The Australian Merchant Navy | Wartime Recollections -Ron Wylie

Wartime Recollections Ron (Steve) Wylie

I joined Burns Philp & Co. Shipowners (BP) as a Junior Cadet in 1937 and was in the company employ for 30 years. I gained my British B.O.T Certificates Of Competency No.0471 F.G. at Sydney Australia. I served as a Deck Officer on the BP Mainline Passenger and Cargo vessels during the War Years 1939 – 1945. The ships on which I signed Articles Of Agreement were:

Merkur Singapore Register.
Neptuna Hong Kong Register.
Marella London Register.
Montoro London Register.
Mangola Singapore Register

My service with Defence Department and DVA register. Our records show service is as follows:

On operational service north of 14 degrees South.
Operational service in World War 2 from 3 September 2023 to 21 January 1941.
Operational service in World War 2 from 19 December 2023 to 21 January.
1941;Operational service in World War 2 from 30 May 2023 to 28 June 1941.
Operational service in World War 2 from 21 December 2023 to 31 July 1942;
Operational service in World War 2 from 6 September 2023 to 23 February 1944.
Operational service in World War 2 from 17 March 2024 to 4 October 1944.
Operational service in World War 2 from January 1945 to 9 June1945.

SAIL OR GAOL
During WW2 by Royal Decree all Mariners became subjected to certain controls and obligations as directed by their respective Governments. It was expected of them to serve on Merchant Ships engaged in all manner of War activities without question, be it carrying cargoes of materials, weapons of war, transportation of troops, or the evacuation of civilian women and children ahead of the Japanese southward advance upon Australia.

“Massacre Order”
The Straits Times Singapore Wednesday March 19 1941
Order received from General Headquarters.

“Due to the fact that the Army is advancing fast and in order to preserve peace behind us, it is essential to massacre as many as possible who appear in any way to have anti Japanese feelings.”

General Yamashita ‘The Tiger of Malaya” to Major General Kawamura “This is not a private instruction; make a thorough job of it.”

FIRST TO GO LAST TO RETURN
The evacuation of women and children from Papua, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and North Australia, is considered one of the epic evacuations of the Second World War.

As the Japanese moved southward one of the main implications for the allied armed forces was the transportation of troops, logistics, artillery, food supplies and all the paraphernalia to wage the war.

“The most important road on the earth’s surface is the sea road. The world’s most important vehicle on that road was the cargo and passenger large seagoing vessel. Who controls the sea road wins the war”.

The Merchant ships of the allied forces carried the brunt of the wartime responsibility to utilize the sea roads, to maintain an ongoing supply of equipment and food to the fighting forces. Burns Philp vessels were requisitioned for War purposes and a long list of sunk and damaged ships attests to their function in maintaining supplies. Ships registered in London, Hong Kong, Singapore Rabaul and Fiji were taken over by the British Ministry of War Transport. The Commonwealth Government through its Shipping Control Board controlled those ships registered in Sydney. The numbers of Burns Philp merchant seamen Killed In Action either official or unofficial, has never been published therefore we can only provide a figure that cannot be denied or substantiated, one, I feel must be on top of the list for an Australian Shipping Company.

Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. Records.
Macdhui. Sunk Port Moresby KIA 14.
Neptuna, sunk Darwin KIA 45.
Tulagi, sunk Indian Ocean KIA 47.
Mamutu. sunk New Guinea KIA 23 crew 119 Passengers
Official Total. KIA 127 Crew 119 Passengers.

I joined MV Merkur 3/6/37.
In 1941 the Commonwealth Government chartered Merkur to the Australian Navy as F.V.S.I.S. (Fleet Victualing Stores Issue Ship), She supplied stores to American, British, Australian and Allied naval units in the Eastern Pacific, from Noumea to the Phillipines. The American Campaign in the Solomon Islands actively engaged her in the tactical advance to the north with Australian and New Zealand Forces, Merkur at all times sailed under the Red Ensign of the British Merchant Navy and was manned by Burns Philp sea going Officers and Seamen.

At Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea while supplying ships preparing for the invasion of the Philippines at Seeadler Harbour, the largest American naval Base west of Pearl Harbour consisting of US Army and Navy also units of the RAN were Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s invasion fleet for the landing on Mindanao Island in the Phillipines.

MV Merkur whilst waiting for the arrival of the Australian Navy Ships to come alongside for stores, when an American Kittyhawk fighter streaked down at masthead height, passing between two lines of ships with the ammunition ship USS. Mount Hood. A moment later there was an enormous explosion, followed by a brilliant ball of fire. Mount Hood was gone, blown out of the water, disappearing in one huge explosion. Merkur was abeam at the time and sustained minor damage.. Speculation on what caused the explosion was it a Kittyhawk, flown by a Japanese pilot? Was it a high level bomb dropped? Was it a torpedo? Tokyo Rose Japan claimed the sinking of Mount Hood belonged to a Japanese midget submarine.

It so happened that Merkur was at Morotai when hostilities ceased and sailed independently, with navigation lights burning to Subic Bay in the Philippines, where she victualled HMAS Shropshire to sail for Tokyo for the signing of the Peace Treaty.

I joined MV. Neptuna a sister ship to MV Merkur 19/12/39
China and Japan had been at war since 1937, but in 1939 Britain and Australia were not actively involved in war with Japan, although Australia was at war with Germany Japan had not declared war on Britain, but had deployed naval forces poised for simultaneous attacks on objects separated over the whole half of the Pacific Ocean. The final decision to declare war was made by Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941. Prior to this, Neptuna was still trading Hong Kong, Saigon Service. (French Indo China).

Large Union Jacks were painted on both sides of the ship and the awnings facing skywards, to identify British and neutral.

Neptuna departed Sydney August 1941 on a voyage to Hong Kong via New Guinea, with Australian Army troops and logistic supplies and 3-inch anti aircraft guns. This detachment was off loaded at Rabaul and augmented the 2/22nd Battalion, which garrisoned Rabaul as a deterrent to the Japanese southward advance.

Neptuna carried a complement of 22 Officers and 125 Chinese crew. She was diverted to Madang, Lae and Salamaua, to evacuate women and children ahead of the Japanese advance and the known atrocities being committed by them.

After discharge in Sydney, Neptuna commenced loading logistic equipment for the Armed Forces in Darwin, 200 depth charges and a large quantity of ack-ack shells and ammunition etc. for Navy and Army, were also loaded, in specially prepared magazines built at numbers 3&4 hatches.

The voyage to Darwin under Naval escort was uneventful arriving on the 12th February 1942. On completion of disembarkation of Army troops, she was ordered to a harbor anchorage. On the 19th she was ordered to berth alongside the main wharf.

At this particular time a formation of aircraft flying overhead was observed and remarks were made “Look, the Yanks have at last arrived” and “Look they are dropping leaflets”.

Suddenly there was a huge explosion on the wharf, the ship gave an enormous shudder, was hit below the waterline and began taking water. The turntable area of the wharf had received a direct hit, and was now completely destroyed, oil from the storage tanks ashore received a direct hit, and oil was now gushing onto the wharf and into the harbor, any escape via the wharf was now impossible.

The Third Mate Brendan DeBurca with some Chinese crew, were rigging hatch planks to make a gangway onto the wharf and into the water to escape the badly listing Neptuna.

Chief Engineer J McNamara, appeared on deck and announced nothing further could be done in the engine room.

DeBurca now ordered “Abandon Ship” and saw everyone still alive had a lifejacket, as the only means of escape now was over the side, and into the harbor. Neptuna was now on fire and oil from the pipeline was alight on the harbor, most of the crew still alive were rescued from the the water.

MV Neptuna blew herself apart when the fire entered numbers 3 and 4 hatches, with a huge atomic style mushroom cloud created by the explosion of the ammunition still on board.

The casualty list of Ships Company Killed In Action.

W Michie – Master.
J Gillies First Mate.
J Forman Second Mate.
3 Radio Off. A.W.A. Australian Merchant Navy.
R Stobo Cadet..
T Fowler Engineer.
C Cross Engineer.
N Wilson Engineer.
45 Chinese Crew Members were also Killed In Action.

