PARRA-MATTERS - Royal Australian Navy

PARRA-MATTERS 

HMAS PARRAMATTA FFH154 COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER 

PARRA-MATTERS - The HMAS PARRAMATTA family newsletter Edition 5 Volume 1 

www.navy.gov.au\HMAS Parramatta Email paul.bradley1@fleet.defence.gov.au 

Volume 1 

Edition 5 

70 Years On: HMAS Parramatta remembers…… 

From the Captain………. 

With a strong wind blowing the sea to a low foam, and the ship slowed to almost a crawl, the sun off 

our starboard quarter, low in the sky and the ship’s company fallen in, HMAS Parramatta (IV) came 

to the attention at 0830 in the Red Sea, to commemorate the 70 th anniversary of the loss of our 

forebears, not far from where we were, in HMAS Parramatta (II). 

It was a deeply significant moment, to pause and reflect on the commitment to service, dedication to 

duty and sacrifice of those brave men, lost 70 years ago during operations off Tobruk in the 

Mediterranean during WW II. The service was led by our Padre, Chaplain Andrew Watters who 

spoke of the sacrifice and stoicism of those who have come before us and led us in prayer. Able 

Seaman Erika Korn read a traditional passage from the bible, reflecting on endings and beginnings. 

Our incoming Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Alex Gillett read an extract of a letter from 

Commander Walker, the Commanding Officer of Parramatta (II) in which he writes of his actions, his 

fears and his trepidations. We were honoured to scatter the ashes of Ex-Chief Petty Officer Frank 

Davidson, who served in HMAS Parramatta (II) until five days before it was lost. As our chief 

Communicator, Chief Petty Officer Kym Viant read Frank’s service history and then our Buffer, Chief 

Petty Officer Jason Rowe, slowly scattered Frank’s ashes in the Red Sea with the ship’s company 

standing proudly and the last post sounding we all paused for reflection. Our outgoing Executive 

Officer, Lieutenant Command Ryan Gaskin then read the ode, reminding us all of the commitment, 

service and sacrifice that these men made for us, and Australia. At the same time a service was 

being held in Parramatta, at the stern of Parramatta (I). Whilst we were half a world away, we are all 

brought together in this common bond borne of these men’s great courage and sacrifice 

We are honoured to be so close to them, 70 years to that fateful day, in this deeply historical place. It 

is a treasured memory I will hold close forever knowing that I was a member of the proud heritage 

that is HMAS Parramatta. 

Their service is our heritage. Our service will be the heritage of those to come. We honour these 

men, lost, through our commitment to service as they did for us 70 years ago.” 

Lest we forget.

Introduction 

Chaplain Andrew Watters 

November 26 th 1941 was a big day in 

the life of Tom Clayton. The 

Collingwood stoker turned 20 that day 

– and was celebrating a long way from 

home: on board HMAS Parramatta as 

she sailed in convoy with HMS Avon 

Vale, escorting the merchantship 

‘Hanne’ loaded with vital ammunition 

for the besieged city of Tobruk. This 

was Tom Clayton’s first birthday away 

from home as he had only arrived in 

the Middle East in April and 

Parramatta was his first ship. 

Meanwhile, 33 year old Petty Officer 

stoker, Allan Crozier, was thinking 

about his birthday the following day – 

the 27 th . The hard man from 

Manchester England had already 

tallied up 12 years in the RAN and 

The Service 

HMAS Parramatta (IV) ship’s company in the Red Sea fallen in 

for the commemorative service on the 70 th anniversary of the loss 

of HMAS Parramatta (II) 

probably wondered how many more birthdays he would celebrate away from his family. On the bridge, 

First Lieutenant Bill Langford thoughts turned to home, to his wife Marjorie and his year old daughter Jill 

whom he was yet to meet. Just the day before, the 29 year old career officer had written a letter to his 

wife with the exciting news that he had received a posting in Sydney and was just waiting for an 

opportunity to leave Parramatta. None of these men knew that they, along with 134 others of 

Parramatta’s crew, would be dead within a matter of hours. At 0045 hours on Thursday 27 November 

