Konovalov
06-01-06, 08:11 AM
An event that can be easily forgotten.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-night-war-came-to-sydney/2006/06/01/1148956465147.html
The night war came to Sydney
Dylan Welch
June 1, 2006 - 2:20PM
A survivor of a submarine attack in Sydney harbour told today of how a favour for a mate saved his life.
Early in the morning of June 1, 1942, three Japanese midget submarines snuck into Sydney Harbour to launch an attack on the US navy cruiser Chicago, stationed at the Garden Island navy base.
But instead of striking the Chicago, one of the Japanese torpedoes exploded against a sea wall next to a Royal Australian Navy accommodation boat, the HMAS Kuttabul.
Twenty-one died aboard the Kuttabul that night, trapped together in small bunk rooms on the lower floors.
Neil Roberts, now 82, was one of the few that survived and today, at a ceremony marking the 64th anniversary of the tragic night, recalled the twist of fate that kept him alive.
He told gathered navy officials, school children and media how he had been on sentry duty at the base and as another sailor came to relieve him, offered him a small favour that would mean the difference between life and death.
"He suggested something that was to save my life - he said, 'would you sleep in my hammock?', which I did.
"So I went past where the 21 died - where I normally slept - and got into his hammock on the upper deck."
The Japanese torpedo struck shortly afterwards and Mr Roberts found himself still alive but trapped on the rapidly sinking boat.
"I got caught in the stairwell ... I took a punt, and I knew where the exit was, I thought well I'll try for that.
"So I took a deep breath and I swam underwater and eventually found the exit and climbed up the seawall ... a chap ran up to me and said 'where are all the officers?' and I said, 'everybody's dead'."
A small strip of grass next to the seawall where the ship sank is now home to the Kuttabul memorial, where today relatives and navy officers laid wreaths to commemorate the sailors who died that night.
Two of the mini subs that attacked the harbour that night were destroyed and one remains missing, presumed sunk.
The bodies of the four Japanese submariners recovered were given a funeral will full military honours and their bodies cremated.
The nearby Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre now houses the conning tower of one of the Japanese subs who made the perilous run into Sydney harbour.
Today was also significant for Mr Roberts as it marked the last time he will speak at the annual event.
"This is the last occasion that I will be speaking," he told the crowd.
"I find the spirit is willing but the flesh is weakening."
He suffers from fibrosis contracted during his navy service and is forced to use an oxygen tank 16 hours a day.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-night-war-came-to-sydney/2006/06/01/1148956465147.html
The night war came to Sydney
Dylan Welch
June 1, 2006 - 2:20PM
A survivor of a submarine attack in Sydney harbour told today of how a favour for a mate saved his life.
Early in the morning of June 1, 1942, three Japanese midget submarines snuck into Sydney Harbour to launch an attack on the US navy cruiser Chicago, stationed at the Garden Island navy base.
But instead of striking the Chicago, one of the Japanese torpedoes exploded against a sea wall next to a Royal Australian Navy accommodation boat, the HMAS Kuttabul.
Twenty-one died aboard the Kuttabul that night, trapped together in small bunk rooms on the lower floors.
Neil Roberts, now 82, was one of the few that survived and today, at a ceremony marking the 64th anniversary of the tragic night, recalled the twist of fate that kept him alive.
He told gathered navy officials, school children and media how he had been on sentry duty at the base and as another sailor came to relieve him, offered him a small favour that would mean the difference between life and death.
"He suggested something that was to save my life - he said, 'would you sleep in my hammock?', which I did.
"So I went past where the 21 died - where I normally slept - and got into his hammock on the upper deck."
The Japanese torpedo struck shortly afterwards and Mr Roberts found himself still alive but trapped on the rapidly sinking boat.
"I got caught in the stairwell ... I took a punt, and I knew where the exit was, I thought well I'll try for that.
"So I took a deep breath and I swam underwater and eventually found the exit and climbed up the seawall ... a chap ran up to me and said 'where are all the officers?' and I said, 'everybody's dead'."
A small strip of grass next to the seawall where the ship sank is now home to the Kuttabul memorial, where today relatives and navy officers laid wreaths to commemorate the sailors who died that night.
Two of the mini subs that attacked the harbour that night were destroyed and one remains missing, presumed sunk.
The bodies of the four Japanese submariners recovered were given a funeral will full military honours and their bodies cremated.
The nearby Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre now houses the conning tower of one of the Japanese subs who made the perilous run into Sydney harbour.
Today was also significant for Mr Roberts as it marked the last time he will speak at the annual event.
"This is the last occasion that I will be speaking," he told the crowd.
"I find the spirit is willing but the flesh is weakening."
He suffers from fibrosis contracted during his navy service and is forced to use an oxygen tank 16 hours a day.