The Second Battle Tour
Sydney - Milne Bay - Admiraltys - Hollandia (Tanamerah Bay) - Biak - Sydney

During the voyage a touch of excitement occurred when we investigated a mystery ship which turned out to be one of our own merchant vessels. Later we exchanged greetings with Phoenix. To further the efficiency of the crew we carried out full calibre battle practice at a target towed by the Tug Carlock.

On arrival in Milne Bay on the 13th the AIF bombardment expert Major Vickery rejoined and during the next two weeks our warships and supply vessels were entering and leaving harbour at fairly regular intervals including Gascoyne, Vendetta, Stuart, Wato, Po Yang, Reserve, Bendigo, Koopa, Warrego, MV Merkur, and the USS's Nicholson, Swanson, Wilkes, Stockton, Cero, Scamp (a submarine), Ried, Abner Read as well as the ammunition ship SS Yunnan.

We arrived at Milne Bay on 14 February 1944 and disembarked our passengers. Admiral Berky relinquished his temporary command of the TF on arrival, to Admiral Crutchley. It was during this period in Milne Bay and at dusk that Able Seaman Rex Halliday with a large working party was on the jetty loading ammunition when Japanese bombers came over to attack the wharf as well as the ammunition dump.

When the alarm was given, those more alert than others, including Halliday, jumped aboard a truck and told the driver to move it. They didn't stop until well in the jungle. When the Japanese attack ceased they discovered to their horror they had stopped close, and according to Rex, 'too bloody close' to the ammo dump. You can be lucky!

Just before getting underway another incident occurred that proved to all who were witnesses to keep out of the passageways when the Captain was moving forward to the bridge. We were about to get underway and whilst chipping the 1/2" thick paint off 'X' turret trunk on the main deck when we heard the captain's coxswain calling 'Attention the Captain'. One luckless sailor obviously unaware of the urgency was hit by the Captain as he passed, winded and dropped to the deck in some distress and later treated in the sick bay - a lesson hard learnt and a reminder to be alert at all times.

On 22 February 1944 we went to sea to carry out more radar, calibration, tracking exercises and close range weapons firing. We practised towing by streaming lines to Nashville and afterwards had 4" AA firings in addition to 'Torps' firing a torpedo at Nashville and effecting a recovery. We then returned to harbour and refuelled.

After these continuing exercises of refuelling, ammunitioning and towing we headed for the Admiralty lslands and the future naval base in Seeadler Harbour at Manus. As a point of interest, with the increase in numbers of the crew required for the additional equipment installed, the all up displacement of Shropshire had increased to 14 283 tons and we still maintained a constant speed of 30 knots without utilizing full revolutions.

On 29 February 1944 the dispositions of both Task Forces were as follows. TF 74 (Admiral Crutchley - HMAS Australia, Shropshire, Arunta, Warramunga, USSs Mullany and Ammen and TF 75 (Admiral Berkey) - USSs Phoenix, Nashville, Boise, Hutchins, Daly, Beale, Bache, Bush and Abner Read. As we moved north on 2 March 1944 the Commander of the 7th Fleet, Admiral Kinkaid ordered TF 74 to operate in an area north of the Admiralty Islands, ie the east end of Hauwei Island at the entrance to Seeadler Harbour. Shropshire fired a few tracers at an enemy aircraft on the 3rd which was spotting our movements. The aircraft was driven off - no hits were observed.

Admiralty Islands
After moving into our target area on the 4th we opened fire at a range of 10 600 yards with 8'' SAPC shells at 1609 1/2, and at a range of 9500 yards ceased fire at 1624. The thunder of our 8" guns and the subsequent vibrations were felt throughout the ship giving great satisfaction to the crew on their second battle Tour towards victory against the common enemy.

This initial bombardment enabled the Marines to move ashore and then at 1650 on the 7th we again opened fire towards the west end of N'Drilo Island from a range of 5000 yards dropping to 4000 yards. Firing ceasing at 1705.

During both these actions spotting planes had great difficulty in observing and reporting accurate results because the massive fire power fall of shots from the 8", 6'', 5" and 4'' guns. They reported some return fire from shore batteries although considered more likely to be our own shell explosions. As dusk approached we stayed at action stations whilst the spotting planes were recovered by their respective ships. Phoenix was very efficient in retrieving their single float plane.