1941, Parramatta was hit amidships by a torpedo fired from the German U-boat U559. The initial 

explosion was immediately followed by other, most likely the ship’s magazine. Parramatta was torn in 

two and she rolled and sank rapidly within minutes. Of the 161 crew, including 7 Royal Navy sailors, and 

the 10 extra RN sailors in transit to Tobruk, only 24 survived.We gather today exactly 70 years later to 

honour the memory, the service, the devotion to duty, and the sacrifice of those men. We are mindful 

that our present location in the Red Sea was familiar territory to Parramatta II in her wartime service. We 

also remember the families and friends whose lives were changed forever on that day. This morning, 

Sydney time, in the city from which this ship receives her name, some of the children of those men who 

lived and who died, including Bill Langford’s daughter, along with many others, gathered to remember. 

We are honoured to join our commemoration to theirs. 

As part of our service we will also scatter the ashes of the late Frank Davidson. Frank served in 

Parramatta II first as an ordinary seaman and then as an able seaman from her commissioning until 

posting off 24 days before her sinking on the 3 rd November 1941. The loss of his mates deeply affected 

him for the rest of his life and it was his wish that his ashes be scattered from Parramatta as close as 

possible to where his mates lost their lives. In faith and hope we offer our prayers of thanksgiving and 

trust to God, in whose loving care we leave our “ship mates of another generation”. We give thanks for 

their courage, dedication and devotion to duty; we pray for those who continue to mourn their loss; and 

we ask for God’s help that we may continue to walk worthily in the service of our nation, as have those 

who have gone before us. 


www.navy.gov.au\HMAS Parramatta Email paul.bradley1@fleet.defence.gov.au

Call to Worship 

The Apostle Paul said: ”for I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor 

things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all 

creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 

38-39) 

Opening Prayer 

Heavenly Father, our ruler and guide, in whose hands are the destinies of this and every nation, 

we give you thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in Australia and for those who laid down their 

lives to defend them. We give thanks that you have blessed us with such a rich history, with all 

its struggles in adversity, its courage and hope. We pray this day for our service as we 

remember the crew of HMAS Parramatta II. We cannot imagine the terror and confusion of their 

final moments nor the agony and suffering of those who died in the water but we can admire 

their courage and dedication to duty. We pray also for the families and friends of the Parramatta 

II crew and particularly those who have gathered today in the city of Parramatta to remember 

those they loved and lost so long ago. We pray that we and all the people of Australia, gratefully 

remembering their courage and their sacrifice, may have grace to live in a spirit of justice, of 

generosity, and of peace. We remember the family of Frank Davidson and particularly his wife 

Jean who is also remembering her dear husband of 63 years today. Hear us, through Jesus 

Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

Bible Reading: Revelation 21.1-7 - 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first 

heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was 

no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming 

down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned 

for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne 

saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell 

with them as their God; they will be his peoples, 

and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear 

from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying 

and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed 

away.’ And the one who was seated, on the throne said, ‘See, 

I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these 

words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is 

done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the 

end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of 

the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things 

and I will be their God and they will be my children.’ 

Able Seaman Erika Korn provides 

the reading 



Extract from a letter of 

Commander Jefferson Hurst Walker, MVO, DSC, RAN 

Lieutenant Commander 

Jefferson Hurst Walker, MVO, DSC, RAN 

And so we come to to-day, in the face of the enemy. 

Above us the fighters wheel, in and among the 

clouds. Attack before darkness is likely, but I hope 

not on a heavy scale. All being well, before midnight 

we shall have sent on our convoy into the port, and 

be legging it for daylight back towards our base, for 

fuel. Then perhaps there might be some relaxation, 

since I need a boiler clean. Perhaps things will be 

too busy and it must be deferred. Oh, well!! We 

seem to adapt ourselves to this strange life of 

endless worry and strain. At least, I feel perfectly all 

right except for being tired and a sort of churned-up 

fearful feeling in the tummy which is unpleasant. But 

one good night’s rest and a game or two of tennis 

and squash and I will be right as rain again (except 

that one or two grey more grey hairs will have 

appeared, I dare say.) This game may be exciting at 

times, but if anyone thinks that modern war at sea is 

stimulating and full of fun, he can have it with my 

blessing. War is uncivilized and ugly and horrible. 

