The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Full length portrait of Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin, RAN, taken around 1936. He was born on 3 June 1907 at Cobar, New South Wales, and in 1921 he entered the RAN College at Jervis Bay. Having served as a Midshipman in HMA Ships Brisbane and Melbourne, Rankin undertook training with the Royal Navy in 1926 and then joined the newly commissioned cruiser HMAS Canberra in 1928 and returned in her to Australia where he was promoted Lieutenant in August 1929.
Deciding to specialise in hydrography, Rankin joined the survey ship HMAS Moresby on 18 January 1934. Apart from occasional periods on shore, he charted Australian and New Guinea waters until February 1938. Rankin had been promoted Lieutenant Commander in August 1937. Sent to Britain on exchange duty, he was posted (March 1938) to the Home Fleet's HMS Gleaner, a minesweeper engaged in survey work. After courses at HMS Dryad, he was appointed in December 1939 to the repair ship HMS Resource as First Lieutenant, serving in the Mediterranean and South Atlantic under difficult wartime conditions.
Back in New South Wales from September 1941, Rankin was employed on a survey of the Broken Bay-Pittwater area. Early in 1942 he was posted to the sloop HMAS Yarra and assumed command on 11 February 1942. At 6:30 on the morning of 4 March, while escorting a small convoy from Java to Australia, they encountered a Japanese squadron comprising three cruisers and two destroyers. Rankin immediately transmitted a sighting report, ordered the convoy to scatter, and placed HMAS Yarra between the enemy and the fleeing ships. The ship made smoke and vainly engaged the enemy with her 4-inch (102mm) guns, but the convoy was quickly overwhelmed. HMAS Yarra fought to the last. Sometime after 8am Rankin finally gave the order to abandon ship. A direct hit on the bridge killed him minutes later. Of HMAS Yarra's complement of 151 men, only 13 were rescued.
Studio portrait of 20863 Leading Seaman Ron Taylor, of HMAS Yarra II who was killed in action on 4 March 1942 aboard HMAS Yarra II. On that day a convoy of Japanese warships attacked HMAS Yarra and
Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Pacific clasp. Engraved on reverse with recipient's details. Cyril Holt McGee was born at Glenelg, South Australia, in 1920. During the Second World War he join
Distinguished Service Cross (Geo VI). Engraved reverse lower arm with year of issue. Cyril Holt McGee was born at Glenelg, South Australia, in 1920. During the Second World War he joined the Royal A
1939-45 Star. Unnamed as issued. Cyril Holt McGee was born at Glenelg, South Australia, in 1920. During the Second World War he joined the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANR) as an able
Burma Star with Pacific clasp. Unnamed as issued. Cyril Holt McGee was born at Glenelg, South Australia, in 1920. During the Second World War he joined the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Cyril Holt McGee was born at Glenelg, South Australia, in 1920. During the Second World War he joined the Royal Australian
