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

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Official Records
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2022.1720.28641
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

akks

25.

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sat Sky
  24/2/43 Wednesday at anchor, Caledon Bay.        
0645 Lt. Palmer ashore with crew to load stores        
0830 Returned to ship with O.C.        
0945 S/L Thomson left for shore. Hove up and left
under power. Set all sail.  1115 A/C Lockheed
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.		 120o W.1 1 C
1145

Cape Grey abeam.  Shaped course Groote

Eylandt

 170o W.1 2 B.C.
1330 Lockheed passed close astern at low altitude
was challenged and replied.  It then left in
Northerly direction		 170o SW.1 2 O.C.
1400 Took in sail as wind changed to S.W.        
1550 Sighted Lockheed NE of vessel travelling in
S. direction		        
1700 Jagged Head abeam.  Alt. Co. 180o      
1800 Anchored off Shell [[moorings?]] Groote Eylandt        
1840

Commenced unloading after making arrange

ments with Control Officer to house stores 

for the Unit

        
?45 Owing to darkness and sea making up
stopped unloading.		        
2130 Very heavy rain squall from NE
Rain squalls off and on all night from NE
to SW direction		   NE.3 2 O.C.R
  25/2/43  At Groote Eylandt.        
  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.  1330
Sgt Elkington in charge of working party
ashore to check and stock all store		   NW.3 3 O.C.R
1900 Hove up and left under power as deemed it
unsafe to lie off a lee shore with squalls
and wind increasing		 340o NW.3 3 H.
2000 Anchor under lee of Jagged Head in [[?]] Fath.
Heavy rains all night with wind from NNE
and NW.		        
  26/2/43        
0300 Still raining heavily and overcast visibility
very bad		   NW.1 0 H
0430 Turned out crew and took boat inboard        
0450 Started engine and hove up. Revs 500  150o NE.1 O R.
0500 Alt.Co. 45o  Increased Revs 1000
0550 Alt. Co.		 350o NW.1 2 O.C.
 

26.

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind St Sky
  26/2/43        
0950 Alt. Co. 330o   NW.3 3 O.CE
1100 Cape Grey abeam. 12.40 Rain squall from NW        
1305 Anchored Caledon Bay in 2 Fath. 
Lt Palmer ashore to report to O.C.		        
1445 S/L Thomson and Lt Palmer returned on board        
  27/2/43        
1030 At Caledon Bay. 0700 Crew sanding decks
Crew ashore drilling.  Rainy and overcast
wind various.  Routine maintenance
work carried out aboard. 		   Var-
ious		 0. C.C.R.
  Weather overcast and rainy all day,
with strong squalls from NW and W.		   NW.3 1 R.
  28/2/43        
  At Caledon Bay.  Crew sanding decks and 
drill in the 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 areas.		        
  1/3/43 S.W. NW.3 2 C.C.R.
xx40
1458		 At Caledon Bay. Crew ashore drilling also
sanding decks, drying sails.
Hove up and left under power. Revs 1000
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 3 Faths.		        
1630 Vessel anchored in 3 Faths.  [[?]] miles off
shore.		        
1718 Strong SW squall with rain.
Weather overcast and raining all p.m.
wind from SW.		        
  2/3/43        
  At Caledon Bay. (Western Arm)        
0700 Crew sanding decks and filling water
tanks from Lagoon		        
1140

Heavy rain from NW lasting intermit-

tently all day
General maintenance work carried out.

   NW.2 0 C.C.R.
  3/3/42        
  At Caledon Bay (Western Arm)
Crew sanding decks.  Overhauling Bren
cases and ammunition		        
1000 S/L Thomson away in launch to survey
bottom of bay		   NW.3 1 H.C.
1440 Heavy rain squall from N.W   NW.4 1 R
1600 Rain lifted sky overcast and dull   nil 0 O.C.R.
1700 S/L Thomson returned in launch        
1720 Heavy rain squall from N.        
2000 Still raining lightly.  Sky overcast         
 

27.
 

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind   Sky
  4/4/43        
  At Caledon Bay (Western Arm)        
0700 Light rain with overcast sky.  Crew sanding
decks		   NIL 0 C.C.R
[[0945?]]

S/L Thomson and Lt. Palmer  [[xxxxxx?]]

[[?]]

