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 31

Remarks

S/L Thomson left for shore. Hove up and left 

under power. Set all sail.  1115 A/C Lock-

heed passed East of vessel flying in southerly direction.
Serious laxity and waste with stores. Strict
orders which are to be adhered to regularly 

that either Lt. Palmer or O.C. will supervise 

issue of all rations and stores of whatever 

nature.  No firing practice with A.A. guns 

or systematic practice with any weapons by 

any personnel without direct approval of O.C. 

Orders have also been given by O.C. that 

under no circumstances is the ship's running
and standing gear such as sheets and halyards 

to be used for lashing gear, securing awnings 

or boats. This order has been neglected and 

is to enforced.

Lockheed passed close astern at low altitude 

was challenged and replied. It then left in 

Northerly direction

Sighted Lockheed NE of vessel travelling in 

S. direction

Commenced unloading after making arrangements with Control Officer to house stores 

for the Unit

1900

Owing to rain unloading was not commenced 

until 0815.  Heavy rains and squalls all 

morning from SW and W causing a choppy sea, 

it also being very low tide made loading and 

unloading the boats very difficult.  1830 

Sgt. Elkington in charge of working party 

ashore to check and stock all store 

Hove up and left under power as deemed it 

unsafe to lie off a lee shore with squalls 

and wind increasing

Remarks

At Caledon Bay.  0700 Crew sanding decks 

Crew ashore drilling.  Rainy and overcast 

wind various.  Routine maintenance 

work carried out aboard. 

At Caledon Bay.  Crew sanding decks and 

drill in p.m. Maintenance work on board. 

Wind and Rain on and off all day from 

N. and NW. O/C making rough survey of 

surrounding shores.

At Caledon Bay. Crew ashore drilling also 

sanding decks, drying sails

Reduced speed as canoe which was in tow 

capsized.  1505 Resumed at 550 revs. 

into the Westerly branch of Caledon Bay 

sounding off Middle Pt to southern 

side of Bay least water was 2 Faths.

Heavy rain from NW lasting intermitantly
all day

General maintenance work carried out

Remarks

S/L Thomson and Lt. Palmer  [[?]] survey of

bay

Strong [[?wind]], out to sea to avoid shallow

patch.  Revs 600.

Brought ship back on to 30^o to outer 

Trial Bay. Heavy rain squall from NW.

Revs 600. Visibility nil.

Anchored as unable to proceed owing to

dense rain.

Natives erecting cairns for survey of bay

Wind in N.[[?]] light N.W..  [[?]]  O.C.

Light rains in [[?]] from N.W.

Trial Bay. Crew sanding decks, drying sails  

and ground sheet. Natives on cairns and

prepare for survey.

Crew sanding decks and general maintenance.

Natives on beacons and cairns.

Lt Palmer away in launch. [[?]] Lt Palmer

returned.

Crew sanding decks and general maintenance.

S/L Thomson away in launch with [[???]]

Heavy rains. Natives cutting firewood and

erecting beacons.

S/L Thomas returned from bottom of bay with

launch

Remarks

S/L Thomson ashore to chain distance ashore 

for base line.

S/L Thomson returned. 0910 Crew watering 

ship from well.

S/L Thomson away in launch with Cpl. Ritchie 

to chain, the active lower portion of the bay

Anchored in bay to NE. of first anchorage
Rain from NW.
Natives ashore placing beacons. Lt Palmer 

ashore.  1915 Launch returned with S/L 

Thomson and Cpl. Ritchie. Heavy rain squall

 from S.W rain nearly all night.

SW.2

SW.2

0

0

R.

R.

S/L Thomson ashore to embark on flying boat

for H.Q. Norforce.

Remarks

Alt. Co. 200^o 0440. Bremmer Isld abeam

to Starboard.

Anchored about 3' nth of Cape Bristow 

Elcho Islds.

Remarks

Remarks

At Hardy Island. Crew sanding decks.

Lt. Palmer away in launch to pick up

survey party with all equipment and

stores move them to new site further

in to Arnhem Bay.

Lt. Palmer returned in launch having

landed party with all stores and equipment

also having loaned to them, flour, hatchet

and extra water containers.

Alt. Co to pass between Mallison and

Inglis Islands.

Increased Revs to 1100. 1918  Anchored in

passage English Company Islds. in 5 Faths.

Remarks

Woodhouse Rocks abeam. Took in sail.

Revs.1100

Remarks

Clear of Woodhouse rks. Course 010^o

Set main and head sail.

Remarks

Hove up and left under power as party and gear

had been loaded

Flinders Point abeam. Alt. Co. 311^o

Wind light and variable

Napier Peninsula abeam Co.   125^o. Sky very

overcast to SSE.

Unable to navigate channel as extreme low

tide. Anchored. Very heavy rains lasting

till 1830 Hrs.

Var-

ious

Clear of shallow bar anchored in

Cadell Str. in [[?]] faths.

Sandy Isld abeam set course for Mooroonga

Isld. 270^o 

Anchored. Landed RAAF party with all stores

and equipment. Also loaded stores landed

here on the 18th March. Landed Raiwalla 

and gear in launch. Loading fresh water.

Davits on port side carried away when

attempting to lift launch inboard while

a slight swell was running. These davits

were condemned by the C.O. while the ship 

was in Townsville in Oct. 42.  Material

was ordered by the O.C. through L.O.C. HQ

in Dec. 42.  But in spite of persistent inquiries

and signals the material for making the

new davits did not arrive until three days

before the vessel was ready to leave for

sea. The Railway Work who had undertaken

to make the new davits were unable to have

them finalised in time. as they were

handling priority work for the Navy.

Rigged auxiliary gear and lifted launch 

inboard.

Hove up and left under power.  Course

Various.