Kuttabul Commemoration in support of Legacy – 70th Anniversary of Japanese midget submarine attack upon Sydney Harbour – 4 hour History Cruise

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese midget submarine attack upon Sydney Harbour.  In accordance with this, the Kuttabul Commemoration Project was established back in 2010 and a search made to locate a direct descendant of each and every allied sailor who lost his life that night.

WHEN:- On the 31st of May, 2012 a four hour Commemorative Sydney Harbour cruise will be conducted in support of Sydney Legacy.  Boarding time commences at 10.15am and the Sydney Harbour Cruise will conclude at 2.30pm

IMAGE RIGHT: The Kuttabul Commemoration 70th Anniversary Cruise is in support of Sydney Legacy .  As a result of the Japanese attack, 21 allied sailors lost their lives.  Legacy has been supporting the families of our servicemen who have paid the supreme sacrifice and we are asking that you support Legacy, so that their valuable work may continue.

WHERE:- Sydney Harbour.  It is hard to imagine that one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, was once a battlefield.  Special permission has been granted for our cruise boat to enter restricted Naval waters, so that an Official Wreath Laying Ceremony can take place on the water, near where the depot ship KUTTABUL was sunk and 21 allied sailors lost their lives.  We board this vessel at Wharf 9 in Darling Harbour.  Wharf 9 is just north of the Sydney Aquarium and is opposite the National Maritime Museum.

IMAGE LEFT: The luxury Sydney Harbour Cruise vessel operated by All Occasion Cruises will be the venue for this memorable event.

CRUISE VESSEL:- The luxury Sydney Harbour Cruise boat “Bella Vista” operated by All Occasion Cruises will provide the venue.  This vessel provides an open plan dining area where a sit down meal will be provided.  It also offers ample deck space to provide you with an uninterrupted view of the Official Wreath Laying Ceremony which will be conducted upon the water.

IMAGE RIGHT: The spacious interior of the Sydney Harbour Cruise vessel, “Bella Vista” which will be the venue for the Kuttabul Commemoration 70th Anniversary of the Japanese midget submarine attack.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENT:- This event was born through a need to make contact with a direct descendant of each and every allied sailor who lost his life on the night of the 31st May / 1st June during the dark days of 1942.  With the generous assistance of the geneology group “Find My Past Australisia” and “Genes Reunited”, the Kuttabul Commemoration Project began a two year search which has led them to this event.  Whilst we have not been successful for this particular anniversary, it is hoped that all twenty one sailors will be represented for the 75th Anniversary during 2017.

COST:- Price per head is $80.00  This includes a four hour Sydney Harbour Cruise, hot buffet lunch and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks.  Tickets are very limited.  Please contact Gary Traynor on mobile 0449 692401 or email: customerservice@medalsgonemissing.com to secure your seats which are selling fast.

IMAGE LEFT: Without the invaluable assistance of Find My Past Australasia, the Kuttabul Commemoration Project would not have been so successful.

It is tragic when any person loses their life as a result of war.  What sets these men apart is they were billeted on a non-combat vessel in what was considered to be a relatively safe harbour.  Sadly, they form a unique group of men whose death came about as a direct result of enemy action upon the city of Sydney.  Unlike Darwin and other mainland cities which suffered multiple attacks, Sydney was only raided once by manned attack craft.

IMAGE RIGHT:- Genes Reunited has assisted the organisers of the Kuttabul Commemoration Project to trace down the direct descendants of the men who were killed aboard KUTTABUL during the Japanese midget submarine attack upon Sydney Harbour.  However the work is not over yet!  If you are a descendant of one of these men, please contact the Project Manager Gary Traynor through this website.  We are still looking for descendants in preparation for the 75th Anniversary in 2017.

KUTTABUL – THE HISTORY:- Reknown historian, author and Kuttabul expert, Steven L. CARRUTHERS will be on board the “Bella Vista” and will narrate the history as the cruise unfolds.  Steven is the author of the historical accounts ‘Australia Under Seige’ and ‘Japanese Submarine Raiders 1942 – A Maritime Mystery’.

IMAGE LEFT: Historian and author Steven L. CARRUTHERS.  Having written two books on the Japanese midget submarine attack upon Sydney Harbour, Steven’s research into this subject is what other historians refer to when studying this action.

