65th Anniversary Of The Loss Of HMAS Armidale I
Yesterday the Royal Australian Navy commemorated the 65th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Armidale I in a combined
ceremony with the City of Armidale, New South Wales (NSW) and HMAS Armidale at sea.
The Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) HMAS Armidale, was in position over the original HMAS Armidale I, where it was
sunk exactly 65 years ago. The memorial service was conducted at 3:15pm (Northern Territory time), and was transmitted
live to the City of Armidale. The Corvette Association, Australian Naval Cadet Unit Training Ship Armidale and people of
the city were in attendance at the HMAS Armidale I Memorial in Central Park.
"It was an honour for the men and women of my crew to be able to pay respects to those who have served their country and
to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for that service. They shall not be forgotten," Lieutenant James Harper, RAN,
Commanding Officer of the current Armidale said.
Mr Brian Read, the son of Able Seaman William Read, a survivor of the sinking of Armidale I was also embarked in
Armidale during the service.
HMAS Armidale I was one of sixty Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War II in
Australia.
On 29 November 1942 Armidale was ordered to proceed to Betano (Timor) in company of her sister ship HMAS Castlemaine.
The purpose of this mission was the reinforcement of guerrilla forces operating in Timor and evacuation of Dutch troops
and Portuguese women and children. Armidale carried three Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) soldiers, two Dutch officers
and 61 Indonesian troops of the Netherlands East Indies Army.
Armidale and Castlemaine arrived off Betano in the early hours of 1 December. En route they had been attacked three
times by Japanese aircraft, but did not sustain any damage or casualties. After failing to make contact with forces
ashore, the ships retired with no civilian evacuees on board, to clear the coast before daylight.
At 3:15pm on 1 December Armidale was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The ship was sunk within five minutes in position
10°S, 126°30´E in the Timor Sea.
The survivors of the attack abandoned ship in two boats (a motor boat and a whaler), a Carley float and a raft. They
remained together until midday on 2 December, when the Commanding Officer (Lieutenant Commander Richards), 16 of the
ship's company and some Dutch service personnel set out in the motor boat in the hope of being sighted.
The personnel in the motor boat were rescued, following a sighting by aircraft, and on the 5 December, the occupants of
the whaler were also rescued. Sadly, continued searches for the raft and Carley float were not successful.
Out of a total of 83 naval personnel, 40 (two officers and 38 ratings) lost their lives. Losses of Netherlands East
Indies personnel amounted to two officers and 58 soldiers.
ENDS