        
1245 Heavy rain squall from N.W   NW.4   R
1440 Lt. Palmer returned. with S/L Thompson [[?]]        
1720 Light rain and sky overcast   nil 0 O.C.R
  5/3/43        
[[?]] S/L Thomson ashore currently  [[frxxs?]] line   N[[x.x?]] O [[R?]].C.
1100 Hove up and left under power revs 600
1110 Revs 1000		 [[90o?]]      
1300 Hove [[?speed xxxxx 1810 resumed?]] [[110o?]] [[NW.x?]] 1 O.C.
1325 Reduced speed [[600?]] Revs. 1340 stopped
engines.  S/L Thomson and Lt Palmer
ashore to [[?]] to the take as [[flight?]]		        
1425 Returned to ship and resumed under power
Revs 1000.		 [[160o?]] NW. O O.C.
[[?]]

[[?Strong]] [[?]], out to sea to await [[?]]

[[?]].  Revs 600.

        
[[?]]

Brought ship back on to 30o to outer 

Trial Bay. Heavy rain squall from NW.

Revs 600. Visibility nil.

        
1821

Anchored as unable to proceed [[?]] due to

[[?]] rain

        
[[?]] [[?Resumed ]]   1450 Anchored Trial Bay  [[?]]fths.        
  6/3/45        
  At Trial Bay. Crew sanding decks and [[?]] general maintenance work.        
 

[[?]] maintenance work.

Natives [[?]] [[?]] for survey of bay

Wind to N.[[?]] light [?]] from N.W.

Light rains in [[?]] from [[?]]

        
[[?]] Heavy rains lasting nearly all night.        
  7/3/45  Sunday        
 

Trial Bay.  Crew sanding decks. Rigging, sails  

and ground sheet.  [[remainer of row ???]]

{[?]] for {[?]].

        
  8/3/45        
 

Crew sanding decks and general maintenance.

Natives on (unable to decipher remaining line.)

        
1100

Lt Palmer [[?]] the launch (can't deciper rest..)

returned.

        
1400 Lt Palmer away in  launch.        
1545 Heavy rain from NW with force [[5?]]        
[?]] Lt Palmer returned. Sky overcast (can't decipher)   rains.        
  9/3/45        
1100

Crew sanding decks and general maintenance.

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

        
1150

Heavy rains from NW. Natives cutting firewood and

erecting [[s?]]

        
1600

S/L Thomas returned from [[?]] [[?]] with

launch

        
1700 Strong squall from [[?]]        
 

28.

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sea Sky
  10/3/43        
0730 Crew sanding decks and drying sails nil 0   O.C.
[[?]] Sighed 3 a/c aeroplanes flying in NE
direction.		        
1400 Strong squall from South with rain   S.2 O R.
1500 Strong squall from SW with rain lasting
until 1700		        
2200 Rains and light winds from W all night.        
  11/3/43        
0745 S/L Thomson ashore to chain distance ashore
for base line.		        
0900 S/L Thomson returned. 0910  Crew watering
ship from well.		        
1000 A/C heard but not sighted from ship        
1100 S/L Thomson away in launch with Cpl. Ritchie
to chain, the active lower portion of the bay		        
1318 Hove up and left under power Revs 600 Var-
ious		 SW.2 12 O.C.
1410 Anchored in bay to NE. of first anchorage
Rain from NW.
Natives ashore placing[[?]].  Lt Palmer
ashore.  1913 Launch returned with S/L
Thomson and Cpl. Ritchie.  Heavy rain squall
from N.W  rain nearly all night.		   SW.2 O R.
  12.3.43        
0700 Sent launch ashore and took in awnings        
0730 Launch returned.  Swung launch inboard        
0730 Hove up and left under power.  Revs.600 Var-
ious		 SE.1 1 C
0810 Increased Revs.1000.  Course to clear
Trial Bay 140oMAG with stern on small
island at bottom of bay in [[?Cairns]] on		 140o      
0900 Clear Trial Bay. Shaped course for Groote
Eylandt		 160o [[NE.2?]] 2 C.
1200 Alt.Co. 170o 1230 Increased Revs.  [[1100?]] 170o SW.2 2 [[R?]].C.
1400 Alt.Co. 190o as entering Port Langdon        
1450 Revs 1000 190o      
1500 Heavy rain squall from SW with rain
Revs.600  Visibility bad		   SW.5 2 R.
1530 Rain lifted increased Revs. 1000        
xxxx Anchored off Civil Aviation base in 2 Fth   NE.2 2 OCR
xx30 S/L Thomson ashore. 1815 S/L Thomson ret'd        
  13.3.43        
  At Groote Eylandt        
1000 Lt. Palmer ashore to [[Coastal?]] Officer        
1400 S/L Thomson ashore to embark on flying boat.
for H.Q. [[Morford?]]		   [[?.5?]] 2 C
1550 Very heavy rain squall from S.W.   SW.5 3 R
1800 Wind nil.  Rain cleared.        
 