Steven has served in the Royal Australian Navy as an anti-submarine specialist and worked within Sydney Harbour as a NSW Fisheries officer, tagging abalone for a research project.  He then served as a commercial diver in the North Sea, Nigeria and West Africa.

IMAGE RIGHT: Steven’s first book on the Kuttabul and Japanese midget submarine attack upon Sydney Harbour was ‘Australian Under Siege’.  This book was the first book to deal with this attack and the response from veterans and eye witnesses was overwhelming.

As a result of the additional evidence which was presented to Steven after the release of his book, ‘Australia Under Siege’, he was further challenged to expand on this story and offer new information which was not previously available.  This further evidence resulted in the release of his second book which was titled ‘Japanese Submarine Raiders 1942 – A Maritime Mystery’.

IMAGE LEFT: ‘Japanese Submarine Raiders 1942 – A Maritime Mystery’.  This book by Steven L. Carruthers came about as a result of additional information supplied to him by veterans and eye witnesses to the Japanese midget submarine attack.

Do you wish to know more about the Kuttabul Commemoration Project?  Or do you wish to attend the Kuttabul Commemoration 70th Anniversary Sydney Harbour Cruise?  Please contact the Project Manager, Gary Traynor to secure your tickets.

OVERVIEW:-

TIME & DATE: Thursday 31st of May, 2012.  Boarding time is 10.15am at Wharf 9 – Darling Harbour (near the Sydney Aquarium on the ‘city’ side of Darling Harbour).  Wharf 9 is opposite the National Maritime Museum.

COST: Price is $80.00 per head.  Includes a four hour Sydney Harbour Cruise.  Hot buffet lunch & unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks.

NON PROFIT ORGANISATION: The Kuttabul Commemoration 70th Anniversary Sydney Harbour Cruise is a NOT FOR PROFIT event in support of Sydney Legacy; a registered charity.  Any other cruise which is being conducted in the name of Kuttabul and the Japanese midget submarine attack is a commercial venture and not in support of Legacy.

OFFICIAL WREATH LAYING: This is the only commemorative event which will lay a wreath on the water, near where Kuttabul was sunk during the Japanese midget submarine attack of 1942.  Special permission has been granted by the Royal Australian Navy to enter restricted naval waters so that the vessel can stand close to the position where Kuttabul went down with the loss of 21 allied lives.

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK: Look us up on face book by searching under the words KUTTABUL COMMEMORATION PROJECT.

KUTTABUL NEWSLETTER: We have produced monthly newsletters which historical facts and eye witness accounts.  Many stories previously unpublished.  If you wish to receive these newsletters, please contact Project Manager Gary Traynor who would be happy to email any back issues to you.

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Sergeant Patrick O’KEEFFE, 4th Infantry Battalion AIF – Military Medal Winner at Hargicourt

Patrick O’Keeffe was born on 25 April 1887 in Tocumwal NSW. He was the second of thirteen children of James O’Keeffe and Emily Godier. James was born in County Cork and Emily was born in a tent on the Victorian Goldfields.

Patrick started his working life as an employee of the Post Master Generals Department. He rose to the rank of Telegraph Operator. While working in northern NSW he met Violet Irvin in the small town of Tooraweenah. Violet parents ran the only hotel in the town. The Irvin family sold the hotel in Tooraweenah and purchased a hotel in Beechworth Victoria sometime after 1911.

IMAGE RIGHT: Sergeant Patrick O’KEEFFE, M.M. who served with the 4th Infantry Battalion, AIF during the Great War.  His war service medals are missing and his family would desperately love to find them.  Can you help?

Patrick enlisted on 22 November 1915 at Casula NSW. Surprisingly, his service record as per the National Archives of Australia indicates that Patrick had been previously rejected for service with His Majesty’s services for being “physically unfit”.  Patrick must have shown skills in leadership, as by the 2 February, 1916 he was acting Sergeant with the 4th Infantry Battalion. By the 18 April 1916 he was acting Company Sergeant Major.  According to the First World War Embarkation Roll, number 6064 Patrick O’KEEFFE embarked aboard the transport ship (A18) HMAT Wiltshire on the 22nd of August, 1916 from Port Sydney.  He disembarked at Plymouth on 12 October 1916.  Whilst the First World War Embarkation Roll indicates that he held the rank of ‘Private’ at the date of boarding ship, his records would confirm his rank as ‘Acting Sergeant’ in December of that year.   Patrick took part in more training, including a Platoon Commander course. Showing his aptitude with automatic weapons, he qualified as “Very good” at the Lewis Gun Training School.