When will we all have the sense to give up this 

humiliating nonsense and act like civilised beings? 

(CMDR J.H. Walker to Margaret McGuire, November 1941) 

Occasional Address 

Commander Guy Blackburn RAN, Commanding Officer HMAS Parramatta (IV) 

70 years ago, in a place not far from here, the men of HMAS 

Parramatta made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Australia. In the 

early hours of that day, whilst convoying supplies between Alexandria 

and Tobruk, HMAS Parramatta was torpedoed, and lost. 138 men 

never returned home to see their families again. Thankfully, 21 were 

plucked from the sea and three made it ashore. 

70 years ago they were here. Now we are where they were. We are 

doing what they did; serving our country at sea, on operations. And 

now we honour these men, close to their final resting place, holding 

them in the highest of esteem. We are Australian sailors, like all those 

who served in PARRAMATTA here both before and after them. I want 

you to think what it must have been like to serve in that Parramatta, 

here. The watch routine was four hours on, four hours 

off……endlessly under constant threat of short notice attack from dive 

bombers and torpedoes. Normally they would get less that half a 

minutes notice of a pending attack. They slept on the upper decks 

because it was too hot below. Think what it mush have been like, that 

night 70 years ago, to be awoken, during your fours hours off watch, 

on the upper deck of Parramatta, to the feeling of your ship being lifted from the water, explosions going 

off below you, your mates being thrown into the murkey darkness of the water just a bit past midnight. 

Think of the bravery, courage and stoicism that these men had in dealing with port visits where, to get 

the ship in safely for provisions, you had to send the ships boat ahead to push the floating mines out of 

the way, and hope that they didn’t explode around you. These were a proud, strong generation who held 



fast in adversity. Like us, they did their duty, they joked, laughed and shared private thoughts about what 

was to come. But all the time was the constant 

threat of impending attack, relentless and 

looming. They did this without relief for over a 

year here, before that fateful night 70 years 

ago. 

Today I would ask you to spare a thought for 

their wives and girlfriends, their mum and dads, 

their sisters and brothers, and their children 

and how they dealt with their constant absence, 

and eventually the horrible news of their loss. 

This is quite a significant occasion for the Navy 

family. None of us can fully understand or feel 

their loss. Many are gathered, right now, at the 

stern of Parramatta I, our city’s memorial to 

them and us. Our commissioning lady, Jill 

Green whose father, Lieutenant Bill Langford was the Executive Officer, a man she never knew, has 

made the journey from Mandurah to Sydney. His medals hang in this ship as do those of the Captain, 

Commander Jefferson Hurst Walker. So too we have an old shipmate, ex CPO Frank Davidson, another 

of the Parramatta crew who were here whose ashes we will scatter. Last year, on operations, this 

Parramatta scattered the ashes of another survivor, Ted Fryer, one of the 24 who survived. In July, we 

farewelled Ted and Frank’s mate when our last of the 24 survivors, Harold Moss passed. And we were 

there for him. Today we bring old mates together by saying goodbye to Frank Davidson and bringing 

him together again with Ted Fryer. All mates bonded in common adversity during a period of war. It is 

our privilege to support their families and reunite old mates bringing them back together as their service 

brought them together from the start. It gives us cause to pause to consider this bond, this very special 

bond of camaraderie, mateship and spirit de Corps; the bond of service that makes service at sea, 

especially for Australians in this place, so deeply significant. In doing so, we honour their memory and 

the memory of all those who have served before us. 

On 29 Nov 1941, two days after the loss of Parramatta, Admiral Cunningham, Commander-in-Chief of 

the Mediterranean Fleet signaled to the Naval Board: “I deeply deplore the loss of HMAS Parramatta. 

This fine little ship had built up for herself a splendid standard of efficiency and achievements fully in 

keeping with record of HMA Ships in Mediterranean. HMAS Parramatta was lost in defence of an 

important convoy under her charge which arrived safely at its destination. Please express my sympathy 

and that of Mediterranean Fleet to RAN and to bereaved.” 

