Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
A.H.S. MANUNDA (Melbourne)
WW2
WW2
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld) 9-3-1942
Manunda's Men Ignored Bombs
Surrounded by oil tankers, naval corvettes and supply ships the hospital Ship Manunda lay in Darwin Harbour on February 19, when bombs rained like hailstones as Japanese aircraft made their initial raid.
The Japanese bombers came from inland and made a direct attack on the shipping in the harbour. There was a terrific detonation as a bomb tore through the Manunda's boat deck, wrecking part of the bridge, the smoke room and reception room. The ship was enveloped in smoke and one plane then dived and machine-gunned the Manunda on the port side. Armour-piercing bullets ripped through her plates above the waterline and several holes had to be plugged. Portholes on the upper deck were shattered. An officer and a corporal were killed instantly while several others were wounded.
Feeling her way amid burning oil and shattered wreckage, and loaded with Darwin casualties, the Manunda put to sea. Throughout the attack there was no panic on board. The captain was on the bridge throughout, and the crew stood at their posts. An officer said he did not believe the attack on the Manunda was planned. The vessel was attacked by only one plane which appeared to be trying to get at two ships which were circling round the hospital ship. We were in the way so he attacked us. There were so many targets near us that to have escaped damage would. have been a miracle,' said the officer
Manunda's Men Ignored Bombs
Surrounded by oil tankers, naval corvettes and supply ships the hospital Ship Manunda lay in Darwin Harbour on February 19, when bombs rained like hailstones as Japanese aircraft made their initial raid.
The Japanese bombers came from inland and made a direct attack on the shipping in the harbour. There was a terrific detonation as a bomb tore through the Manunda's boat deck, wrecking part of the bridge, the smoke room and reception room. The ship was enveloped in smoke and one plane then dived and machine-gunned the Manunda on the port side. Armour-piercing bullets ripped through her plates above the waterline and several holes had to be plugged. Portholes on the upper deck were shattered. An officer and a corporal were killed instantly while several others were wounded.
Feeling her way amid burning oil and shattered wreckage, and loaded with Darwin casualties, the Manunda put to sea. Throughout the attack there was no panic on board. The captain was on the bridge throughout, and the crew stood at their posts. An officer said he did not believe the attack on the Manunda was planned. The vessel was attacked by only one plane which appeared to be trying to get at two ships which were circling round the hospital ship. We were in the way so he attacked us. There were so many targets near us that to have escaped damage would. have been a miracle,' said the officer
The Northern Territory Memorial stands in Adelaide River War Cemetery and is one of several memorials erected to commemorate the men of the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Merchant Navy who lost their lives in the south-west Pacific region during the 1939-1945 War and have no known grave.
Cook Alexander CONNELL
Born: Ryhope, Durham, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 12-9-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 48years
Son of Matthew and Mary Ann Connell
Husband of Mabel Jane Connell, of East Balmain,
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: Ryhope, Durham, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 12-9-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 48years
Son of Matthew and Mary Ann Connell
Husband of Mabel Jane Connell, of East Balmain,
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Steward John Arthur HOLMES
Born: Goole, Yorkshire, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 18-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 43years
Son of John Arthur and Emma Holmes
Husband of Kathleen Holmes, of Coburg, Victoria.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: Goole, Yorkshire, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 18-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 43years
Son of John Arthur and Emma Holmes
Husband of Kathleen Holmes, of Coburg, Victoria.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
1st Steward Harold Edmond HUMPHREY
Born: New Zealand
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 20-9-1941 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 37years
Husband of Ola Humphrey, of Invercargill, New Zealand.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: New Zealand
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 20-9-1941 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 37years
Husband of Ola Humphrey, of Invercargill, New Zealand.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Steward Michael Patrick George KANE
Born: Sydney, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 21-7-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 40years
Son of Michael Patrick and Mary Anne Kane, of Darlinghurst, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: Sydney, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 21-7-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 40years
Son of Michael Patrick and Mary Anne Kane, of Darlinghurst, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Greaser William MacKAY
Born: Leith, Scotland
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 26-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 23-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 60years
Husband of Marion Cunningham Mackay, of Strathfield, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: Leith, Scotland
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 26-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 23-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 60years
Husband of Marion Cunningham Mackay, of Strathfield, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
3rd Officer Allan Scott SMITH
Born: Lindfield, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 26-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 20-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 33years
Son of Cecil Bruce Scott Smith and Norah Smith
Husband of Amelia Scott Smith, of Bega, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 12
Born: Lindfield, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 26-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 20-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 33years
Son of Cecil Bruce Scott Smith and Norah Smith
Husband of Amelia Scott Smith, of Bega, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 12
Cook Richard Thomas SMITH
Born: London, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 126-10-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 49years
Son of George and Matilda Smith
Husband of Violet Smith, of Perth, Western Australia.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: London, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 126-10-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 49years
Son of George and Matilda Smith
Husband of Violet Smith, of Perth, Western Australia.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
1st Steward William SPINNEY
Born: Leytonstone, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 23-5-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 64years
Son of William and Ethel Spinney
Husband of Amelia Spinney, of Killara, New South Wales
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Born: Leytonstone, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 23-5-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 64years
Son of William and Ethel Spinney
Husband of Amelia Spinney, of Killara, New South Wales
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 13
Assistant Purser Robert Alan THOM
Born: East Malvern, Victoria
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 26-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 24years
Son of John Barnard Thom and Margaret Thom
Husband of Pauline Nicholson Thom, of Chatswood, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 12
Born: East Malvern, Victoria
Australian Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 26-8-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died: 19-2-1942, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia aged 24years
Son of John Barnard Thom and Margaret Thom
Husband of Pauline Nicholson Thom, of Chatswood, New South Wales.
Honoured: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory - Panel 12