In April 1917 he was transferred for a month to the Cold Stream Guards at Windsor. In June 1917 he was transferred to the 4th Battalion in France. In early October 1917 he was wounded by shrapnel in the Battle of Broodseinde. He was sent back to England to recover from his wounds. In late November in 1917 in was back in France with the 4th Battalion.

IMAGE LEFT: The ‘white over green’ colour patch of the 4th Infantry Battalion, AIF.

In June 1918 he was promoted to Lance Sergeant. In September 1918 he was wounded again and sent to General Hospital Portsmouth. He was back to strength in October 1918 in Army Head Quarters in London. Patrick was granted leave in June 1919 to attend the Central Telegraph School in Glasgow. He was awarded the Military Medal on 17 June 1919 for his actions at Hargicourt in September 1918.

His citation for the Military Medal read “Sergeant Patrick O’Keeffe,  6064.  4th Battalion AIF.  For Conspicuous bravery and coolness during operations near Hargicourt on 11th September 1918.  When his platoon was surrounded by the enemy he set a splendid example to the men and ably assisted to extricate the platoon from a difficult situation. Previously he led a daylight patrol under machine gun fire about 1000 yards from our line and when surrounded he gallantry led his men and fought his way back to our lines with very useful information. He set a splendid example to the men under him.” The citation was signed by Major General Commanding 1st Australian Division.2 October 1918.

IMAGE RIGHT: An example of the war service medals, awarded to Sergeant Patrick O’KEEFFE of the 4th Infantry Battalion, AIF.  From left to right:- Military Medal, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  These missing medals are sought by the family of Sergeant Patrick O’KEEFFE.  If you have these missing medals in your collection or know of their whereabouts, they would be most grateful to hear from you.

Patrick returned to Australia on 15 November 1919 aboard “Ypuanga” arriving in Sydney on 9 January 1920. He was discharged from the army in March 1920. He and his brother law opened a General Store near Five Dock. He later opened a small Post Office at Wareemba where he worked for the rest of his life. Patrick became a founding member of Five Dock RSL Club and worked for many years helping many returned soldiers.

In July 1921 he married Violet Irvin and they settled in the back of the shop they owned. They had two daughters born in 1922 and 1926. Both daughters married and moved to Kingsgrove. Mollie the eldest daughter married James Kelly. Patricia the youngest daughter married Gordon Parkinson. Patrick and Violet had ten grand children. Patrick enjoyed going to the races or watching the local Australian Rules Team in his spare time.

The spelling of his surname is unusual in that it contains a second letter ‘f’.  His missing war medals will reflect this in the stamping of his name on the edge of the awards.  Patrick was always very concerned his surname  was spelt correctly. “Its eeffe” he would always say.

6064 Sergeant Patrick O’KEEFFE M.M. died in July 1982 at the age of 95. For the last few years of his life he was living in a nursing home in Drummoyne.

Carl Parkinson

9 February 2012

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VALE – RAY MAJOR – THE LAST KNOWN SURVIVOR OF THE DEPOT SHIP ‘KUTTABUL’ BY JAPANESE MIDGET SUBMARINES IN SYDNEY HARBOUR – 1942

Stoker Ray MAJOR – B2993

12 Jan 1923 – 12 Jan 2012

Ray Major from Albany Creek, Queensland, was the last known survivor of HMAS Kuttabul, which was sunk in Sydney Harbour by a Japanese torpedo soon after midnight on 1 June 1942. Ray, who was a 19-year-old second-class stoker at the time, had slung his hammock above the stokers mess as usual that night.  “Next thing I knew I was flying through the air then I hit the back (of the ship),” he said. “There was rubbish all around me and I was clearing that when I noticed a fellow just over from me and he was in trouble.  So I took care of a beam that came off the top of the lockers and was across his legs and got him up on his feet and we crawled out,” said Ray.

