Following is a rather long post commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Stockton Bight disaster of 8th March 1954. This effectively shall be my last posting on Lost Newcastle as I must from here on dedicate my time and resources to two very important projects I have committed myself to to commemorate the Centenary of The Great War (First World War/World War One). I am pleased to have had the opportunity to contribute to this great social media site. Sixtieth Anniversary of The Stockton Bight Disaster – 8th March 1954. Remembering Corporal N. Moran, Trooper N. Mornement and Private R. Blackie. May they rest in eternal peace. Source: lancers.org.au/site/Stockton_Bight.asp “The annual camp of the 15th Northern Rivers Lancers, in March 1954, was marred by disaster in Stockton Bight. On the weekend 6/7 March vehicles and stores were made ready for a move of the Regiment by water from Wave Trap Beach near Camp Shortland to the Mungo Brush area. Start time was 02:00 on Monday, 8 March. The Government Bureau had given a forecast of good conditions and on time, with the DUKW. of the CO, Lieutenant Colonel J. A. James, leading, headed out to open sea in line ahead - a convoy of 21 vehicles comprising, seven DUKWs., eight LVT(a)4s, five LVT4s and an RAE (Royal Australian Engineers). workboat. Within three quarters of an hour there was an unpredicted and dramatic change in the weather conditions; the wind altered direction and force and whipped up a monstrous sea. As wireless sets became drenched control became very difficult and the vehicles were running into trouble. By daylight, according to Captain V.J.T. Sharpe, the convoy had become scattered, several vehicles had sunk and their crews had been rescued by the crews of other vehicles; while attempting to land through mountainous surf more vehicles founded. The COs. DUKW. sank while towing Corporal Holes L.V.T.(a)4. There were many acts of gallantry and self-sacrifice as unit members strove to rescue their comrades, aided by the Stockton Surf Club. Some vehicles attempted to land through terrific breakers about six miles up the Bight and there three lives were lost - Corporal N. Moran and Trooper N. Mornement of A Squadron and Private R. Blackie of 16th Company RAASC (Royal Australian Army Service Corps); it was there that Sergeant D.G. McHattie entered the raging surf four times to rescue others. The vehicles lost by foundering were five LVT(a)4s, one LVT4 and two DUKWs. Arrangements were made to move the unit into Gan Gan Camp, where wing training on a revised syllabus was commenced the next day. The Regiments efficiency and morale had been sternly tested by the Stockton Bight disaster. Among early visitors to its lines were the GOC Eastern Command, Lieutenant General E. A. Woodward, CB, CBE., DSO, and the Commander Ist Armoured Brigade, Brigadier K.M.H. Arnott, DSO. The GOC later said, he had rarely seen a unit with such high morale after such a disaster and certainly never before in peacetime. Private Blackies body was still missing. On Wednesday, 10 March, there was a regimental parade for the funeral with full military honours of the other two deceased. The service was held in Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, following which the Regiment, mounted (LVTs & DUKWs), accompanied the two hearses to Sandgate Cemetery. In April 1955 the Regiment was gratified to learn that awards for gallantry on that fateful day, 8 March 1954, had been gazetted, namely - to Temporary Sergeant Donald Gordon McHattie, the George Medal; to Temporary Corporal Ronald Jack Bowditch, the British Empire Medal; to Private Desmond Herbert Burns, a Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct. The following are extracts from the citations.. Sergeant McHattie displayed outstanding leadership and courage in organising the rescue of his crew. Later, when the vehicle that had rescued his crew sank in the surf, he assisted four members of the troop ashore. Disregarding the high seas and knowing of the prevalence of sharks in the area, Sergeant McHattie returned through the heavy surf and remained in the water for thirty minutes assisting five other members of the troop to the beach. His complete disregard for his own safety and exemplary conduct was an inspiration to all, and an uplifting influence to the morale of the whole Regiment. Corporal Bowditch, on seeing the crew commander of one of the foundered vehicles in the water, unhesitatingly seized an inflatable life jacket and, disregarding the advice of a local police constable that it was impossible to reach the man, and being aware that the constable, a strong surf swimmer, had failed, forced his way through the surf to the man. On reaching the man he supported him and assisted a lifesaver, with belt and line, to get him ashore. His complete disregard for his own safety and dash were an inspiration to all members on the exercise. Private Burns, 16th Company, RAASC (Amphibious General Transport) displayed outstanding leadership and courage by immediately assisting members to the shore. On reaching the shore he took charge, directing and assisting ia the rescue of other members still in the sea and the application of artificial resuscitation to personnel suffering from severe immersion. Due largely to his leadership and control the lives of at least three members of the Company were saved.” From The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 9th March 1954:- TWO DEAD IN ARMY SEA TRAGEDY Huge Waves Sink Eight Craft NEWCASTLE, Monday.