October 23, 2023
Wondai resident and amateur military historian Noel Selway has drawn attention to the 79th anniversary of a little-remembered Japanese attack in 1944 in which 30 Australian sailors were killed.
As well, 64 were wounded – 26 seriously – in the incident on board HMAS Australia off the Philippines.
The attack, by a Japanese dive bomber on October 21, has sometimes been described as the first kamikaze attack on Allied vessels during World War II.
HMAS Australia had just weighed anchor when the Val dive bomber, despite taking fire, flew up the port side and crashed into the foremast of HMAS Australia at 6:05am.
The incident has special resonance for Noel as his uncle, Bill Irvine, was killed in the attack.
“He had only been posted to Australia at the beginning of August 1944 at Manus Island from the pool at HMAS Cerberus, so he wasn’t in the ship long before his end came,” Noel said.
“He was just a few weeks short of his 20th birthday.
“Although his name was Raymond, he was always known as Bill, and he was a member of the Casino Town Band.
“I look at the exposed position of the bridge and the gun sponson (gun platform) on top of B Turret in front of the bridge (so) it’s little wonder the casualties were what they were.”
The attack on HMAS Australia preceded the much larger battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of World War II, between October 23-26.
This was fought near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon, involving US and Australian forces.
- Related article: The First Kamikaze Attack?