IMAGE RIGHT: Stoker Raymond MAJOR, Service Number B2993.  Ray was the last known survivor of the sinking of the RAN depot ship Kuttabul, by Japanese midget submarines at 12.30am on the 01st June, 1942.

Ray remembers his call for help went unheeded and he realised they would have to brave the cold water.“So I grabbed hold of the sailor and said, “let’s get the hell out of here” because the water was rising and rising,” he said.  “We went over the side and he grabbed hold of the rail and wouldn’t let go. I told him, ‘Come on, we’ve got to get to the boat ramp’, and the next thing, fellers were shouting out… and picked us up”.

The Kuttabul was a converted harbour ferry requisitioned by the Navy and used to billet naval personnel at its mooring alongside Garden Island.  About 12.30 am a Japanese midget submarine fired two torpedoes at the heavy cruiser USS Chicago but missed.  The first torpedo ran up on the rocks near Gun Wharf on Garden Island and failed to explode; the other passed under the Dutch submarine K9 and Kuttabul and struck a concrete retaining wall.  The explosion ripped the bottom out of the barracks vessel, which sank quickly with the loss of 21 Australian and British sailors.

IMAGE LEFT: The wreck of the KUTTABUL where she was sunk at Garden Island on the 1st of June, 1942.  It was from this vessel that Ray rescued one of his shipmates.

Ray was one of only three sailors to survive from the stokers mess.  As a result of the explosion Ray discharged medically unfit from the Navy in July 1943 on a full disability pension.  Miffed that he was no longer deemed physically able to carry out his duties, he became a merchant seaman to prove to himself that he could do the job.

IMAGE RIGHT: Stoker Ray MAJOR in his retirement.  With his passing, goes the last known survivor of the Kuttabul crew who were on board when the vessel was destroyed by a Japanese torpedo.

Born in Brisbane, Ray joined the Navy in 1941 as a Steward rating before transferring to the Engineering Branch.  During his service career he served on the auxiliary minesweeper HMAS Narani and the cable layer HMAS Bangalow, which laid the anti-submarine indicator loops at the entrance to Darwin Harbour.  After the war Ray worked as a cane cutter in Mackay before moving to the Sunshine Coast where he worked in the construction industry until his retirement.  Ray passed away peacefully on his 89th birthday.

Hail and farewell!

By Steven Carruthers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Steven Carruthers served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1969 to 1977 and specialized as a radar plotter and ASAC (anti-submarine air controller).  He has written two books on the subject of Kuttabul:- Australia Under Siege & Japanese Submarine Raiders 1942.  Steven is the official historian of the Kuttabul Commemoration Harbour Cruise in accordance with the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese midget submarine attack upon Sydney Harbour.

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Neither Black nor White ….. but ‘Khaki’ – Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD of the 2/2nd Battalion AIF on the Kokoda Trail and Sanananda

Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD was born at Walcha, New South Wales on February 17th, 1915 to Frank and Sarah Archibald.  One of 12 children; he would find himself fighting alongside his fellow Australians in many faraway places.  However, law of the time said  that he was not a citizen of Australia.  To the broader population back home, he was a black man in a white man’s army.  But to his mates on the front, he was neither black – nor white ….. he was ‘khaki’ like the rest of them.  And Frank, like many other indigenous Australians would prove his worth on the battlefield and shed his life’s blood in service of his country.

The Archibald family today are well known in the Armidale area. They are direct descendants of Robert King, or King Bobby, a renowned Aboriginal leader at the time of colonisation.

IMAGE RIGHT: NX15456 Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion, AIF.

Frank Richard Archibald lived in the Armidale-Walcha area until 1935 when the family moved to Burnt Bridge Mission, near Kempsey. The family moved to the Mission after welfare authorities threatened to remove their children. The government authorities promised that, if the family moved to the Mission, their children would not be taken.

Private Frank’s military service began during May of 1940 when he enlisted into the AIF at Kempsey at the age of 25.   He was assigned to the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion which was part of the 16th Brigade.  Frank’s younger brother, Ronald Archibald, and his uncle, Richard Archibald (Senior) signed up in Kempsey around the same time.

After training at Greta, Frank sailed from Sydney in August 1940.