The Chairman of Burns Philp &Co. wrote to the Prime Minister Mr. J Curtin. Recommending that Australian Government decorations be made to certain individuals of Neptuna Ships Company.

Dr. John Hyde Ships Surgeon. Member of British Empire.

Brendan DeBurca. Third Mate Lloyds War Medal For Gallantry at Sea.

John F McNamara Chief Engineer Honorable Commendation.

James Renfrew 3rd Engineer Honourable Commendation.

John Rothery Deck Cadet Honourable Commendation.

George Kent Deck Cadet Honourable Commendation.

Kwok Sing Quartermaster British Empire Medal. B.E.M

B. Deburca, J.F. MacNamara, J. Renfrew. John Rothery, George Kent all signed on B.P’s MV Tulagi The ship having been run aground and abandoned, during the raid on Darwin. She was refloated and crewed by Officers, Engineers and Seamen from other ships in Darwin and returned to Sydney

I joined SS Marella Flagship of the Mainline Fleet 30/5/41.
During 1939/40/41 Marella transported troops and passengers to Darwin and Singapore. Japan having now entered the War she was held in Darwin, The Naval Authorities ordered all passengers to disembark and transfer to BP’s SS Montoro, also in port. December 29 1941 was spent loading troops and equipment and the next morning, 800 Army were embarked, destination unknown. Two days later Marella sailed from Darwin under escort of Australian Armed Merchant Cruiser Westralia. Orders now, were to proceed to Port Moresby and rendezvous with the British troop transport Aquitania. On arrival all troops and equipment were discharged and Marella now sailed for Thursday Island, to embark Japanese pearling industry internees for Sydney.

These Prisoners Of War were involved in the now famous Cowra POW camp breakout. Many lives were lost Australian and Japanese.

After loading food, stores, equipment, and troops in Sydney, Marella was ordered to Fremantle to join a convoy for Singapore, which also included BP’s Mangola and ten other ships under escort of HMAS Canberra.

On arrival at Sunda Straits, one Danae class Cruiser and two Corvettes joined the escort. All Singapore bound ships were now ordered to Batavia, Java, the 5 tankers in the convoy were ordered to Palembang, Sumatra. Only one ship, the Nowegian tanker Erling Brovic survived, the others were bombed and sunk in the Banka Straits with heavy loss of life.

Marella anchored Batavia 8th February, on the 9th Japanese planes made raids on Batavia.

HMAS Hobart arrived at Batavia, and it was decided all ships capable of sailing be cleared of Batavia, as the only outlet of escape was through the Sunda Straits and to Australia, this option apart from capture the only alternative. After bunkering water Marella under escort of HMS Exeter and “God in Heaven Only Knew” how many people were aboard, women, children, by the hundreds, troops and crews from vessels lost, and civilian escapees from the fall of Singapore.

The next day in the Prince of Wales Channel the narrowest part of the Sunda Straits Marella left the convoy, and proceeded independently to Fremantle Australia.

Six days later HMAS Perth and HMS Exeter were lost in the battle of the Java Sea.

On arrival in Sydney the ship was taken over and armed with D.E.M.S. (Defence Equipped Merchant Ship) gunners.

She was now on the coastal run ferrying passengers, troops, guns munitions high-octane fuel and logistics for the armed forces also to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, in support of Australian and United States Forces.

One particular trip to Torokina Bougainville in the Solomons, she was put aground on a reef refloated under her own power, but sustained considerable underwater damage, she was repaired in Sydney and completed her war service and returned to trade 1945

I joined Montoro 21/11/41 as Deck Officer
Under Command of various Senior Masters, this was a period of service written into the annals of the history of war in the Pacific, an era that transferred these passenger cargo vessels from peacetime colors, into drab grey wartime camouflage paint, sailing under the Red Ensign of the British Merchant Navy, as supply and troop transports with Australian, American, and Allied Forces in the Pacific Campaign.

Throughout 1940/41 Montoro was fitted with a 4inch stern gun, Oerlikon guns, Paravanes, and De Gaussing Gear, 4 RAN DEMS gunners were assigned to the ship, the Deck Officers underwent gunnery courses at Naval Establishments.