- Two soldiers were drowned and a third is missing, believed drowned, after big seas swamped and sank eight Army amphibious vehicles in Stockton Bight, near Newcastle, early today. Ten other soldiers were admitted to Royal Newcastle Hospital suffering from injuries and the effects of immersion. The soldiers injured were in a convoy of 20 vehicles which left Shortland Army camp, on Newcastle Harbour, about 2 a.m. today for a night landing exercise at Morna Point, 19 miles north of Newcastle. Heavy seas struck the convoy about 3 a.m. Waves up to 20ft crashed down on the vehicles, which included ducks and amphibious tanks (L.V.T.s). Some soldiers were thrown into the sea two miles from shore. Others got to within 200 yards of the beach before their vehicles were overwhelmed. About 100 of the 170 soldiers who took part in the exercise were thrown into the sea. Scores of them, wearing Mae West safety-belts, were tossed about in the dark for more than three hours. ONE MISSING, MANY HURT The casualty list issued from the Armys Eastern Command headquarters, Sydney, is:- DROWNED Pte. N. L. Moran, of Adamstown. A trooper whose name is not yet released because his next of kin in England has not been informed. MISSING, BELIEVED DROWNED Pte. A. R. Blackie, of Newcastle, 16th Company, R.A.A.S.C. IN ROYAL NEWCASTLE HOSPITAL Sgt. W. Sharpe, pneumonia following immersion and shock. Trooper W. Whitford, immersion and shock. Treated at Newcastle Hospital for immersion and shock, and allowed to leave: Corporal J. Lee; Troopers tower, D. Smedley, R. Andersen. T. Holmes. Admitted to R.A.A.F. Hospital, Williamtown, for immersion and shock: Troopers L. Wilson, W. Rummery, H. Davis, G. James, B. W. Galloway, D. J. Bailey, K. J. Sands, R. J. Bertram. With the exception of Blackie, who was a member of the 16th Royal Australian Army Service Corps, all the casualties were from the 15th Northern River Lancers. Both are Citizen Military Force units. Most of the soldiers owe their lives to the set of the current, which gradually carried them to within swimming distance of the shore. Some were able to save themselves, but more than half were picked up by surviving vehicles. Members of Stockton Surf Club were rushed from their homes to Cemetery Point with their lifesaving gear, and pulled in five men who had been swirled around in the current about 200 yards from the beach for about three hours. REPORT ON WEATHER An Army spokesman said tonight that before the exercises began the Commanding Officer, Lieut.- Colonel J. A. James, got a weather report from the meteorological station at R.A.A.F., Williamtown, which said: Clear skies and smooth seas. About midnight Colonel James went out himself in a duck to, test the water and found it quite smooth and negotiable for the craft. He returned and led the convoy into the water at 2 a.m. The party went out in two groups. At 3 a.m. one of the groups was about four miles offshore. Up to this stage the seas had been smooth, and although there was a swell, Colonel Jamess duck had not taken water. Quite suddenly the sky clouded over and the wind rose. Within a few minutes the sea was choppy and heavy. The first trouble came when one of the L.V.T.s fired a distress rocket. Colonel James turned from the head of the column and went back to give help. He found the L.V.T. motor had broken down and he took a line from it and towed it to within a few hundred yards of the shore, where the line snapped and the vehicle swamped. LIKE SCENE AT DUNKIRK Then his own vehicle was swamped. He had taken off all except three from the L.V.T. All these men got ashore. In the meantime the sea had become rougher, and three other craft sent out dis- tress signals. One of them swamped and sank. while still about four miles off shore. Men in the other vehicles saw the sea getting dangerous and made for the shore. They got close in before they sank. Corporal J. Wyburn instructed the crew of the vehicle that sank four miles off, to abandon ship and hold hands in a circle in the sea. They did this, and were picked up floating in the lifebelts in one group after being in the water half an hour. Another officer, Captain John Sharpe, said: The vehicles left Newcastle Harbour in line astern, and the operation was going smoothly until the vessels were about 10 miles out. The first vehicle to strike trouble was toward the rear of the line. Somebody went back for him, then a vehicle in the front of the line got into trouble. Then it seemed that one by one they ran into difficulties. I believe one vehicle sank about a mile and a half out. Most of the others went down closer in, about 200 yards or so. The men had been given drill for such an emergency. The officer in charge of each vehicle gave the appropriate instructions, and most of the men thrown into the water got together