IMAGE LEFT: Colour Patch of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion, AIF (Australian Imperial Force).  Bearing the colours of ‘purple over green’, note the grey border which denotes the second AIF.  The original 2nd Infantry Battalion of the First World War had the same colour patch but minus the grey border.

He arrived in Palestine in September, and after more training, he served in the Battle of Bardia then followed action in the battles of Tobruk, Benghazi and on to Greece and Crete.

In the evacuation of Greece, Frank was in a group of twelve cut off by the German army, but they made their way to the coast where they got a fishing boat which took them to Crete. On the day that they were evacuated from Crete, the enemy sent over 60 bombers and heavily bombed the village in which they had taken refuge.

In March 1942, the 2/2nd Battalion was to leave Palestine and arrive in Ceylon (current day Sri Lanka) on the 27th of March, 1942.  It was the desire of Winston Churchill that the Australians of the 16th & 17th Brigades, bolster the British defences in the zone which included Burma and India.  However, Prime Minister Curtain and the Australian Government finally ordered these troops back home to defend Australia. This was a disappointment of the British Government, however the Japanese had landed at Gona on the northern coast of New Guinea and had already pushed south to the village of Kokoda. They sailed from Ceylon aboard the SS City of Canterbury in July, arriving home on the 4th of August, 1942.

A few weeks later Private Frank was welcomed home by his community at a public function.

IMAGE RIGHT: The remains of an Australian weapons pit dug in on the forward slope of Imita Ridge.  From this position, there would be no retreat for the Australian forces.  This image gives a good indication of the jungle conditions ….. a far cry from the country around Walcha.

After short leave, Frank left Brisbane for Port Moresby.  Arriving on the 21st of September, 1942 they were to remain at Moresby on local defence duty for the next ten days.  The major battles of Isurava and Brigade Hill had already been fought and the Australian troops had pulled back to Imita Ridge where they dug in.  The fresh troops of the 25th Brigade (2/25th Battalion, 2/31st & 2/33rd) supported by the 3rd Infantry Battalion AMF (commonly referred to as ‘militia’) had been told that there would be no retreat from this position.  They were to stand and fight ….. or die trying.

At this time, the Kokoda Track started from McDonald’s Corner just outside Port Moresby.  It ran approximately 96 km across New Guinea, through the Owen Stanley Ranges to Kokoda.  From there, the trail continued beyond to the coastal lowlands on the north coast.

The track crosses some of the most rugged and isolated country in the world. The altitude reaching 2,250 metres at Mount Bellamy.  The climate combines hot humid days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and endemic tropical diseases such as malaria.  It is passable only on foot.

IMAGE LEFT: The Kokoda Trail, between Alola and Isurava when heading north.  This is the type of rugged and mountainous country which faced Frank and his comrades during the advance to Kokoda village.

As the Kokoda campaign developed – this had sever repercussions for army logistics, the size of the forces that could be deployed and the type of warfare that could be fought.

There were many days where our Australian infantry were moving forward and fighting the enemy but they did not really have enough food, water and ammunition as it was so difficult for the army to deliver these things along the narrow, muddy foot track.

We know from the many letters that Private Frank Archibald sent home to his mother Sarah; that just surviving on the track was a struggle, let alone doing battle with the well- equipped Japanese troops.  There are accounts in Frank’s letters about how he used his bush skills- for example – to help his fellow soldiers collect water for drinking.

IMAGE RIGHT: A photograph of Australian troops pushing through the mosquito infested swamps of Sanananda.  It was in this living hell that Private Frank Archibald fought and was killed, whilst attempting to save the life of another.  Whilst this photo is actually of men of the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment, it is the same conditions faced by the 2/2nd Battalion.

On the 24th of November 1942 with the beaches of  the northern coastline of New Guinea  only 4 or 5 kilometres away, 1942 Frank was killed in action.  He was 27 years old.  Fighting in the fetid swampland around Sanananda,  he was shot by the enemy while trying to save his non-Aboriginal friend, who survived the action.

Frank’s younger brother, Ronald, also fought on the Kokoda trail. Ronald became ill with malaria and was medically evacuated, we think this happened a few days after Frank was killed.

IMAGE LEFT: Bomana War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea where Frank Archibald lies buried.