29.
 

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sea Sky
  14.3.43        
  At Groote Eylandt.        
1xx5 F/B arrived from Darwin.  1135 F/B departed
Very strong wind from SE. all day		   SE.4 3 O.C.R.
1300 Very heavy rain squalls from SE all p.m.
until 2000 hrs when wind and rain lifted.		        
  15.3.43        
  At Groote Eylandt.        
  Crew sanding decks and filling water tanks
Listing and checking all stores and equipment
aboard vessel		   SE.3 3 O.C.
1500 Signal received from NORFORCE to proceed to
Millingimbi and arrive there no later 16th
after loading all equipment ashore at the
Civil Aviation Base.		        
1545 Hove up and moved ship into lagoon to
facilitate loading of stores.		        
1630 Anchored in Little Lagoon in 3 Faths.        
1700 Very heavy rain squall lasting until
1900 unable to load stores.		   SE.4 2 R.
  16.3.43        
0750 Took vessel alongside C.A. wharf to load 
equipment and stores.		   Nil 9 S.C.
1245 Completed loading.  Awaiting high tide to
navigate channel out of Lagoon.		        
1415 Started engine and hove up.  1420 Revs.600   SSE.2 1 S.C.
1500 Clear of passage increased Revs.1000
Set all sail.		        
1600 Clear of Woodhouse Rocks [[?]]o NNE 2 S.C.
2400 Going well        
  17.3.43        
0130 Alt.Co. to clear Cape Arnhem [[N3OR?]]o

ESE2

 

 2 Clear
0215 Alt.Co. N. 0230 Alt.Co [[NE3oW?]]  Took in
sail		 N      
0315

Alt.Co. 200o 0440.  Bremmer Isld abeam

to Starboard.

   SW.1 1 C.
05{00?]] Alt.Co.225o 0710 Cape Wilberforce abeam   SSE.2 2. C.
0750 Clear Wilberforce 255o set all sail 255o      
0900 Alt.Co. 180o to pass between Cotton a
Inglis Islds.		 280o      
[[0230?]] Alt.Co.200o 1300 Entering Cunningham Is 200o ESE.2 2 H.C.
1310 Clear Stratton Strts. [[P30o?]] SE.3 1 S.C.
1456 Anchored about 3' nth of Cape Bristow Elcho Islds.        
1840 Heavy S.E. squall with rain   SE.5 1 R.C.
 

30.

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sea Sky
  18.3.43        
0300 Hove up and left under power 275o S,1 2 C1,
0xx [[ ?doronga]]Is.     Abeam port bow        
[[xxxx?]] Alt.Co. SW. for [[?]] Isld. 250o SW.2 1 R.C.
0920 Anchored Millingimbi in 3 fths.  Lt. Palmer
ashore.  1045 Lockeed Hudson landed at ADH.		        
1130 Lt Palmer ashore to meet S/L Thomson        
1215 S/L Thomson and Lt Palmer returned aboard        
1330 Hudson took off from A.O.B.        
1700 Strong wind squall from SE   SE.4 2 B.C.
1800 Hove up and left under power   SW.4 2 B.C.
2030 Anchored Dodtie Creek in 3 Fths. Var-
ious		 SW.2 1 c.
  19.3.43        
0900 Hove up and left under power Var-
ious		 Nil 0 S.C.
1000 Anchored Millingimbi in 3 Fths.        
1030 Commenced land RAAF party w equip sent        
1145 Hove up and left under power   SW.1 1 B.C.
1310 Clear [[?]] Isld.  Shaped to Elcho Is. Var-
ious		 [[xxx?]] 1 B.C.
[[?  ]] Anchored Pt Bristow Elcho Is. Landed
RAAF party and stores.		        
[[?]] Resumed under power Var. xxx   x.C.
1545 Anchored Cadell Straights off road to
Mission in 2 Faths.		        
  20.3.43        
  At Cadell Straits        
  Crew cutting firewood   SE.2 2 B.C.
  General maintenance work to ship, guns
and riles		        
  21.3.43        
0700 Sent boat ashore to commence loading
Survey party and their equipment		 Var. [[xx?]] 1 B.C.
1035 Anchored NE and of Napier Peninsular
and landed RAAF survey party and equip.
Crew watering ship.		   [[?]] 2 B.C.
  22.3.43        
0700 Boat away with launch to pick up survey        
0745 Party.  Hove up and left under power 124o [[xx?]] 2 B>C.
0830 Flinders Point abeam. Alt Co. Strong tides 230o      
1045 Hove too and landed party at Everett Head        
1121 Resumed under power.        
1220 Anchored Hardy Isld. in 3 Faths.        
1240 Launch away to land stores and camping
gear for survey party		        
 

31.