And so we gather here today, 70 years to the day since Parramatta II was lost to honour the memory, 

the devotion to duty, and the sacrifice of those men. We are mindful that our present location in the Red 

Sea was familiar territory to Parramatta II in her wartime service. Places like Berbera, Aden, Massawa, 

Suez and Alexandria were all common names to Commander Walker, Lieutenant Langford, to Ted, Bill, 

Frank and Harold. And now they are names familiar to us as we trace their final steps in this place in 

which we serve. These men set our standard for duty and service and it is our honour to be here with 

them again in their final place, at peace and still on watch. Our oath and promise is to do justice to their 

service by carrying on their heritage and proudly serving Australia. We will return to carry on their 

tradition of service and in doing so, create a new generation of service in this Parramatta. 

Their service is our heritage like ours will be of those to come after us. So we say thank you to 

these brave men who were lost those 70 years ago today. We honour your service and your 

sacrifice and thank you for the fine tradition, the sacred reputation and the respect by all the 

world’s navies you have given us in being an Australian, fighting at sea. 

Lest we forget. 



Prayer of Remembrance 

Almighty God, we thank you for all those who did not count their lives dear to themselves but 

laid down their lives on the battlefields of war in the perils of the deep for our sakes. In your 

hands we leave their departed spirits. Let the memory of their devotion and sacrifice always be 

an example to us. So grant us to follow their good example in faithfulness and endurance, even 

unto death, that we may with them be found worthy of the crown of everlasting life. Amen. 

Read by CPOCIS Kym Viant 

The Record of Service of the late 

Chief Petty Officer Frank Davidson 

Chief Petty Officer Francis Samuel Davidson was born on the 12 th May 1922 in Brisbane. He 

enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy at Sydney on the 20 th January 1939 for 12 years service. 

He served in His Majesty’s Australian ships Vampire, Waterhen, Parramatta, Canberra, Mirimar, 

Kuramia (boom vessel), Innisfail (submarine cable layer), Limosa (cable layer), Warramunga, 

and Lae (harbour defence ship). He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the 

Pacific Star, the War Medal 1939-45, the Australian Service Medal 1939-45 and the Australian 

Defence Medal. He was also awarded his 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd Good Conduct Badges without being 

deprived of any. He discharged on 11 May 1952 at HMAS Penguin. 



Scattering of the Ashes of Frank Davidson in the Red Sea 

Chief Petty Officer Bosun Jason Rowe 

scatters the ashes of Ex-Chief Petty Officer 

Frank Davidson of HMAS Parramatta (II) 

The then Able Seaman Frank Davidson of 

HMAS Parramatta (II) 

Frank’s mates from Parramatta (II)……. 

Bill Woods, Harold Moss and Ted Fryer, 



The Ode 

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Gaskin, outgoing Executive Officer HMAS Parramatta 

They have no grave but the cruel sea, 

No flowers lay at their head, 

A rusting hulk is their tombstone, 

Afast on the ocean bed. 

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. 

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

We will remember them 

We will remember them 



The Last Post 

One Minute’s Silence 

Reveille 

The Blessing 

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no 

one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour every 

person; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The blessing of God 

Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. 



HMAS Parramatta I-IV: Together again 

Clockwise from Top Left: 

HMAS Parramatta (I-IV) 

Below: Foreground: The deckplate of HMASParramatta(I) held up by (Right) the Ship’s Warrant Officer Paul 

Bradley (Parramatta(III)) and (left) Seaman Max Stocki (youngest member of HMAS Parramatta(IV) with (centre) 

the ashes of Ex CPO Frank Davidson (Parramatta II) all watched over by his mates Bill Woods, Harold Moss and 

Ted Fryer 



HMAS PARRAMATTA II….the history 

HMAS Parramatta II commissioned at Sydney on 8 April 1940 under the command of LCDR 

Jefferson H. Walker MVO RAN, a thirty-nine year old officer who had entered the Royal 

Australian Naval College in 1915 at the age of 13½ years. She was his first command. 