On the 7th. December 1941, the Japanese destroyed the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, they invaded Hong Kong, Singoro, Thailand, Kota Baru, and Malaya. The British Far East Navy was destroyed with the sinking of the two Battleships, Prince of Wales, and Repulse, the Royal Navy was withdrawn to South Africa, and within 48 hours the Japanese had gained mastery of the land, sea, and air, on the 15th February Singapore surrendered. The undisputed control of land, sea and air by Japan and the means to stop the advance on Australia was greeted with grim apprehension of the Japanese occupying forces, whose reputation as fierce fighters, was matched by their notoriety as cruel and savage victors.

1941/42 Montoro was engaged in the evacuation of women and children from Darwin, the war cabinet approved all civilians to be compulsorily withdrawn south of the “Brisbane Line”. The Zealandia 206, US President Grant 225, Montoro 203, made the first withdrawals.

In addition to the US convoys, the ZK convoys transported troops and supplies to Northern Australia and New Guinea. These units were the Conscripted Militia Battalions (Chocos). As our 6th, 7th, and 9th Enlisted Divisions, had not returned to Australia, BP’s ships Montoro, Marella, Macdhui, Malaita, Mangola, Morinda with Zealandia, Katoomba, Manoora, ships of the KPM (Dutch) and (Norwegian) played an important role. During this period (4112 New Guinea, 525 Thursday Island, 1593 Rabaul 916 Darwin Army Defence Units) all at a critical period, sometimes sailing independent and without escort.

Montoro continued service beyond Australian Territorial Waters north of 14 degrees south on operational service. This included the RAAF units based at Gove comprising 56 Operational Base Unit, 83, 42, and 13 squadrons, (Boomerang Fighters), Millimgimbi No. 59 operational Base Unit, 308 Radar Station and No. 9 Zone Filter Centre. Wessel Island (offshore) No. 312 Radar Station, No. 13 Squadron R.A.A.F. (Ventura Bombers). These Operational Base Units (OBU’s) provided fuel servicing for aircraft stationed there, also passing through, building upgrading airfields, and facilities. These Radar Units, Squadrons of Bombers and Fighter Aircraft were strategic and well organized coastal Bases (150 miles apart) for Australian Air, Sea, Land and Convoy Defence as well as springboards to launch aerial attacks from our northern shoreline. They formed a formidable triangular Defence for the area between the Gulf of Carpentaria and Darwin and as a deterrent to Japans southward thrust to the Mainland. All entirely dependent upon ships for logistic supply serviced by the Merchant Navy.

Extracts Operations Record Book R.A.A.F. 1 /4/43,

Suspect enemy vessel in area 3/4/43, unidentified vessel in vicinity detected prepare for emergency 4/4/43, unidentified vessel again located by R.D.F. 5/4/43 submarine sighted visually by C.G. and located by R.D.F. action stations maintained. 12/4/43 visual sighting of submarine immediate transmission “TOP PRIORITY” Emergency Signal to “Fighter Squadron Townsville”.

Extracts from Montoro W/T Log shows general activity in the area prior to, during, and after September 1943.

May22 followed by submarine. June 24 mysterious flares observed near ship and sighted submarine periscope. July 20 suspected submarine-sighting 3 mines sighted. August 24 Lat. 11.13S 156 24E torpedo attack, two torpedoes fired. Montoro commenced firing at the enemy surfaced submarine, on September 15 suspicious craft sends blinking light.

From 7th November 1940 to 6th February 1945 during this period of uncertainty, sometimes under escort sometimes sailing independent Montoro with other Merchant Navy ships, some with U.S. and overseas register others on the Australian register kept the Allied Forces supplied under extremely hazardous conditions.