Hour

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sea Sky
  23.3.43        
0730 At Hardy Isld. Arnhem Bay        
0730

Launch away to pick up survey Party at
Everett Head and move them to a new po-

sition further to the south.

   SE.3 1. B.
1120 Launch returned
Crew sanding decks.  Checking and listing
equipment on board ship.		        
1615 Rifle and Bren practice carried out        
1615 Rain squall from S.W.        
2000 Lt. Palmer away in launch to see that the
RAAF party are well supplied with water		        
2200 and that they are alright.  Lt. Palmer
returned.		        
  24.3.43        
  At Hardy Isld.  Crew sanding decks   SE.2 0 S.
  Lt. Palmer away in launch to pick up
certain of RAAF party and take them
further down to the bay to prospect
new ground.		        
2230

Lt. Palmer returned.  Machine gun prac-

tice.

        
  25.3.43        
1100

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.

   SE.2 0 S.
1230 Ship moved outside Hardy Isld. in 4 fths        
1630

Lt. Palmer returned in launch having

landed party with all stores and equipment

also having loaned to them, flour, hatchet

and extra water containers.

        
1650 Hove up and left under power. Revs 1000 N. SE.1 0 S.
1755 

Alt.Co to pass between Mallison and

Inglis Islands.

 65o      
1800

Increased Revs to 1100. [[?]]  Anchored in

passage English Company Islds.  In 5 fths.

        
  26/3/45        
0700 Hove up and left under power 55o S.1 0 C.
0730 Alt.Co. Crew sanding decks 45o      
1045 Clear Cape Wilberforce Alt.Co. 132o SSE.2 2 B.C.
1115 Alt. Co. 150o        
1330 Bremmer Isld. abeam. Hove too [[?]] canoe.        
1345 Anchored Yuikala in 3 Faths. Crew loading
water.		        
  27.3.43        
0700 Crew sanding decks        
0900 S/L Thomson and Sgt Ritchie landed ashore
on foot patrol to Port Bradshaw		   S.1 2 [[O.x]]
0935 Hove up and left under power 135o SE.2 2 [[O.x]]
1040 Very heavy rain squall from N.E. Set Jib
and main sail		   NE.5 2 B
 

32.
 

Hours.

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sea Sky
  27.3.43        
1100 Clear Cape Arnhem. Alt.Co. 190o SSE.2 2 O.C.R.
1300 Alt.Co for Port Bradshaw        
1330 Entering Pt. Bradshaw 270o SE.1 1 x.C.
1350 Reduced Revs to x00.        
1430 Anchored small island in side Pt. Bradshaw        
1600 Sent launch party to contact S/L Thomson
at N end of Bay		        
1645 Heavy rain squall from N.   S.3 1 R.
1700 Rain lifted winds variable. Sky overcast S.3 Var-
ious		 0 x.C
  28.3.43        
0745 Launch away to land natives on Northern
Shore		   SSE.3 1 O.C.
1015 Launch returned.  1050 Hove up and left
under power Revs.800		        
1115 Increased Revs. 1000.  1125 Clear Pt.
Bradshaw		 SSE SE.3 3 C.
1140 Alt.Co. 180o.  Set main sail and jib 180o      
1330 Set mizzen sail. 1515 Dudley Is. beam 270o      
1705 Alt. Co. 316o. 1745 Anchored Caledon Bay
in 2 Faths.		        
  29.3.43        
1030 At Caledon Bay.  Crew sanding decks
S/L Thomson ashore to make contact with
natives.  Preparing Inventory of ship's
stores and equipment.
Dismantled and decarbonised launch engine		   [[xx.x]] 1 S.C.
  30.3.43        
  At Caledon Bay.  Crew sanding decks.        
0855 Sgts. Ritchie & Elkington ashore to report
to O.C.		        
1330 Commenced loading oil and fuel off shore
Machine gun practice in p.m.		   SE.1 0 S.C.
  31.3.43        
  Launch ashore.  0700 B.G. Practice.        
  Loading all equipment and stores from O.F.   SE.2 1 S.C.
1700 Machine gun practice        
1800 Ship returned to Central Standard Time        
  1.4.43        
[[?30]] Launch ashore.  0830 Lt. Palmer ashore to
report O.C.		        
0800 Sgt. Elkington with party in launch loaded
rest of stores.		        
1015 Hove up and left under power.  Revs. 1000 135o SSE.3 2 C.
1230 Clear Cape Gray.  Set course Groote also
set all sail		 170o     C.
1500 Wind Freshened   SE.4 3. B.C.
1915

Woodhouse Rocks abeam. Took in sail.

