The Chook commemorated

27 July 2007 By John Martin

The first Royal Australian Navy ship to be lost by enemy action in World War II was commemorated by her namesake, HMAS Waterhen, at Waverton early this month.

Aside from navy personnel, guests included Mr Gordon Steel and Mr Ken Ward, veterans of the Scrap Iron Flotilla.

The original HMAS Waterhen, known as The Chook, was a Whiskey Class destroyer which served in the Mediterranean as part of the famous flotilla.

While serving on the "Tobruk Ferry Service", HMAS Waterhen was severely damaged during an attack by dive bombers off Sollum in North Africa.

HMS Defender took her in tow but on June 30, 1941, Waterhen rolled over and sank.

HMAS Waterhen was built in Jarrow-on-Tyne in England and was launched in 1918.

She was commissioned into the Royal Navy, transferred to the Royal Australian Navy at Portsmouth in 1933 and commissioned as HMAS Waterhen.