Operation “Cartwheel” the Australian and American advance of Allied Forces northward. The U.S. Infantry Divisions in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville, campaigns code named “Cleanslate”, “Toenails”, “Goodtime”, Blissful”, and Cherry blossom”, with the support of Australian and New Zealand Forces, was carried out from 1942 till the end of 1943. The 7th Australian Division advances on Tsili Tsili, The Markham Valley drop, the capture of and advance on Bogajim and Madang. The 9th Australian Division advance on Finschafen, Sattelburg, and Saidor, to link with the 7th Division at Bogajim, Madang Finschafen, Alexishafen and the push north to Aitape, Wewak, and Wom Peninsular. The Ships and Seamen of Australian and Allied Merchant Navies supported all these campaigns.

Unrecognised You Put Us In Your Debt
Unthanked You Enter Or Escape The Grave
Whether Your Land Remember Or Forget
You Saved The Land Or Died To Try To Save
They Mark Our Passage As A race Of Men
Earth Shall Not See Such Ships And Men As These Again.
John Masefield.

I joined Mangola on 6/9/42 and served different periods, as 3rd 2nd and 1st Mate as required by the company, due to the acute shortage of certified Officers at the time.

December Mangola departed Sydney for Singapore north about with general cargo, arrival Port Moresby and owing to the war Torres Straits was closed to shipping, returning to Sydney Mangola departed south about to Fremantle, and joined a convoy which included BP’s Marella. The Japanese advance made Singapore untenable and after passing through Sunda Strait Mangola and Marella were ordered to Batavia, Java (Dutch East Indies). Shortly after this another vessel collided with Mangola causing extensive damage to the steering gear aft. The Engineers and Crew rigged a jury steering apparatus to keep the ship on course, she arrived Batavia 8th February 1942. At the time constant bombing by the Japanese caused chaotic conditions and cargo could not be discharged.

After delay in taking on water and missing one convoy, the ship was directed to rendezvous with another convoy on 21st February 1942. Arriving at the marshalling position, and with no sign of escort or other ships and the possibility escape through Sunda Strait cut off by Japanese Forces, it was decided to sail independent to Fremantle, arriving on 2nd March, where repairs were carried out on the damaged steering gear, having sailed many miles under jury rig, quite an achievement, arriving Sydney 2nd April 1942.

On 28th August the Japanese are well aware of the existence of the Milne Bay Garrison (New Guinea) and are preparing to launch an attack, and it is doubtful if we have enough troops to hold them.

On 28th June General MacArthur decided to construct an air base in the. Milne Bay area, The US Army Airfield Construction Unit (the only US Forces in the area at this time) commenced work on Number 1 strip known as Gili Gili.

Mangola was dispatched south to Newcasle, and berthed at B.H.P.steel wharf to load a large quantity of Marsden Matting, (a steel mesh type plating laid down after the jungle type vegetation had been cleared by bulldozers, graders and earth moving equipment). A large quantity 44 Gallon drums of aviation gasoline, spares, stores, ammunition and equipment, were also loaded, all this in anticipation of the arrival at Milne Bay of R.A.A.F. 75 & 76 Squadrons.

During our stay at Newcastle the Port was shelled by Japanese long range Submarines off Nobby’s Light (quite another story). Mangola also made calls to Port Moresby, as it was now possible for the planes to operate against the Japanese. Without these jungle airstrips, the Royal Australian Air Force that had now acquired Kittyhawk Fighter planes from America was now capable of combating the Japanese Zero Fighter.

It cannot be fully stressed here the important part played by the cargo ship Mangola, her Officers and Crew. If she doesn’t complete this particular consignment, there would have been no Kittyhawk 75 or 76 Squadrons, no jungle airstrips at Moresby Milne Bay Gili Gili, no support for the ground forces, and a grave doubt as to whether the Japanese Forces would have been defeated, and turned back by the Milne Force Dispositions on the 28th August 1942.

Port Moresby was a direct barrier to any Japanese advance southward, defended only by the 30th Brigade, comprising the 39th 49th and 53rd. Supporting the infantry was a field artillery regiment, and a Battery of heavy anti aircraft artillery, also ships of the Allied Merchant Navies, troop transports, cargo ships large and small etc. Every drop of high-octane fuel, petroleum, every piece of war equipment the hardware, the software, the entire frontline campaign of the war effort depended on the fleet of Allied Merchant Ships and the Mariners who manned them. There was only one place for the merchant seaman, at sea in his ship exposed to attack by submarine, surface raider, aircraft and the elementa at any time, with the added risk of any minefields laid in coastal waters. This was the state of affairs existing to our north at the latter part of 1941 and 1942.

