Recruit School Waller Division

CAPT Hector MacDonald Laws Waller was born in Benalla, Victoria on 4 April 1900 and entered the RANC in 1914. He served in HMS Agincourt at the end of the first World War and the outbreak of World War II saw him in command of the destroyer HMAS Stuart (I) as Commander of the Australian Destroyer Flotilla, later better known as the 'Scrap Iron Flotilla'. He played an outstanding part in Mediterranean operations, including a prominent part in the Battle of Matapan in 1941.

He was awarded a DSO and Bar and twice Mentioned in Dispatches during his Mediterranean service and assumed command of the cruiser HMAS Perth (I) in October 1941. The ship was ordered north in February 1942 to take part in the defence of the Dutch East Indies. On 27 February, Perth took part in the disastrous Battle of the Java Sea. Only Perth and US heavy cruiser USS Houston survived in fighting order. On the night of 28 February/1 March, the two cruisers encountered a Japanese force of two cruisers and eight destroyers with two heavy cruisers in support. In the ensuing battle, Perth expended the contents of her magazine, being reduced to firing star and practice shells. The overwhelming force prevailed and Perth was lost.

CAPT Waller did not survive the loss of his ship and was posthumously awarded a third Mentioned in Dispatches. Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount Cunningham, wrote that he was "one of the finest types of Australian Naval Officer" and described his death as "a heavy deprivation for the young Navy of Australia."

The submarine, HMAS Waller, and Waller Division at Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus are named in Captain Waller's honour.

General Entry Intakes

There are no further General Entry intakes planned for Waller Division for 2011.
Intake 267 - Course commenced on 9 March 2009 and graduated on 22 May 2009.

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