Following a brief period exercising with the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla, Parramatta sailed from 

Fremantle on 29 June 1940 en route to the Red Sea where she reported for duty to the Senior 

Officer, Red Sea Force, at the end of July. Except for a visit to Bombay in December 1940 

Parramatta spent the next nine months in one of the world’s most torrid zones escorting, 

patrolling and minesweeping. It was monotonous work in the worst possible conditions relieved 

only by occasional futile Italian air attacks against the convoys under escort. In April 1941 she 

took part in the British operations against Italian Eritrea, East Africa. One of her last tasks as a 

unit of the Red Sea Force was towing the cruiser HMS Capetown from Eritrea to Port Sudan 

after she had been torpedoed by an Italian ‘E’ Boat during the night of 7/8 April 1941. 

In May 1941 Parramatta transferred to the control of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean 

Station, beginning with three weeks based on Port Tewfik at the head of the Gulf of Suez. On 3 

June she reached Alexandria where Walker commented that at last after months of monotony in 

the Red Sea’ he was pleased that his ‘rather young and developing Ship’s company’ would be 

stimulated by contact with the battle scarred Mediterranean Fleet. Soon afterwards Parramatta 

was assigned to duty on escort in support of the campaign in Libya (Western Desert). She 

sailed from Alexandria on her first run to the battle area on 15 June carrying a Naval Port Party 

to Mersa Matruh. 

After dark on 22 June 1941 Parramatta left Alexandria on her first run to beleaguered Tobruk, 

escorting in company with the sloop HMS Auckland, the small steamer PASS OF BALMAHA 

carrying a cargo of badly need petrol. The warships were to leave her off Tobruk and wait to 

seaward while she discharged her cargo and then escort her back to Alexandria. Steaming 

close inshore to gain the benefit of fighter protection from the land the ships made slow but 

steady progress. For 36 hours there was no sign of the enemy but at 8:40am on the second day 

out a single reconnaissance plane was sighted high up a few miles westward. Half an hour later 

the first of three fruitless attacks developed the last from a single aircraft at 1:45pm. Then at 

5:30pm, Parramatta received a warning from Auckland and Walker, scanning the sky, sighted 

three formations each of 16 dive bombers manoeuvring to attack. 

As they worked round in order to dive straight out of the blazing westering sun both ships 

opened the heaviest barrage they could muster. Then they came in, diving in twos and threes. 

Tall founts of water rising from the sea marked near miss after near miss. Auckland was hit in 

the stern and disappeared from view in a cloud of thick brown smoke. She emerged out of 

control, guns still firing, and heading straight for Parramatta who had to swing away to avoid a 

collision. ‘As she passed’, wrote Walker, ‘I saw that she was an utter wreck abaft the mainmast, 

with no stern visible.’ After fifteen minutes the last of the bombers was droning eastwards. 

Miraculously both Parramatta and the petrol carrier had escaped damage. Auckland stopped 

and listing heavily to port, began to abandon ship and Walker closed her to begin the work of 

rescuing her crew. She was barely cleared when a heavy internal explosion lifted the stricken 

ship ‘slowly and steadily about six or seven feet into the air. Her back broke with a pronounced 

fold down the starboard side.’ Slowly as if reluctant to go she rolled quietly over and sank. 



At 6:30pm the enemy returned, machine gunning Auckland’s survivors as they drifted in boats 

and skiffs, on rafts and some still afloat in their lifebelts. Parramatta was forced to withdraw to 

gain sea room until darkness fell. For two hours the bombers kept coming so that according to 

Walker ‘there seemed always one formation falling about like leaves in the zenith and then 

diving in succession, one moving forward into position and one splitting off and coming in at 45 

degrees.’ But at last after the enemy had done his futile worst and failed to sink either 

Parramatta or her charge the attacks ceased ‘as the sun’s lower limb touched the horizon at 

8:25pm.’ In the deepening dusk of the Mediterranean night Walker turned his ship towards the 

scene of Auckland’s loss. There she was joined by the Australian destroyers HMAS 

Waterhen (I) and HMAS Vendetta (I). While the destroyers circled her she picked up 164 

survivors before setting out for Alexandria. PASS OF BALMAHA, damaged in the bunkers, was 

taken in tow by Waterhen (I) to Tobruk with Vendetta (I) as escort. 

After cleaning ship and making good minor damage, Parramatta resumed escort duty to Tobruk. 

