognition Signal
1120	Alt. Co. Entering Caledon Bay	350°
1230	Took in mail wet after raining
1510	Anchored off [[?U.V. 1A.E. Fth.]] S/L Thomas ashore. Crew putting stores for ship.
	27/1/43 At Caledon Bay. Preparing ship for beaching by loading to the bow at 1100 W/T Operators contested Army with RAAF set but not Army [[receiver?]]. S/L Thomas ashore at OP. Cpl. Ritchie ashore hunting. Sgt. Elkington dismantling shaft.		SE.1	0	R
1330	Took vessel in shore on top of tide
1?20	Tide falling anchored up vessel. 1600 drew out old shaft and propeller and fitted spare shaft
1900	No contact made with Army at W/T

18.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	28/1/43
0430	High water stood by to recheck vessel as tide falls
0545	Vessel safely checked.
0600	Sgt. Elkington making new bolts to refasten plumber block bearer at old fastenings carried away.
2200	Shaft coupled. Propeller fastened and new bolts placed into plumber block bearing.		SW.1	0	B.C.
	29/1/43
0245	Took vessel off beach and anchored in stream
0645	Rain squall from N.E. 0745 rain lifted. Crew replacing cargo and cleaning decks.		SW.1	0	R.
0910	Took vessel for trial run, shaft and bearing appear to be satisfactory as there was no excessive heating. Crew cutting firewood in p.m.
1745	Heavy Rain squall from S.E. which pulled to N.E.		SE.8	1	R.
2200	Calm and clear
	30/1/43
0730 0800	At Caledon Bay. Crew sanding decks and drying sails. Two men ashore to dip sails in preserving solution. Cpl. Ritchie ashore with Bren & Tripod. Cpl [[Egar?]] ashore. L&C Howell reprimanded for answering back and questioning orders of O.C.		nil	0	S.C.
1600	Sgt. Elkington ashore to drill crew. Heavy rain squall		ESE4	0	R.
1900	Wind still from ENE overcast and rainy sky
	31/1/43 At Caledon Bay. Crew mending mizzen and jib. Light rain all day. Sky overcast Ptes. Makan and [[?Tanels]] ashore on leave		nil	0	O.C.H
1800	Sent [[?]] mail
	1/2/43
0530	Hove up and left under power	190°	nil	0	O.C.
0630	Alt. Co, 120° 0735 Cape Grey skies	170°	nil	0	S.C.
0933	Engine stopped. Clutch oil leaking
1030	Resumed under power
1420	Anchored. Civil Aviation Base in 2 Fath.
1435	Lt Palmer ashore. 1500 Lt. Palmer returned [[?]] L&C Howell ashore in charge of control officer. Cpl. [[?]] bringing wireless receiver with instructions. issued from Airadio. Sgt. Elkington loading fuel and water. [[?]]. Cpl. ~~xxx~~ advise AA Norforce.
2200	Strong squall from NW [[clear?]] all night		NW	1	S.C.

19.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	2/2/43
0500	Hove up and left under power	315°	NW.3	2	O.C.
0600	Alt. Co. N. 0530 Alt. Co. 380°	350°	NW.3	3	C.
1045	Wind hauled to S. Put main and jib sail
1200	Sighted 2 BM's flying in easterly direction.
1230	Cape Grey. [[?]]. Alt. Co. 340° 1315 Co. 230°
1445	Anchored Caledon Bay at 2 Fath.		N.1	0	S.C.
1450	Lt. Palmer ashore to report O.C.
	3/2/43 At Caledon Bay. 0700 Sgt. Elkington ashore with crew for drilling.		NW.2	1	S.C.
0830	Crew sanding decks. Cpl. Ritchie cleaning Bren and Tripods. Sgt. Elkington dismantled and overhauled compressor on [[?main]] engine
1600	Crew ashore for drill with Sgt. Elkington and Cpl. Ritchie S/L Thomson ashore preparing for foot patrol to Fort [[Bre?]]		SW.1	0	S.C.
	4/2/43
0700	At Caledon Bay. Launch ashore with Cpl. Ritchie		nil	0	C.
0900	Hove up and left under power	180°	NW.1	1	S.C.
0915	Alt. Co. 130° 0940 Alt. Co: 130° 1010 Alt. Co. 90°
1110	Dudley [[?]] shown	10°	NW.1	1	O.C.
1200	Heavy Rain squall from NW. wet main wall and jib	2°	NW.3	1	R.
??45	Fort Bradshaw stream. Alt. Co. Crew chipping and red leading exhaust [[?]].	210°	NW.2	1	O.C.
1630	Lighted fire on south side of structure		E.2	1	O.C.
1915	Launch returned with O.C. and natives back from patrol
2000	Fresh NW wind with O.C. sky A/Sgt Zapui again left in charge at Caledon Bay under operation order to 'Aroetta' sent to Fort Bradshaw under Lieut Palmer to wait my arrival there. Proceeded overland on foot.		NW.3	1	O.C.
	5/2/43
0020	Hove up and left under power	Var- ious	W.1	0	B.C.
0100	Anchored in [[? ali]] Bay southern side of Fort Bradshaw in 0 Fathoms
1200	Rain squall from S. Vessel edged forward further midstream		W.4	1	O.C.R.
??00	Wind from NW.2 1 O.C.R. Made contact with man at Fort Bradshaw This man had been the ring leader in the recent trouble there Sgt. Ellkington and with not [[vas?]] stores at Caledon Bay. On being informed of this fact obliged to take action. Conflicted large [[?]] from man. As 'Aroetta' unable to carry this it was destroyed.		NW.2	1	O.C.R.

