HDML 1347

HDML 1347

Sussex Thorsen, Elsworth, Maine, USA 31/12/44

Known Crew

• TSLt Marsden Carr Hordern (pictured) RANVR TSLt HMAS Rushcutter 5/6/42 HMAS Cerberus 30/6/42 HMAS Rushcutter 25/7/42 HMAS Penguin 14/12/42 HMAS Abraham Crijnssen 1/1/43ML 814 19/2/43 First Lieutenant ML 814 9/43 Transferred to hospital with Beri Beri 1/44. HMAS Rushcutter 3/44 First Lieutenant ML 823 First Lieutenant ML 817 28/10/44 HMAS Penguin II 12/12/44 TLt 5/12/44 Commanding Officer HDML 1347 1/1/45 HMAS Rushcutter 29/4/46 Lt. RANR 23/6/52
  Hilton Hordern (fine art print gallery), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, proprietor, 1958-96. Member of board of directors, Hodgsons Holdings Ltd. and Hydro Majestic, Medlow Bath.
  Published: Mariners are warned! John Lort Stokes and H.M.S. Beagle in Australia 1837-1843 (1989); King of the Australian coast : the work of Phillip Parker King in the Mermaid and Bathurst 1817-1822 (1997); A merciful journey : recollections of a World War II patrol boat man (2005; memoir)
  Born in Sydney, NSW 26/3/22
• SLt Clem McMahon ML 817 SLt First Lieutenant HDML 1347 Departed due to tropical illness 2/45
• SLt Thomas Clifton Wilkinson RANR ASLt 11/11/43 First Lieutenant HDML 1322 First Lieutenant HDML 1347 2/45
• POMtrMch John Archibald Page 26046 RAN ML 427 For fire fighting and rescue work following an explosion in the engine room BEM HDML 1347
• LSea Leonard W Clarkson Coxswain HDML 1347
• AB E T Barry HDML 1347
• AB S Edwards HDML 1347
• AB Richard M Jeffs HDML 1347
• AB C Wallace HDML 1347
• AB Norman Whitehurst HDML 1347
• Sto K Akers HDML 1347
• Tel K Sharpe HDML 1347

Wartime Activities

• Royal Australian Navy
• 31/12/44 Unloaded from a liberty ship in Sydney
• 1/1/45 Commissioned
• 28/1/45 First sea trials: both anchors broke off due to faults
  Anti submarine boom patrol duties in Sydney
• 21/2/45 Ordered to rescue a yacht but nothing is found
• 2/3/45 Immunisation against Tetanus, Cholera and Smallpox
• 4/3/45 HDML 1347 departs Sydney for Brisbane
  HDML 1347 had problems with the super charger chains which had been stretched to the maximum amount but were still slack. HDML 1347 was ordered to carry out day cruises for 100 engine hours in Moreton Bay varying the tensions and reporting results. ASDIC dome was temporarily removed to prevent damage. They took female base staff for day cruises.
  An aquaplane was produced for recreational purposes
• 19/5/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 departed Brisbane for New Guinea
• 21/5/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 visited Gladstone
• 1/6/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 departed Townsville for Thursday Island
• 2/6/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 reached Lizard Island
• 3/6/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 reached Stanley Island
• 4/6/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 reached Portland Roads
  HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 reached Lizard Island
• 7/6/45 HDML 1347 and HDML 1354 were refuelled at Engineers Wharf, Thursday Island. A tug passed at high speed and her bow wave sequentially raised both boats by three feet. In HDML 1347 all fenders were torn away, some guardrails smashed, the deck split open and two depth charges torn from their racks. She was held back for three days for repairs.
• 11/6/45 HDML 1341, HDML 1347, HDML 1354 and HDML 1355 departed Thursday Island for New Guinea. At Bramble Cay, HDML 1341 and HDML 1354 escorted Karina westward. HDML 1347 and HDML 1356 headed east.
  HDML 1347 anchored in 12 metres of water off Cocoanut Island and HDML 1355 secured alongside
• 13/6/45 HDML 1347 and HDML 1355 sighted the Owen Stanley mountains on New Guinea. And, at 1400, they secured alongside in Port Moresby, having run 248 miles from Brisbane.127th Flotilla – Based in New Guinea
  Commanding Officer bought a Norton motorcycle captured from the Japanese who had acquired it in Singapore. This was stowed aboard.
• 05/07/45 Departed Milne Bay for Hollandia During the night, a large ship was encountered close and head on and had to veer to starboard to avoid.
• 26/12/45 Encountered a floating mine between Cape Tribulation and Snapper Island and engaged it with small arms fire without detonating it.

Post War History

• 1949 Sold