The Ships Masters reports of all vessels, troop transports, and supply ships were scathing and critical of the inadequate support and protection afforded shipping generally at Port Moresby.

Captain J Campbell, Master MV Macdhui, Port Moresby 16th 17th 18th June 1942. The Ship Masters report was critical of the very inadequate protection afforded this ship, and shipping generally at Port Moresby he wrote, “The anti-aircraft fire was quite ineffective on the 17th and 18th June, and on neither occasion were there any Allied Fighters, making any attempt to break up Japanese formations.

Captain L Millar master SS Mangola Port Moresby 10th 11th July 1942. “At 26,000 feet two formations seven and fourteen tackled me and dropped about 100 H.E. bombs. No damage sustained. Next day they came over again in perfect formation, and pattern bombed Mangola, they all let go with about 190 H.E. bombs ranging from 250 to 500 lbs each.

Nothing is more certain, that unless we get more protection we are going to lose many valuable lives and ships, and as far as we are concerned, the whole can only be described as a “sitting shot” in other words, Japanese aircraft are attacking the shipping without opposition. We are putting on a Roman’s Holiday for all concerned, and being attacked from the air with complete impunity.”

This was the position with Macdhui when she was sunk, with the loss of 14 lives at Port Moresby, The Mangola survived these attacks.

In June1942 these two vessels and others of the Burns Philp Fleet, were the only regular and reliable transport link between Australia and Papua New Guinea, for troops as well as others. In the month before the loss of Macdhui the Captains concerns for the safety of their crews and ships was directed to the Directors of Burns Philp & Co. who wrote to the Australian Minister for Army and Defence

Quote “ As Macdhui and other of our vessels are constantly on the Port Moresby itinerary, we would be extremely grateful if we could be assured of receiving good anti-aircraft support, in the event of raids while our ships are there’ Unquote:

“Would Ships Be More Precious Than Men?

Winston Churchill “Battles may be won or lost, enterprises succeed or miscarry, territories may be gained or quitted, but dominating all our power to carry on the war, or even keep ourselves alive, was our mastery of the ocean routes and the free approach and entry to our ports, The only thing that frightened me during the war was the U-Boat peril.”

King George VI “Never was I more proud of the title “Master Of The Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets” than at the time of the Normandy Landings, when thousands of Merchant Seamen in hundreds of ships, took across the Channel our Armies and their equipment.

Never was pride better justified. This was the greatest combined operation the world had ever seen, perhaps the greatest it will ever see. The three fighting services and the Merchant Navy worked as one vast complex, but a perfectly constructed machine, and won a resounding victory."

General Douglas MacArthur. US South East Asia Command.

"They have brought us our lifeblood and they have paid for it with some of their own. I saw them bombed off the phillipines and in New Guinea ports. When it was humanly possible, when their ships were not blown out from under them or torpedoed, they have delivered their cargoes to us who needed them so badly. In war it is performance that counts."

U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"[Mariners] have written one of its most brilliant chapters. They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theatre of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job ever undertaken. As time goes on, there will be greater public understanding of our merchant fleet record during this war [World War 2].

Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, Commander-in-Chief,Fleet Falklands

"I cannot say too often or too clearly that without the Merchant Ships taken up from trade and those remarkable Merchant Seamen, this operation could not have been undertaken, and I hope this message is clearly understood by the the British Nation."

The War Years (1942 1945) Australia, the South and South West Pacific areas. The fleet of passenger and cargo ships available, and belonging to the many Australian Shipping Companies, the highly trained and skilled Engineers, Deck Officers and Seamen, who all became part of our Nations survival. The Australian Merchant Navy during the ‘Battle For Australia” can only be described as the “Fourth Arm Of Service” during the Japanese thrust south to occupy our Nation.

I can only recount my experiences and dates on those ships I served on, and their involvement and briefly outline the history of each.

Ron (Steve) Wylie (Rtd) Australian Merchant Navy.