20.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	6/2/43
	Crew sanding decks overhauling and cleaning 730 Cal. ammunition		W.2	1	O.C.
1015	Hove up and left under power. Hove 200. 1025 Hove 1000
1105	Increase to 1050 revs.	30°	W.1	1	B.C.
1225	Alt. Co. 1330 Capo Arnhein [[?]] Co. 315°	25°	WE.1	1	O.C.
1610	Anchored in 3 Fath.		NW.1	0	O.C.
	7/2/43
0615	Hove up and left under power	N.	NW.2	1	O.C.
0725	Brener laid. [[?]]. 0740 Alt. Co. for Cape wilberforce	312°
0915	Increased Revs. 1050. 1050 Clear Cape Wilberforce Reduced Revs 1000. 1215 Alt. Co. to intercept canoe	340°	NW.3 NW.1	2 1	S.C. S.C.
1220	stopped Engine 1232 Resumed under power	225°
1330	Alt. Co. 230° 1715 Anchored inside Everett Head 3 Fath. Strong head tides experienced the whole passage		SW.1	0	O.C.R.
	8/2/43 At Arnhem Bay.
0??0	S/L Thomson ashore in launch Crew checking and loading .10 cal. ammunition		nil	0	C.
1140	Engine of Aircraft heard in SWW direction but not seen Cpl. Ritchie overhauling and cleaning all machine guns.		SW.1	0	C.
1330	S/L Thomson returned on board
1930	Lt. Palmer and Cpl. Ritchie ashore
2100	Lt. Palmer and Cpl. Ritchie returned.		W.2		O.C.R
	9/2/43
0520	Hove up and left under power. Send slow
0545	Increased Revs 600 ss [[?]] of engine
0555	" " 1000	15°	N.1.	1	O.C.
0700	Clear Flinders Point. Heavy Rain squalls to X and W.	310°
0815	Entering Cadall Straite. Backingham Bay [[?]] and [[?]] Peninsular shore		NW.2	1	O.C.R.
0840	Anchored Cadall Straite in 2 Fath.		NW.1	0	R.
10??	Hove up and left under power. Revs 500	Var- ious	NW.2	3	O.C.R.
1100	Anchored as heavy Rain squall made visibility too bad		NW.3	2	R.
1250	Rain lifted Resumed under power. 300 Revs.	Var- ious	NW.2	1	O.C.R.
1330	Increased Revs to 1000
1500	Anchored NW dn3 Cadell Straite in 3 Fath.		NW.3	1	O.C.R.
1600	S/L Thomson ashore