Both Frank and his brother Ronald were regular correspondents, sending many letters home to their mother, Sarah.  Sarah kept all the letters from her sons, and this collection is now held with pride by Aunty Grace Archibald. The letters give sobering insights into the experiences of the two young men as they fought in foreign lands.

A letter written to Frank’s mother Sarah shortly after his death by a senior sergeant Ron Diamond states that “I can honestly say Frank was one of the most popular boys in the battalion and his cheery disposition and ready smile, even in the darkest hours, made him an inspiration to us all”. This showed the high regards held for her son by his fellow-soldiers.

Today Private Frank Richard Archibald lies beside his 600 fellow fallen Anzac’s at the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby, New Guinea.

He is buried with full military honours.

However his spirit will not be truly brought to rest until he has received a proper, Aboriginal, culturally appropriate ceremony.

IMAGE LEFT: An image of the war service medals awarded to Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD, 2/2nd Infantry Battalion, AIF.  From left to right:- 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 Australia Service Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal.

IMAGE RIGHT: Aunty Grace Gordon (Archibald) and Uncle Richard Archibald with Frank’s war service medals and Company photograph.

STORY AND SOME PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES WRITTEN AND GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED BY THE KOKODA ABORIGINAL SERVICEMAN’s CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

IMAGE LEFT: Front page of the Illawarra Mercury, showing the first media article that detailed Franks army service.


PLEASE NOTE:  The Kokoda Aboriginal Serviceman’s Campaign Committee is seeking to raise funds, in order for members of his family to attend his graveside and carry out the appropriate Aboriginal cultural ceremonies that are needed to enable Frank’s spirit to be brought respectfully to rest.  It also hopes to raise community awareness of all Australians as to sacrifice by indiginous servicemen and women during defence of Australia.  For more information, please contact Brendan Fitzgerald on telephone 0431 014 818 or email brendon@illawarraams.com.au

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A sad day in Sydney’s history – We remember Able Seaman Neil Frederick ROBERTS – HMAS Kuttabul Veteran

Neil Frederick ROBERTS was born on the 4th of September, 1923 at North Sydney in New South Wales.  According to the World War Two Nominal Roll, he enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy on the 24th of November, 1941.  Within six short months, Neil would become am unwitting part of Australian military history.

IMAGE RIGHT: Kuttabul survivor Neil Frederick ROBERTS with his friend Alan Yourell at the 2011 commemoration of the sinking of the depot ship.

On the evening of the 31st of May, 1942 three Japanese midget submarines made their way into Sydney Harbour.  One of those submarines, M-24 would fire two torpedoes in an attempt to sink the American Heavy Cruiser, U.S.S. Chicago.  The torpedoes missed the intended target, however this action had catastrophic consequences for 21 men who were billeted aboard the depot ship, KUTTABUL.  Neil Frederick ROBERTS was one of the lucky ones.

Neil ROBERTS, Service Number S5973 was just 18 years of age on that fateful night.  He had been in serving in the Royal Australian Navy for just over half a year and held the rank of Seaman.  Call it fate, an act of God or pure luck; but Neil would be graced with 70 more years on this earth before he was called up to a new life.  A devout Christian, one can only wonder if this event which nearly took his life during a time of war would be the driving force behind his faith?

IMAGE LEFT: The depot ship KUTTABUL, laying in water where it sunk.  Often referred to incorrectly as H.M.A.S. Kuttabul, the vessel was not in fact commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy at the time of the Japanese midget submarine attack.  The current naval base, HMAS Kuttabul has of course, been named in honour of this depot ship.

Able Seaman Neil Frederick ROBERTS passed away on the 24th of November, 2011 at the James Milson Nursing Home on Milsons Point, aged 88.  He was one of just two surviving veterans of the depot ship Kuttabul.  With his passing, sadly now – there is only one.

Neil would not have called himself a hero.  He would probably have been the first to admit that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.  But because of that posting on the ferry Kuttabul, Neil became a part of the city of Sydney’s history.  And next year, when Sydney hosts the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese midget submarine attack and the sinking of Kuttabul, we will stop and remember what this man and a score like him – did to make Australia a free land.

God bless you Neil ROBERTS, your passing was a sad day for Australia.

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