The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Group portrait of some of the survivors of the RAN Auxiliary Minesweeper HMAS Patricia Cam, which was sunk on 22 January 1943, shown at the shore establishment HMAS Melville in Darwin. The group had just been rescued from a rocky islet off the Cape Wessel Islands by the motor launch HMAS Kuru, a week after their vessel was sunk. Identified from left to right, standing: PA2446 Able Seaman (AB) Donald Dios Brun from Sydney, NSW; W1897 Stoker George William Williams from Williamstown, Victoria; B3722 Ordinary Seaman (OD) Vivian David Murray from Mackay, Queensland [See image 014328.]; Lieutenant John Leggoe Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) from York, Western Australia; PM3845 Cook John Reuben Hawkins from Kew, Victoria; Lieutenant Alexander Cecil Meldrum Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) from Tumbarumba, NSW (in Command of HMAS Patricia Cam); 19983 Petty Officer Hulbert George Challender from Hobart, Tasmania; F3946 AB Aubrey Raymond White from Victoria Park, Western Australia; and H1687 Engine Room Artificer John Douglas McKimmie from Launceston, Tasmania.
Front row from left to right: W1845 Stoker Arthur Robert Bennett from North Melbourne, Victoria; S6022 AB Gregory Durrington from Ballina, NSW; S/V112 Telegraphist Bertram Robert Leslie Stevens from West Ryde, NSW; PM3094 Steward Alfred Ray Tanner from Lower Ferntree Gully, Victoria.
HMAS Patricia Cam sailed from Darwin carrying stores and passengers for several outlying missions. On 22 January 1943, she was on a course for Wessel Island when a floatplane from the Japanese Naval Air Arm’s 734th Kokatai dropped a bomb which sunk the ship within a minute. After dropping another bomb the floatplane continued strafing the crew for almost 20 minutes. The floatplane then landed and one of its aircrew forced Reverend Leonard Kentish, Chairman of the Methodist Northern Australian Mission District, at gunpoint to clamber aboard the floatplane, whereupon it took off. Among those who died during or subsequent to the attack were B3815 OD Andrew Alexander Johnston from Malanda, Queensland; 24501 Engine Room Artificer William Robson Moffitt from Melbourne, Victoria; PA2319 AB Edward David Nobes from Southwark, South Australia; PA2516 OS Neil Gray Penglase from Reade Park, South Australia [See image P06417.001.]; S6670 Stoker Second Class Percival James Cameron from Waverley, NSW [See image P05291.002.] and three of the five indigenous passengers. Reverend Kentish was taken to Dobe Island, where he was beheaded on 4 May 1943.
Studio portrait of PA2516 Ordinary Seaman (OD) Neil Gray Penglase of Port Adelaide, SA. OD Penglase served on board the auxiliary mine sweeper HMAS Patricia Cam, and was killed when it was bombed by a
Studio portrait of PA2516 Ordinary Seaman (OD) Neil Gray Penglase of Port Adelaide, SA. OD Penglase served on board the auxiliary mine sweeper HMAS Patricia Cam, and was killed when it was bombed by a
Informal portrait of two of the survivors from the HMAS Patricia Cam which was sunk off the Australian coast, after they had been landed at Darwin. Identified seated: B3722 Ordinary Seaman Vivian Davi
Outdoor group portrait of Royal Australian Naval Stokers. These sailors, informally known as The Six Macca's, recently graduated from HMAS Cerberus (class 229) and are enroute to their first draft at
BIAK ISLAND, PACIFIC OCEAN, 1944. GROUP PORTRAIT OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY OF HMAS STAWELL. LEFT TO RIGHT: BACK ROW: (1) SIGNALLER HARRY 'JOE' LINE, (2) STOKER RODGERS; SECOND BACK ROW: (3) ABLE SEAMAN RO
WRANS officers at HMAS Cerberus at Flinders Naval Depot, Victoria. Identified from left to right: Second Officer Mary Alison Butler, from Adelaide, South Australia; Third Officer Patricia Alison Benne