This bombardment was a great tonic to the crew's morale although closing up for action stations every time an unidentified but friendly aircraft approached became a little monotonous. However, on one occasion the approach of an enemy aircraft a Dinah, proved the necessity for safety first - no shots were fired and the Dinah left.

Later, when the entrances to Seeadler Harbour and Islands were secure, it became a pleasure to see a few picture shows, mixed concert parties coming aboard and of course our own entertainment efforts over our SRE system thanks to 'Count' Whitby and his friends.

During the bombardment on the 4th of Hauwei which had five enemy coastal artillery guns, we expended 77 (8'') shells and the US Navy fired 292 (6") and 99 (5") to eliminate the gun emplacements.

The target area was more than covered and the result was excellent, although initial visibility was low due to overcast skies and rain. This later cleared as we moved closer. The bombardment on the 7th of N'Drilo which also had coastal artillery guns and AA guns to destroy, resulted in another excellent result and Shropshire fired a further 64 (8'') and 92 (4'') shells, although due to the low flat trajectory some shells ricocheted. The American ships fired 243 (6''), 800 (5''), and 728 (40m) shells. During both of Shropshire's bombardments, the results were so good that we observed no return fire from the Japanese shore batteries - much to the captain's relief.

The Task Force later fired on other selected targets at close range as they headed into Seeadler Harbour supported by advice from spotting planes as to their accuracy. The areas of Kornuneat, Pityilu and Mokerang were the targets.

Actually this move into Manus by General MacArthur sparked off some controversy between the army and navy leaders but was to start the process of the island base hopping campaign which proved so successful eliminating the Japanese power in the South-West Pacific.

During the bombardment of the Admiraltys it was exciting to see the Seabees putting down an airstrip before the fighting had stopped and planes landing to bring in much needed supplies for the US Marines. My admiration for the American know-how and methods of getting things done was very high.

It took ten days for the Marines to completely eliminate the Japanese on Manus which was established as one of the largest naval and air bases in the South-West Pacific. While these ground battles were being finalised TF 74 returned to Sudest to refuel from the oiler Alcrabades and to ammunition the ship from the Yunnan. We also gave water to the thirsty ship's company of HMAS Benalla. Later at sea heading for Milne Bay we fuelled the USS Hutchings, an escorting destroyer, subsequently refuelling ourselves on arrival in harbour from the oiler Villa Lobos.

Shropshire later carried out further successful excursions at sea with Phoenix and Nashville using the submarine USS Dace as the target. On 15 March 1944 Australia arrived after her refit with some obvious changes - tripod masts fitted, Type 281 radar aerial, US Model FC radar on the after director and the catapult removed. The aircraft was retained for training exercises (ie AA tracking, sleeve towing and radar calibration). The not-so-obvious was the replacement of the 8" gun barrels and the fitting of one Bofor and two single barrel pompoms to replace the short range Oerlikons. They had merged into the superstructure.

Other changes were Captain Dechaineux had relieved Captain Farncomb as skipper of Australia whilst Commander Mackinnon took over as Captain of Warramunga on Captain Dechaineux's promotion. On the 21st Australia again became the flagship of the squadron and the admiral's flag was stuck in Shropshire at sunset 1909 hours. On the same day Midshipman O'Halloran joined us.

Shropshire proceeded to sea on the 22nd for further gunnery, radar calibration, tracking exercises, 4'' and close range weapons firing, as well as firing two torpedoes at Australia which were recovered later by a hard working torpedo party under the direction of Lieutenant 'Torps' Brewster. We then returned to harbour, refuelling from Villa Lobos again.

Another concert party came on board on the 25th and then to sea for more gunnery practice as well as provisioning from Mekur. We also exercised with the USS Cert, a submarine, as our target. The hospital ship USS Solace entered harbour to embark wounded US Marines.

As at 31 March 1944 the navigator, Lieutenant-Commander Gellatly reported that Shropshire had steamed 35 235.1 miles since commissioning into the RAN which included 3696.9 miles for the month of March.

