Kuttabul sinking remembered
20 June 2007 By LCDR Mick Gallagher
The 65th anniversary of the sinking of the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul, with the loss of 21 sailors at 00:30 on 01 June 1942 by a Japanese midget submarine, was remembered with a memorial service at Garden Island, Sydney.
The service was highlighted by the recent finding of the Japanese submarine I-24 (M-24) which fired its two torpedoes at the cruiser USS Chicago in Sydney Harbour. Both missed the target, with one hitting the NE point of GI and the other sinking Kuttabul alongside GI near the present site of the boat pound.
"This memorial is of national significance," said CMDR Mark Todd, who addressed the memorial gathering.
As CO of the present naval establishment HMAS Kuttabul, CMDR Todd emphasised the importance of the Navy family and its bond of mateship.
He joined with Kuttabul survivor Mr Neil Roberts and Neil's grandchildren Edan (10) and Bonnie (8) in placing a wreath in memory of the 21 sailors, including two Royal Navy.
Also accompanying Neil were his wife Peggy and daughter-in- law Sheena who travelled from Newcastle where Neil's son Andrew was teaching at Lambton High.
Neil, now 85, was an 18 year old ORD when he survived the Kuttabul sinking.
"I was on the wharf as sentry and when my relief finally turned up he was so apologetic he said I could use his slung hammock on the top deck as mine was still 'lashed up and stowed'. Being after midnight and tired, I took up the offer," said Neil.
It proved to be Neil's salvation as his own hammock space was deeper in the ship where he would definitely not have survived the explosion if he had slept there.
When the torpedo struck Neil made his way to the stairwell but was surrounded by water. Neil then swam underwater until he found an exit and finally surfaced at the sea wall. He was then taken to hospital.
Another survivor AB Colin Whitfield from New Zealand who had both ankles broken from the explosion was represented by his daughter Robyn, son Peter and Colin's grand daughter Philippa.
"This is my second memorial service. I was here for the 60th anniversary in 2002," said Peter who had flown into Sydney from the USA. He then travelled on to NZ to visit his survivor father.
Wreaths were placed at the memorial stone by the many who attended including the Fleet Commander RADM Davyd Thomas, Deputy Fleet Commander CDRE Ray Griggs, and CDRE Bruce Kafer . Government representatives attended including the Minister for Veterans Affairs Bruce Billson, and the Consuls from Japan, USA, Great Britan, NZ and the Netherlands.
"This is my first time at the service which makes me reflect on . A relative was killed when the Dutch ship Deruyter was sunk by the Japanese in the Java Sea," reflected the Consul for the Netherlands, Mr Bert Verijer.
It was the fatal torpedo which had missed USS Chicago and passed under the Dutch submarine K9 that sunk Kuttabul.
"The event recognizes the sacrifices of war," said Mr James Rogers of the DVA.
Wreaths were also placed by Darlinghurst Primary School and St Vincent's College (Principal Michele Hugonnet).
"My grandmother Mary Gloreen Jones was a WRAN who served at HMAS Kuttabul," said Tessa Campbell (16).
"It's nice that the event is still remembered after all these years," added Caroline Ziegler (15).
Chaplain Ian McKendrick RAN led the order of service and hymns, assisted by the RAN Band-Sydney Detachment.
CHAP McKendrick had on the previous day, May 31, conducted a Commemorative service at Rookwood cemetery in Sydney in memory of the 19 Australian Kuttabul sailors buried in Australia in 1942.
Also attending the Rookwood service was the former of Kuttabul, CAPT Brett Chandler representing CDRE Peter Jones NSC, and the current CO, CMDR Mark Todd.
Minor works to improve the graves for the day had been carried out by WO Gary Osborne and his team from Kuttabul.
The need to improve the grave area was brought to the Navy's attention by Merchant Navy Capt Wayne Moore of Blaxland NSW, whose mother Mrs Sonia Moore had attended the service in 1942 for the burial of family friend Stoker Jack Edmund Numan.
"I thank the efforts of LSMTs Greg Drady, Darren O'Toole, and ABBM Owen Geoghegan in getting the grave area 'ship shape' for the occasion," said WO Osborne.