En route to Mersa Matruh on 27 June she was attacked by a submarine. Fortunately, however, 

although the enemy’s aim was good his torpedo ran too deep and passed harmlessly 

underneath the ship. From Mersa Matruh the Australian sloop picked up the PASS OF 

BALMAHA off Tobruk and on 30 June again entered Alexandria Harbour where she remained 

making good defects until 18 July. Thereafter until the end of the month she operated as one of 

the escort vessels covering the reinforcement of the British forces in Cyprus. 

In September Parramatta operated as Duty Sloop at Attaka in the Suez Canal zone where, said 

Walker, ‘it was intended that my presence should inspire confidence in the crews of American 

merchant ships loaded with military stores.’ October was spent in the Gulf of Suez 

on survey work with which Walker was well acquainted, having served in the survey ship HMAS 

Geranium as a young Lieutenant in 1923/24. At dawn on 18 November 1941 the British Eighth 

Army under General Auckinleck launched its long planned offensive in Libya. The value of the 

toehold held in Tobruk and maintained entirely by the Navy was immediately demonstrated. It 

was an invaluable feeder port for reinforcement and supplies for the Army advance. 

A few hours after the British Army began to move HMAS Yarra (II) and Parramatta left 

Alexandria escorting a slow convoy to Tobruk. It arrived without loss in spite of enemy attacks 

from the air and undersea. Their charges delivered safely the two Australian sloops were back 

in Alexandria on 23 November. Meanwhile, fierce assaults by the Tobruk garrison against the 

besieging enemy had reduced their ammunition to a dangerously low level. To relieve the 

situation Parramatta and the destroyer HMS Avon Vale sailed from Alexandria on 25 November 

escorting the deeply laden ammunition ship HANNE to Tobruk. About midnight on 26 November 

the three ships were about 25 miles north of Bardia off the Libyan coast. It was pitch dark and 

raining with a heavy surging sea running. HANNE was confused as to her route into Tobruk and 

Walker closed to hail by megaphone. Half an hour later the two ships lay close alongside one 

another steaming slowly at about three knots. Avon Vale was lost in the encircling blackness, a 

blanket which had not prevented the Commanding Officer of U559 sighting the convoy nearly 

two hours earlier as lit by a flash of lightning it stood silhouetted to the north east of his prowling 

submarine. 

Biding his time the German quietly stalked his prey, manoeuvring for a favourable position. At 

12 minutes past midnight at a range of 2,200 yards, he fired a spread of three torpedoes at a 

‘merchant ship behind which a small vessel was visible.’ All three torpedoes missed. 

Disappointed and puzzled by his failure the German submarine closed in. ‘I cannot wait, he 

wrote, ‘because the convoy is just off the Tobruk approach route.’ 



Then, at 12:45am on 27 November ‘I fired a single torpedo at a range of 1,500 metres using the 

same estimations. The target is a destroyer with one funnel. Hit! Two explosions one after the 

other. The destroyer breaks up and sinks. Shortly afterwards another heavy explosion. Probably 

her depth charges. I make off towards the south east.’ U559’s torpedo hit Parramatta amidships. 

There were two almost simultaneous explosions, the second probably in the magazine. She 

was torn apart, all lighting failed and Walker standing on the bridge had only time to issue the 

order ‘abandon ship’ before she rolled rapidly to starboard and sank. 

Only those on deck had a chance to escape. About 30 including two officers clung to an 

Oropesa float among a mass of debris. They could hear shouts close by in the darkness. 

Suddenly as if she were reluctant to take the final plunge, Parramatta’s stern broke the surface. 

Some distance off a vague black shape was visible. Two seamen decided to take a chance and 

swim towards it. After three quarters of a mile and near exhaustion they were picked up by Avon 

Vale at 3:05am. The destroyer had by then already plucked nineteen survivors from the 

wreckage strewn sea. No others were found and although she searched a wide area the 

destroyer could find no trace of the Oropesa float nor any of its human cargo. Three more, 

however, reached the Libyan coast unaided, to be rescued by advancing British troops, making 

in all twenty-four survivors. One hundred and thirty-eight lost their lives, including all officers. 