We again went to sea for radar calibration, gunnery shoots and dummy torpedo attacks from Arunta and Warramunga in Milne Bay. We finally arrived in Seeadler Harbour having had a steering break down exercise as well as night bombardment exercises with Australia in preparation for our next target: to recapture the landing strips at Hollandia, and for the use of Humboldt Bay as a stepping off base.

On 19 April 1944Shropshire left Seeadler Harbour with TF 74 in a north-west direction, after all ships topped up fuel from the tankers Victoria and Leopard. We were covered by fighter planes based in the Admiraltys as well as from (8) carriers (CVEs) from TF 78.

The day before we bombarded, the US Fifth Air Force bombed targets at Hollandia leaving evidence of their attacks by the fires started. Our radar picked up many aircraft movements about twenty miles ahead - the crew closed up at action stations but nothing eventuated and the reports faded.

Hollandia
On 22 April 1944 Task Force 74 moved in, having left the troop ships eleven mile astern at 0300. The cruisers in column and the destroyers in anti-submarine screening positions increased speed to 20 knots. Even though the night was moonless and there were rain showers along the coast, the prominent features of our targets showed up clearly on the SG radar.

Shropshire moved into Tanahmerah Bay to put into effect our bombardment schedule which we commenced at 0600. Whilst moving at slow speeds, between 1.61 knots to 2.5 knots, the ship fired 285 HE shells receiving no return fire from the four target areas allocated. This engagement demonstrating the accuracy of our gunnery and the destruction of any opposition from the Japanese.

Both the US 24th and 41st Divisions landed successfully near Hollandia and in the Tanahmerah Bay area as a result of the successful Task Force 74 bombardments. Our three LSIs Kanimbla, Manoora and Westralia completed their tasks of unloading troops, vehicles and equipment with a minimum of fuss. While Shropshire remained on patrol, escorted by USS Mullany and HMAS Warramunga, Australia, Arunta and Ammen were given the task of investigating activity in Demta and Moeris Bays. Buildings and barges were set alight by their shelling.

Captain Collins sent Mullany to investigate a small canoe. She returned later with Sergeant Launcelot (and four natives) the only survivors of a group of ten Dutch and AIF intelligence Army personnel put ashore earlier from the submarine Dace. During the Hollandia operation, on the 22nd, Nashville with General MacArthur on board and escorted by two destroyers entered Tanahmerah Bay at 1330 to quickly assess the situation, leaving again at 1645 for Aitape. A fast visit.

Both LSI's Manoora and Kanimbla departed Tanahmerah Bay at 1600 well ahead of schedule after disembarking troops and their equipment on 'Red' beaches, their assigned landing areas. It was reported by Admiral Crutchley that once again TF 74 was more than pleased to be involved in this most successful amphibious operation.

On the 23rd Shropshire felt a small shock as she hit a floating log resulting in some damage to the port outer shaft and propeller. The engineering staff worked hard to alleviate the slight knocking sounds. But a future visit to a dry dock in Sydney was soon common knowledge right throughout the ship.
During this period we were in company of carriers carrying Wildcats and Avengers escorted by thirteen DDs. While the carriers fuelled some destroyers, we swept north of the equator as a safety screen to search for the enemy but no contact was the end result. The covering US fighters shot down two Japanese aircraft - a Betty and an Emily during the fuelling of the DDs.

Shropshire returned to Seeadler Harbour after patrolling in wet miserable weather, to ammunition ship from Yunnan and refuel from the oiler Victoria. While in harbour the USS Massachusetts, Indiana, Kidol, Hoyle and the US hospital ship Solace came in and we received some most welcome mail. On 4 May 1944 some of our midshipmen were temporarily transferred to other ships for experience: Francis to Warramunga, Swan and Barnard to Arunta.

At 0900 on 6 May 1944 after two days of discussions with Captain Collins, Captain Henry Arthur Showers, ADC RAN assumed command and Captain Collins proceeded on leave prior to taking up his appointment as Commodore 1st Class commanding TF 74 which included the Australian Squadron and relieving Vice-Admiral V.A. Crutchley VC, DSC, RN at 0800, on Tuesday 13 June 1944.

