Derek Law Bibliography

Full entry text:

LEWIS, Tom. The Submarine Six: Australian Naval Heroes.201p., bibliog., illus., index. Kent Town, SA: Avonmore, 2011. ISBN: 9780987151919.

Australia’s Collins Class submarines are named after six naval heroes, sadly little known even in Australia. This book provides brief biographies of the six: Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, who served with Sydney in the Mediterranean, then after staff appointments in Singapore and Australia commanded the cruiser Shropshire working with TF74 of the US Seventh Fleet, until badly wounded in action. Captain Emile Dechaineux commanded Vivacious at Dunkirk then Eglington on North Sea convoys before returning to staff work in Australia, followed by command of the new destroyer Warramunga which soon joined TF74. Finally he commanded the cruiser Australia with TF74 and was killed in action when she was hit by a Japanese suicide bomber. Rear Admiral Hal Farncomb commanded Perth in the South Atlantic, then Canberra in Western Australian waters and finally Australia in the Pacific, including the battles of the Coral Sea and Savo Island. In 1944 he took command of the carrier Attacker and saw action at the landings in the South of France and Normandy before finishing the war commanding the Australian Squadron in TF74. Lt. Cdr. Robert Rankin, who the author argues should have received a Victoria Cross, served for two years in the Mediterranean before taking command of the sloop Yarra, where he died fighting to the end in a hopelessly one-sided action against Japanese cruisers. Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheehan, who served in Armidale, refused to abandon ship as she sank and died returning fire on her aerial attackers. And finally Captain Hec Waller who commanded Stuart at the Battle of Matapan, then returned to Australia in 1941 to take command of Perth, which he commanded until he was killed in action during her sinking. Passionately told tales in a warts and all style.