HMAS Parramatta (II) ships company whilst on short leave from Alexandria, Egypt 



HMAS PARRAMATTA 

LIST OF CASUALTIES – 27 NOVEMBER 1941 

AUSTRALIAN CREW MEMBERS 

ALLSOP, William John Yeoman of Signals 

ANDERSON, Thomas Patrich Able Seaman 

ANGWIN, Winbury Laurence Stoker 

APPS, Henry Arthur Stoker 

BALLEINE, Frederick Walter Cecil Able Seaman 

BAMPTON, Richard John Leading Steward 

BARCLAY, Charles William Able Seaman 

BARRON, William George Stoker 

BASS, William John Supply Petty Officer 

BATES, Henry Thomas Francis Leading Seaman 

BEER, Daniel Joseph Stoker 

BLAYDON, William George Able Seaman 

BOWKER, Frank Holford Able Seaman 

BRICE, Allan Able Seaman 

BROWN, Arthur John Gunner 

BRUCE, Donald William Douglas Able Seaman 

BRYANT, Henry James Stoker Petty Officer 

BUCHAN, David John Evans Joiner 1 st Class 

BURRELL, Carl Heinrich Stoker Petty Officer 

BUSHELL, Sydney Charles Leading Seaman 

BUTTON, Raymond Henry Able Seaman 

CAMPBELL, Arthur Charles Petty Officer 

CAMPBELL, William Gordon Stoker 

CHAMBERLAIN, Reginald George Able Seaman 

CHRISTENSEN, Sofas Emilius Stoker 

CLAYTON, Thomas John Stoker 

CONNELLY, Richard James Mannix Stoker 

COULSON, Leo Bow Stoker 

COUSINS, Frederick Tasman Arthur Able Seaman 

CRANSTOUN, Max William Supply Assistant 

CROZIER, Allan Stoker Petty Officer 

CURTIN, James Andrew Stoker 

DANIEL, Reginald James Stoker 

D’AUBERT, Paul Andre Able Seaman 

DAVIES, John Alan Stoker Petty Officer 

DAVIS, Charles Ernest Stoker Petty Officer 

DAVIS, John Alfred Able Seaman 

DOWSETT, Stafford Thomas Wedding Able Seaman 

DUNLOP, Edward Maxwell Stoker 

DUNN, Harold Clyde Able Seaman 

DUNN, John Edward Steward 

DUNN, Thomas Marten Steward 

DUNS, James Watson Jerdan Able Seaman 

ECCLESTON, Edmund David Petty Officer Cook 

ERBY, Harold Arthur Able Seaman 

FLETCHER, Reginald Leading Steward 



FORWOOD, Percy William Lieutenant Commander 

FOX, Henry Charles Stoker 

FRANKLIN, William Able Seaman 

GIDDEY, Richard Thomas Able Seaman 

GOLDIE, Christopher Able Seaman 

HAGIN, John Michael Stoker II 

HALL, Stanley John Steward 

HARRINGTON, Charles Frederick Surgeon Lieutenant 

HAYNES, Robert Francis Stoker II 

HEXTALL, Leslie Arthur Able Seaman 

HOLDSWORTH, Allen Roy Stoker 

HOTTON, Eric Milton Able Seaman 

HUMPHREYS-GREY, Robert Claude Stoker 

HUNTER, Charles Francis Able Seaman 

HUNTER, Howard William Chief Engine Room Artificer 

HUNTER, Kenneth Ross Lieutenant 

JOHNSTON, Edward John Stoker 

JOHNSTON, Victor Vivian Lieutenant 

KEEP, Alaric Senior Able Seaman 

KEYS, George Wilkin Stoker 

KINNANE, Francis George Telegraphist 

KOY, Harold Charles Able Seaman 

LANGFORD, George William Allen Lieutenant 

LEWIS, James Petty Officer Steward 

MANN, John Edward Leading Telegraphist 

MARCHESI, Gilbert Lester Engine Room Artificer IV 

MARTIN, James Granville Able Seaman 

McCOLL, Arthur Wallace Thomas Able Seaman 

McDONOUGH, Alan William Signaller 

McMILLAN, Daniel Able Seaman 

MENHENICK, Donald Able Seaman 