in groups to assist those who could not swim. This also assisted the rescuing craft in locating the survivors. Soldiers said the beach scene near Cemetery Point - where most of the vehicles were overturned resembled a scene from Dunkirk. Exhausted, half-clad soldiers lay along beach in scores among litter, ammunition and army impediments that had been washed up. HATCHES CLAMPED Trooper Colin Whitford, of Islington, gave a vivid description of the sinkings. Whitford, who is in Newcastle Hospital, said tonight The sea was very rough and I became seasick. I was sick several times. The whole convoy of armoured vehicles was tacking form side to side in the heavy seas to avoid getting the waves broadside on. As the sea became rougher the men in the amphibious tank on which I was travelling were ordered beneath hatches and the hatches were clamped down. There were eight of us. The water began to come in through the breathing vents on the sides of the tank, and we sent a message to Williamtown, but I dont know whether it got through. I was so seasick that I had to go on deck again. I saw a couple of sharks swimming round. Our tank began to ship water badly and as the sun came over the horizon an- other tank drew alongside and we were told to get aboard it. It was pretty difficult to jump from one tank to the other in the heaving seas, but we all made it safely. This tank then turned towards shore. Besides its crew there were the men from our tank and from another tank in it. We were told to take our boots off. A few minutes later a huge wave capsized the tank, and an officer yelled: Abandon ship. By this time most of the boys were on deck, and they just jumped off into the sea. A couple were below, but I think they got out all right. I jumped off on the wrong side of the tank. I was immediately crashed against the side of the tank by a wave and half-stunned. CALLED FOR HELP Many of the chaps who could not swim properly were crying out for help. I am not a good swimmer, and although I was wearing my Mae West the waves, which were about 15ft high, kept breaking over my head, and I could see very little. About this time a sergeant -— I think his name is MacHattie — swam over and helped to support me. He told me to hold my breath every time a wave came over me and showed me the shore. After a few minutes the sergeant patted me on the shoulder and said: Go to it. Pointing to the shore, and then swam oft to help some of the other fellows. The sergeant was the real hero of the sinkings. He swam about for a long time support- ink the poor swimmers and encouraging them to get ashore. We were about two miles off shore at this time. I tried to make shore on my own, but I was so exhausted by my efforts and by the blow I received against the side of the tank that I finally lost consciousness. That is the last I remember until I awoke in an ambulance on the way to hospital. GETTING WEAKER Sergeant W. Sharpe said the engine of his tank failed about 2.30 a.m. The batteries gave out and the bilge pump stopped working, he said. I couldnt use the wireless because of the battery failure. A duck took us in tow, but the towline snapped. We turned side-on to the waves. I was washed overboard and the tank sank. I started to swim for the shore, but I am not a good swimmer. The waves were washing over me, and I was getting weaker. I grabbed a bundle of clothing and a pillow. This gave me enough support. I think it saved me, because it held me up until a fellow drew alongside me in the surf about 200 yards from the shore. He grabbed me. I dont remember much more. The man who saved Sharpe was Stockton lifesaver Frank Littlewood. WILL TO LIVE Littlewood and Barry Jones, Harry Rowlatt, Bill Arthur, and Charlie Whyte rescued four other men from the surf who had been swept in circles by a current for three hours only 200 yards from the shore. They were nearly all about semi-conscious, said Littlewood. I am sure only their will to live kept their heads up. ARMY SURVIVORS RECOVER AFTER ORDEAL IÑ WATER When the signal for help went out from the Nelson Bay headquarters of the Northern River Lancers this morning, three R.A.A.F. Dakota aircraft, workboats from Shortland camp, and a crash boat from Nelson Bay, immediately co-operated in an air - sea search for survivors. Bewildered soldiers struggled ashore over 10 miles of beach. Ducks patrolled the beach picking up exhausted men and rushing them away for treatment. A signal master at Nobbys Signal Station said tonight that officers from the Shortland camp had visited the station yesterday afternoon to ask for a weather report. We told them to get a report from Williamtown because they had the benefit of data from along the coast. The signalman said that at midnight last night the wind velocity was 15 miles an hour, at 2 a.m. 20 miles an hour, and 3 a.m. 25 miles an hour; it was blowing from the south south-east. The temporary commanding officer at the R.A.A.F. station, Williamtown, Wing Commander N. T. Quinn, said tonight that he was not able to say whether the forecast came from a R.A.A.F. source. He said he would examine the report that the forecast had been issued by the R.A.A.F. this