There was also a change in executive officers as Commander G.C. Oldham relieved Commander Harries on the 4th. As well one able seaman and nine ordinary seamen joined ship from Flinders Naval Depot, and I started my term as commander's messenger for a period of six months.

Again to sea to return and refuel when another sad occasion occurred when an able seaman from the ship was reported missing. His body was later washed up ashore. After a court of Enquiry was held, the funeral party was landed on 14 May 1944 at Momote Cemetery on Los Negros Island.

Further air-raid alerts were experienced as we left for Hollandia. In Humboldt Bay we refuelled from the oiler Aase Maersk and ammunitioned from Yunnan in preparation for the bombardments at Biak lsland, the Parac area and Wakde Island, Sawar, and Cape Sarmi.

Wakde
On 22 May 1944 the Wakde Island Assault Force was supported by Task Force 74, first by providing escort to the troopships and then bombarding prior to the landing and later to give a covering patrol period of four days east and north of Wakde. When we returned to Humboldt Bay to replenish on the 24th Mr Macartney, a war correspondent, joined Shropshire.

Biak
We approached Biak and our allocated bombardment areas by passing between Auki and Owi Islands and thence westwards between Owi and Roerlas Islands to observe intermittent lights off the south coast of Biak Island in the vicinity of Mokmer and Bosnek - a Verey light was reported. Many air-raid alerts occurred which kept us at action stations constantly, but finally Shropshire and Australia turned together on course 310 degrees and opened fire.

Shropshire, moving at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 knots, opened fire at 0650 on 26 May 1944 at the five designated areas allocated 701 to 705 in the Parac area. Shore batteries, thought to be mortars, returned fire with no effect. However, this resulted in further allied air attacks taking place by Boston and Mitchell bombers on the shore positions as well as on Wakde Island, Sawar and Sarmi. A flight of twelve enemy aircraft tried to protect these areas but eight were shot down, four by TF 74 AA fire and four by the US Air Force who in turn lost one fighter. An exciting but tiring first watch! Whilst the bombardment by Shropshire was very effective some shot did fall in the water, thought to be caused by one gun firing consistently short.

HMAS Warramunga was our close escort during these bombardments and was later directed to fire ten rounds of 4.7'' per gun into three target areas, 75 to 7 7, as well as our own 4'' guns firing into areas 71 and 72. The task was completed with no obvious results sighted. Also during this day of action, whilst waves of Liberators (B24s) bombed their Mokmer targets, one aircraft dropped a 1000lb bomb prematurely astern of us.

Depending on who tells the story of how far it was astern of us, we increased speed alarmingly our stern was lifted out of the water and our stern dug in creating a large bow wave and to top it off even our propellers raced wildly in the air. However the final story from the late Leading Seaman John Turner, seems 'closer' to this mark, 'This 1000lb bomb rained down heading for Shropshire's stern but by a streak of fate it missed and exploded under our stern lifting our 13 000-ton ship up at the stern and buried our nose into the water as far back as B Turret.' Well!

My action station at the time being above the after control I can clearly remember things being bucked about to such a degree that we were all sliding about and trying to hang on, so even a sailor's imagination has to be given reasonable credibility sometimes and anyhow there were a lot of scared shipmates calling out 'were we hit?'

Shropshire was again called in to bombard Japanese AA gun emplacement. It was observed firing at the waves of Liberators homing in on every target. We opened fire at the suspected area at 1229 ceasing at 1239. The ship fired a total of 260 8'' HE shells including eight 8'', time fused to clear the guns during the engagements. A spotter plane advised no further activity seen from the bombarded area and shortly afterwards all ships ceased fire as the US troops moved in to mop up the remaining Japanese.

Nashville and the destroyer Abner Read steamed into Humboldt Bay on 28 May 1944 to replenish fuel and relieve Shropshire, but because of a fuel shortage, Shropshire refuelled Warramunga before proceeding independently for four-weeks refit in Sydney. As we steamed southward at 20 knots we passed the US ships Thomasson and Flounder and HMAS Geelong exchanging identifying signals.

