The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Portrait of F/V313 Able Seaman (AB) Robert Harry Easom, RAN, of Subiaco, WA. AB Easom joined the Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP) on 4 August 1943, at the age of 17. Sailing on converted private launches, the NAP patrolled the inner and outer harbours of Fremantle. AB Easom served with the NAP for about 12 months before being accepted into the Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) in November 1944, based at Garden Island. He participated in Welman (one-man midget submarine) training and then joined the company of HMS Eduardo, a converted Italian fishing boat commandeered by the Royal Navy. Eduardo sailed from Fremantle to Darwin in early 1945. On arrival in Darwin, AB Easom transferred to the Krait and was involved soon after in an operation to Timor, referred to as Operation Sunlag. The purpose of the mission was to collect two SRD operatives. However due to mismanagement by the officers in charge, the mission failed and the Krait returned to Darwin. After the Japanese surrender the Krait was sent to Ambon and used as transport for intelligence gathering missions to islands in the area including Buru, Aru, Ceram, Banda and Saparua. During this period the Krait carried several Japanese prisoners as well as army survey teams and a naval intelligence officer. The Krait was then sailed to Labuan where she was handed over to the British Borneo Company, and AB Easom souvenired the Krait's ensign. AB Easom and the rest of the crew returned to Perth and he was demobilized from the Royal Australian Navy at HMAS Leeuwin Shore Depot, Fremantle on 9 July 1946. The ensign of the Krait is held in the Memorial's collection at REL31217.
Wool bunting white ensign flown on HMAS Krait. The upper left canton section holds the Union Jack, the remaining three quarters are white with the prominent red cross of St. George in the centre. A he
1973. M.V. KRAIT. ORIGINALLY RESTORED IN 1964, DEDICATED AS A WAR MEMORIAL AND USED FOR TRAINING AND RECREATION PURPOSES BY THE ROYAL VOLUNTEER COASTAL PATROL. THE VESSEL IS NOW PART OF THE AUSTRALIAN
CAREENING BAY, WA. 1945. A ONE-MAN WELMAN MIDGET SUBMARINE ON THE SURFACE ABOUT TO UNDERTAKE A TRAINING DIVE AT THE SERVICES RECONNAISSANCE DEPARTMENT (SRD) TRAINING BASE. WELMAN SUBMARINES ARRIVED TO
CAREENING BAY, WA. 1945. A ONE-MAN WELMAN MIDGET SUBMARINE IS TOWED OUT OF A SHED AT THE SERVICES RECONNAISSANCE DEPARTMENT (SRD) TRAINING BASE. WELMAN SUBMARINES ARRIVED TOO LATE IN AUSTRALIA FOR ANY
The MV Krait (originally known as the Kofuku Maru) was a Chinese built trawler which was commandeered during 1942, and operated by the Services Reconnaissance Department and Royal Australian Navy. The
The MV Krait (originally known as the Kofuku Maru) was a Chinese built trawler which was commandeered during 1942, and operated by the Services Reconnaissance Department and Royal Australian Navy. The