Revs.1100

 250o      
 

33.

 

Hours Remarks Co. Wind Sea Sky
  1.4.43        
1900 McCoombs Pt. abeam 135o      
1925 Anchored off Shell Company's jetty
in 3 Faths.  Sgt. Elkington ashore to
Collect safe hand mail.		        
  2.4.43        
06xx Have up and left under power        
0645 Reduced Revs.600 0740 clear passage.
Revs.1000.  0745 Anchored Little Lagoon
in 3 Faths.		   SE.3 1 S.C.
1545 Packing equipment for Air Transport
"Seagull" landed.		        
  3.4.43        
  At Little Lagoon.  3 drums fuel loaded
from Shell also returned all empty drums
to Shell.		        
1000 "Seagull" departed.  All air freight
landed ashore		   SE.3 1 x.C.
  4.4.43        
1015 S/L Thomson and Sgt. Ritchie departed on Flying
boat for Townsville		   S.1 1 C.C.
1100 Unable to leave Lagoon as tide not high
enough to navigate channel.  Landed all
empty fuel drums and also on 44 gal. drum
motor spirit to be held by Shell Co. until
return of vessel.  Move ship down to passage
to await high tide.		        
1700 Started engine and have up.  Revs.700        
1735 Clear of channel.  revs.1000   S.E.1 2 O.C.
1850

Clear  of Woodhouse rks. Course 010o

Set main and hand sail.

        
  5.4.43        
0130 Alt.Co. N.S.E   SE.3 3 C.
0730 Cape Arnhem abeam?  Alt.Co. SSW Strong NW
rain squall force 5		        
0800 Anchored Yirkalla as two Natives were to be
landed.  Picked up Mr T ornell who was sick
and was attempting to leave for Millingimbi
in small canoe.		        
1000 Resumed under power and sail. N7SW SE.4 4 C.
115 Bremmer Isld.  ahead  Alt.Co. N[[?]]   SE.4 5 O.C.
1415 Cape Wilberforce abeam Co. 270o   SE.5 1 O.C.
1530 Very strong SE squall with rain force 6 [[?Co.]] 225o      
1700 Entering Arnhem Bay.  Took in all sail        
1830 Very heavy rain squall from SSW 5        
1845 Reduced speed as visibility very bad        
1930 Anchored lee of Hardy Isld. in 4. fths.        
e 

34.

Hours

Remarks

 Co. Wind Sea Sky
  6.4.43        
0700 Hove up and left under power co.  Various   [[?].2] 1 O.C.
0845 Anchored inside bay to pick up RAAF party         
10[[?]]

Hove up and left under power as party and gear

had been loaded

        
1215

Flinders Point abeam. Alt.Co. 311o

Wind light and variable

        
1345

[[?]] Peninsula abeam Co.   125o. Sky very

overcast to SSE.

        
1800

Unable to navigate channel as extreme low

tide. Anchored. Very heavy rains lasting

till 1830 Hrs.

        
2030 Hove up and left under low speed.

var-

ious

 0 1 O.C.
2315

Clear of shallow bar anchored in

Cadell Str. in [[?]] faths.

        
  7.4.43        
0630 Hove up and left under power Revs. 1000   SE.1 0 B.C.
0935 Clear Cadell Str.   SE.1 1 B.C.
1015

Sandy Isld abeam set course for Mooronga

Isld. 270o 

        
1300 Mooronga abeam Alt.Co. 235o        
[[?]]

Anchored. Landed RAAF party with all stores

and equipment. Also loaded stores landed

here on the 18th March. Landed [[?]] 

and gear in launch. Loading fresh water.

        
2230

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.

        
2235

Rigged auxiliary gear and lifted launch 

inboard.

        
  8.4.43        
0600

Hove up and left under power.  Course

Various.

   SW 1 S.C.
0700 Two Lockheads left A.OB. going North        
0800 Clear [[Yabo?]] Is. set course 315o         
1100 Sandy Island.  Alt.Co. 285o    SW.1 1 B.C.
1600 Braithwaite Point abeam. Co.290o   NE.2   C.
1800 North Goulburn Island ahead.        
2100     "                "             "       abeam.        
2130 Alt. Co. 295o        
[[?]] [[?]] [[?]] Isld ahead on port bow  dist 7 miles.   NW.[[2?]] 1 O.C.
           

 

 

 

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Karen SchelbachKaren Schelbach
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