En route to Sydney on 30 May 1944, via Vitiaz and China Straits, we stopped off the Dorasi Shoal at the entrance to China Strait and embarked a Shropshire draft of thirty-six ratings as well as six officers and twenty-three ratings for passage to Sydney. During the short passage south from Humboldt Bay to Sydney we trailed our outer starboard disconnected propeller, resulting in a ten percent loss in speed over the normal speed of four shafts for equal revolutions. This, you may remember, was the result of the ship hitting an object on 23 May 1944 originally stated to be the port side propeller.

We arrived in Sydney off the heads at 0630, 3rd June 1944 and secured alongside Garden Island at 0800. The crew was granted twelve days shore leave plus travelling time - the Sydney ratings were the last to leave. Some of the lucky and knowledgeable members of the ship's company were able to organise air travel as well as travelling on the Spirit. This was another case of not what you know but who you know. However, no one dipped out for a well deserved shore leave. During her stay in Sydney, Shropshire was towed to and docked in the Sutherland Dock at Cockatoo Island for four days. Westralia was alongside and on Monday the 18th she was towed to the Oil Fuel Wharf, Kurraba Point for refuelling, thence to the Cruiser Wharf Garden Island on the 23rd. The ship was fumigated on 17 June 1944 to rid the ship of rats and cockroaches.

On the 22 June 1944 Sin Bos'n Alcorn joined to replace Sin Bos'n Hunkin who had left on the 7th. Another draft of several officers joined us, during our brief stay in Sydney; they included Midshipman Schaffer, Lieutenant A.P. Calloway, Sub-Lieutenant C.S. Stanton, Lieutenant-Commander (E) J. Aitken and (Midshipman) J.F. Cassidy. After sea trials we secured to No 2 buoy and some minor repairs to the starboard after turbo feed pump were made good by the dockyard on 29 June 1944 in readiness for our next battle tour.

I cannot conclude this chapter without mentioning one of those rare but true stories of how to hit an admiral without being punished by a term in cells or to the army stockade or worse. The rule introduced by Lieutenant-Commander Henry Cooper in Shropshire when closing up to action stations was to move forward on the starboard side and move aft on the port side to avoid body collisions and the possibility of bad accidents.

Able seaman Gordon Urquhart (now retired as Queenland's leading psychiatrist and hospital administrator) was doing what he shouldn't have been doing in closing up for dawn action stations, as was Vice-Admiral Crutchley. Urquhart running late, moving at great speed found this big bloke up above on the ladder moving slowly so he thumped him on the bum saying something to the effect 'get a hurry on you bloody slow coach', to which a surprised admiral apparently replied in terms of 'I agree' explaining his slowness and that he was also breaking Henry Cooper's rule and that he couldn't move any faster. Subsequently a much relieved young Urquhart was let off for his impetuous indiscretion of socking an officer up the backside. Apparently this was not the only occasion this situation occurred because A.B. Wally 'Herkley' Tooth committed a similar sin and got away with the crime of socking an officer on the rear end whilst endeavouring to close up quickly.

Not everybody has control of their destiny. For example on Saturday 24th the commander's messenger Stan Nicholls was 'asked' to stay aboard to escort the commander's son and small friends on a tour around the ship and then attend to the distribution of food and drinks at the birthday party. To say the least stopping the little F(R)IENDS from climbing all over the guns, hanging over the guard rails, etc, was bad enough. However because Commander Oldham requested that I show them where and how the sailors lived during their off duty watches, I 'crocodile toured' them through the sailors' living areas to find this the worst ordeal of all because some of the language including proposals of what young Oldham could do with his dad were very embarrassing as well as the fear that the young fellow might remember and repeat to his father or mother.

Well I heard no more and after all his friends left the ship I returned young Oldham to Mrs Oldham safe and sound and received a welcome drink for my trouble. After the event Commander Oldham did allow me some extra latitude during the following week, to make up for my lost day ashore.
On the 27th the ship's company had a very pleasant evening at another ship's dance at Grace Bros, Broadway. Some, to say the least, were not too bright the next morning especially those who over imbibed and had to report for duty during the First Watch. Before leaving Sydney Harbour on 30 June 1944 and as the men were returning from long and short leave, Captain Showers gave a most enjoyable party for the wardroom officers during the dogs. Some of us in the know were secretly hoping for a nasty swell as we moved out through the Heads.