morning. From The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 27th March 1954:- Army, Police In Inquiry On Fate Of Soldier Newcastle, Friday. – Army and police officers are inquiring into the fate of one of the three soldiers reported drowned in the Army ducks disaster at Stockton Bight on March 8. The soldier, Robert Alan Blackie, l8, of Brown Street, West Wallsend, was last seen in his lifebelt in the sea on the night of the disaster. He was about 200 yards from the shore, and making for Stockton Beach. Salvage men later found his Mae West lifejacket, unbuckled, among Army gear gathered from the beach soon after the accident. Army and police officers have been informed of a report that the driver of a utility truck picked up a soldier on a road skirting Stockton beach about 8.30 a.m. on March 8. They were told that the driver of the truck told fishermen at Nelson Bay that the soldier had said: I have been down in a tank twice. That is two goes they have had. They wont get a third. The driver was reported to have told friends that the soldier dropped off the truck after going a few miles. The Army and police officers are trying to locate the driver of the truck. They wish to obtain a description of his passenger. Detective - Sergeant John Duffel is investigating the accident for the purposes of submitting a report to the coroner. PICKED UP Eight Army amphibious vehicles sank in the Stockton Bight on March 8, throwing about 100 men into the sea. Two soldiers besides Blackie were reported drowned, and their bodies were recovered. A strong current running towards the shore carried the bodies in from the sea. The current also washed most of the buoyant gear ashore. When the amphibious vehicles got into trouble in rough seas in the darkness on March 8, officers in charge of them drove them straight for the beach. Twelve of the 20 vehicles in the exercise got ashore. They landed at widely separated points along the 19-mile stretch of beach between Stockton and Morna Point. Confusion was such that the Army did not know what the casualties were until they mustered the men at Gan Gan camp about 6 p.m. THOUGHT JAMMED Blackie was in a tank carrying a refrigerator. Army officers surmised that he had been jammed by the refrigerator until troopers told them that they saw him in the water with his lifejacket on. One soldier, who was with Blackie in the water, told the officers that Blackie said to them: I am O.K. Look after yourselves. The soldier told the officers that Blackie seemed confident of reaching the shore. The officers have learned that Blackie was a fairly strong swimmer in still water, but that he disliked swimming in the surf. Blackie lived with his brother, Mervyn David Blackie, at West Wallsend. Mervyn Blackie said tonight: If Robert were alive he would have got in touch with me. Of course, you cant give up hoping that he is alive. He said his brother was a keen Soccer player, who had had a good chance of being picked in the N.S.W. team to play South Australia at Easter time. Investigation Of Army Drownings In Open Court The Minister for the Army, Mr. J. Francis, said yesterday that the circumstances of the Army disaster near Newcastle would be fully investigated in open court at the Coroners inquiry. Three soldiers were reported drowned when big seas swamped and sank eight Army amphibious vehicles in Stockton Bight on March 8. Mr. Francis said: The Army already has done all it can to enable the police officers collecting evidence for the Coroner to interview witnesses and conduct their inquiry freely and fully. In fairness to relatives of the men who lost their lives and in fairness to all members of the Army of all ranks who were in any way concerned in the occurrence, the Army will facilitate the investigation in every practicable way. Military courts of inquiry are set up every time there is a fatal accident or serious mishap during military training or manoeuvres and the proceedings and the recommendations are sent to the minister through Army Headquarters by the convening officer, he said. Publication of the proceedings of military courts of inquiry has always been recognised in England and Australia as contrary to public policy, and the courts of law have always held that these proceedings are protected from production. I consider it would be wrong if I were to sanction any departure in this case from the principle so long established, especially as the matter is shortly to be the subject of a coroners inquiry, Mr. Francis added. HEARING ENDS The Army Court of Inquiry into the Stockton drowning disaster concluded at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, yesterday. No details were released of the Courts findings. An Army spokesman said last night that the Courts report and findings would go before the G.O.C. Eastern Command, Lieutenant - General E. W. Woodward, then to Army headquarters, and then to the Minister for the Army, Mr. J. Francis. The question of when the report and findings were made public was a matter for the Minister, he said.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 08:16:04 +0000
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