MILHAM, Percy Carlisle Henry Able Seaman 

MIRNIK, Carl James Stoker 

MOLLOY, Walter Robert Engine Room Artificer IV 

MOON, Anthony Robert Able Seaman 

MOORE, Arthur Lieutenant 

MOSELEY, Douglas Sydney Engine Room Artificer III 

NEVILLE, Keith Thomas Stoker 

NIELSON, Thomas Moyard Leading Stoker 

OAKEY, Allen Douglas Ordinary Seaman 

OLIVER, Norbert Leading Stoker 

ORAM, Reginald Philip Commander Engineer 

PAMMENT, Walter Able Seaman 

PATERSON, Joseph Able Seaman 

PERKINS, Ian Hamilton Stuart Petty Officer Steward 

POYSER, George Maxwell Rowen Sick Berth Attendant 

PRITCHARD-WAFFORD, Frederick John Petty Officer Telegraphist 

PURTELL, Edward Geoffrey Chief Writer 

PYNE, Robert William Parker Petty Officer 

QUINN, Edward Telegraphist 

RAMSAY, Allan John Gordon Able Seaman 

REES, Thomas Charles Stoker 

RICHARDS, George Edward Albert Petty Officer 

ROGERS, Albert George Electrical Artificer 2 


www.navy.gov.au\HMAS Parramatta Email paul.bradley1@fleet.defence.gov.au 

nd Class

ROSE, Alfred Francis Petty Officer Stoker 

RUSSELL, John Edmund Leading Supply Assistant 

RYAN, John Reginald Stoker 1 st Class 

SANDERS, James Edward Stoker 

SANDRY, James Edward Stoker II 

SANGSTER, William John Stoker 

SATCHELL, Dick Able Seaman 

SAVAGE, Leslie William George Able Seaman 

SCHMIERER, Victor George Leading Stoker 

SCOTT, Wilfred Clarence Leading Stoker 

SHEPHARD, William Thomas Shipwright 1 st Class 

SIMPSON, Alan Leo Engine Room Artificer 4 th Class 

SKEGGS, Morris Edgar Stoker 

SMART, Eugene Stuart Cook 

SMITH, Lyall James Ordinary Seaman 

SNAPE, William Arthur Supply Assistant 

SOFOULIS, Michael Cook 

STALLARD, Eric James Petty Officer Stoker 

STEWART, Robert Bell Leading Steward 

STREETER, John Richard Able Seaman 

THOMAS, Harold Frederick Thomas Leading Cook 

TODD, Frederick Bernard Leading Stoker 

WAITE, Jack Dudley Leading Seaman 

WALKER, Edward Milton Signalman 

WALKER, Jefferson Hirst Commander 

WARNER, John Edward Tucker Sick Berth Attendant 

WATSON, Andrew Petrie Able Seaman 

WEST, Albert Edward Leading Cook 

WESTON, Hector Charles Able Seaman 

WHITMEY, Charles Clare Leading Stoker 

ROYAL NAVY CREW MEMBERS 

BLOXHAM, Harry: Able Seaman 

CASH, Albert Edward: Ordinary Seaman 

CONSTANCE, Donald: Ordinary Seaman 

GREGORY, Harry: Engine Room Artificer IV 

LEVERE, John Andrew: Able Seaman 

LITCHFIELD, Richard Hill Sandys: Lieutenant 

SPEDDY, Robert: Able Seaman 

ROYAL NAVY PERSONNEL IN TRANSIT 

BLOOR, Gordon: Signalman 

CURLING, Stewart Stephan Jack: Shipwright 3 rd Class 

DENNISTOUN, David McNeill: Stoker 2 nd Class 

DRUMMOND, Richard Jospeh: Leading Cook 

HANCOX, William Lawson: Supply Assistant 

HEBDITCH, Henry: Able Seaman 

KNAPMAN, Charles Frederick: Stoker 1 st Class 

ROBINSON, James Frederick: Petty officer 

THOMSON, Robert Holt: Petty Officer 

WHITLOCK, Ernest Albert: Petty Officer 



Lest we forget

PARRA-MATTERS - Royal Australian Navy

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