Australian Groups - Other Properties

Lot 4672    Session 15 ( 7.30pm Thursday 20th November)    Australian Groups - Other Properties

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF SIX TO HMAS PARRAMATTA SURVIVOR: 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star, - clasp - Burma; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Phillipines Liberation Medal. 23454. A.E.Myers. on first five medals, last medal unnamed as issued. All named medals impressed. Very fine.

Ex J. and J. Edwards Collection.

HMAS Parramatta was assigned to the Red Sea Force in July 1940, and arrived in Aden at the month's end. The sloop was later transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet. While in the Mediterranean, Parramatta was one of several warships used to supply and support the Allied forces besieged at Tobruk, and appropriately nicknamed the Tobruk Ferry Service. While operating off Tobruk on 24 June 1941, Parramatta, the British sloop HMS Auckland, and the petrol carrier Pass of Balmaha were attacked by over 70 dive bombers. The Australian warship shot down three aircraft during the engagement without receiving major damage, but Auckland was sunk. Parramatta later helped recover the 164 survivors.

On 25 Nov 1941, HMAS Parramatta and HMS Avon Vale left Alexandria escorting the ammunition ship Hanne on the run into Tobruk. Near to midnight on 26 November the ships were about 25 miles north of Bardia, in a 'pitch black dark raining night' when she was hit amidships by a single torpedo from U-559 under the command of Hans Heidtmann. This caused a catastrophic explosion inside her magazine that tore the ship apart. The damage was so significant that the sloop's captain only had time to order 'abandon ship' before Parramatta rolled to starboard.

About 30 survivors, including two officers clung to a raft that floated between the debris. Of the 161 officers and crew and 12 British Marines on board, all were lost except 22 of the crew and one British Marine.

The sloop's wartime service was later recognised by the battle honour 'Libya 1941'.

AB A.E. Myers was in Director Control when the ship was torpedoed and as he 'hit the water' his watch stopped at 12.41am. With other survivors he climbed on to one of the propeller blades and sat there until a depth charge rolled loose over the side, at which time he swam to the French Float (used for mine-sweeping) that had been floating near the ship. Approaching on the horizon was the destroyer H.M. Avon Vale, as she moved closer he decided to swim to her. Adjacent to the ship and after several attempts to get him on board, he managed to catch the last lifebelt thrown and was pulled on board after 3 1/ 2 hours in the water.

With group photo and details.