21.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	10/2/43 IN Cadell Straits. 0730 moved vessel further to southand
0840	end anchored off track to [[?]] Station Sgt. Elkington ashore with [[?]] guns for repair. Heavy Rain squall to E. with fresh winds from NW. Crew cleaning ammunition and making covers for twin .50 cal. Lt. Palmer ashore to aerodrome site		NW.4	1	O.C.R.
1900	Lt. Palmer and Sgt. Elkington returned. Pump repaired and replaced. Heavy rain squall from S.W.		SW.3	1	H.
	11/2/43
0730	Hove up and left under power	Var- ious	N.1	0	B.C.
1815	Vessel grounded on bank. 0845 vessel refloated and resumed slow speed. 0915 Vessel grounded as insufficient water to navigate channel. 1130 resumed under power Revs.1000	80°	S.1°	0	S.C.
1230	Clear of [[?]] [[?]]. 1240 Revs increased 1050	120°	S.3	2	S.C.
1340	Alt. Co. 135° 1350 Alt. Co. 180° 1430 Co.a 145° Running Anglis Isle.	145°	E.1	0	S.C.
1520	Hove too to inspect 41 gal. drum floating.a Picked up drum which contained Kerosene. 1545 resumed under power
1810	Cape Wilberforce [[?]]	055°	W.1	2	O.C.R.
1830	Very heavy rain squall. Alt. Co. melvills Bay	180°	SW.3	2	R.
1945	Rain lifted. Light southerly wind	180°	S.1	1	O.C.R.
2000	Anchored Melville Bay in 3 Fath.
	Soon after leaving Cape Wilberforce on course for Yirkels heavy weather loomed up and on account of the lateness of the hour and the fact that I did not wish to have to make this anchorage on a dark and stormy night i deemed it best to make foe Melville Bay and to anchor below the [[?]] on the northern side of the entrance.
	12/2/43
0700	Hove up and left under power. 1000 revs.
0730	Set [[?]] and ib	070°	W.1	0	S.C.
0830	Alt. Co. 0920 anchored Yuikule in 5 Fath. Crew filling water tanks fine clear weather	130°	SW.1	0	S.C.
0930	S/L Thomson Ashore. 1120 S/L Thomson returned
1200	Lt. Palmer ashore. 1400 Lt. Palmer returned
1900	Light wind from sea. Sky overcast On account of the amount of ammunition [[?]] carried in belts and the effect of the weather on them, [[?]] constant cleaning. Took on board two Aborigines at Yuikule. Tonight. When natives [[?]] and [[?]] attention are to assist in daytime lookout for Aircraft and in cleaning belted ammunition for the [[?]]. A thrid native [[?]] was brought from Caladon Bay. These natives quickly proved themselves to be excellent look [[?]] for Aircraft.		W.1	0	O.C.

22.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	16/2/45
[[?]]	Anchored off O.P. Caladon Bay Deloaded all fuel oil from deck. Crew cleaning ship
1550	B.54 passed S of vessel flying W.
1725	A/C passed S of vessel flying N.		NW. 3	1	OCR
	A/Sgt Kapui reported all well at O.P. during advance of 'Arostia' on patrol
	17/2/45
0700	Crew sanding decks. Cleaning out and stacking forward hold. Also repairing and making new gun covers. Twin .50 cal. dismantled for overhaul. S/L Thomson ashore at O.P. Signal tests with [[Army rar?]] commenced today at request of CEO Norforce who has been informed by signal of the proposed schedule. W/T operator reported no contact made.		NW. 1	2	R.
	18/2/43 At Caladon Bay
0745	Crew ashore drilling [[?]] awning and reroping. Cleaned out launch. Chipped and red leaded exhaust pipe, also cleaned exhaust pipe inside. Recovered engine room acuttle with new canvas Checking over main engine and generator.
1900	W/T operator reports contact not made with Army		NW.1	O	O.C.R.
	19/2/43
	Owing to rain [[crew ?]] unable to drill Cleaning [[caulking?]] and painting chart house Chipping and cleaning machine gun standards Crew filling water tanks from lagoon		Vari-ous	O	O.C.R.
1700 1900	Loaded [[?]] oil and kerosene and petrol Heavy rains lasting nearly all night W/T operator reports no contact made with Army.
	20/2/43
1600	At Caledon Bay Crew ashore drilling Chipped and painted machine gun standards and devit sockets. Treated all gun [[covers?]], hatch covers and main [[?]] with water- proofing material. .50 cal Twin guns completely overhauled and reassembled. Crew ashore for drilling. Rains in evening lasting nearly all night. W/T Operator reported no contact with Army		SW.1	O	O.C.R.

24.

Hours	Remarks	Co.	Wind	Sea	Sky
	21/2/45
0800	Crew ashore for drilling Painting Chart house, davits, and machine gun mounts, Vickers machine gun and started [[0.50 cal.]] taken down for overhaul and replaced 1600 Crew ashore for drilling		Var- ious	O	O.C.R.
1900	W/T operator reports still unable to contact Army
	22/2/43
	At Caledon Bay 0800 ashore for drilling Painting ironwork and main cable [[?]] Cutting firewood and cleaning .50 cal ammunition Fine clear weather. 1100 W/T operator report ed contact made with Army. 1600 crew ashore for drilling. .50 cal. machine gun on Part hand cleaned overhauled and replaced First fine day for some time. Took advantage of this to dry bedding and wet equipment on ship and ashore. Calm and clear at night but later heavy rain fall, marking in this last week the real onset of the [[?]] (N.W. monsoon) that failed in 1942. First signal received tonight through Army signals direct in Army code. Less effective than RAAF communication[[?]] ship but every effort being directed by W/T operator to build up this system that is to be installed later. [[how to ?]]		N.	1	O.C.R.
	23/2/43 'Arosita' at anchor off O.P. at Caledon Bay. Tuesday.
0930	Commenced loading		[[?]]	1	O.C.R.

Last edited by:

Peter Longstaff

Last edited on:

18 November 2024, 6:27 pm

Last updated: 18 November 2024