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I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,927
- Location
- Sydney Australia
24 March 1940 Volunteers from ships of Australia’s “Scrap Iron Flotilla”, in the Mediterranean, embarked on a mission to block the Danube River at a feature known as the Iron Gates. The operation was planned by DNI from a suggestion made by LCDR M. Minshall, RNVR, who had voyaged down the river on an intelligence mission shortly before the outbreak of hostilities. Coordinator for the operation was LCDR Ian Fleming, creator of the fictional hero James Bond. LCDR Fleming smuggled 14 tons of explosives across Europe on the Orient Express. The operation was discovered by German agents before the RAN-manned barges reached the target. In the withdrawal one barge loaded with explosives was detonated beneath a railway viaduct. All Australian members of the Commando-style mission succeeded in returning to their ships.
10 June 1940 Event#1
Italy entered the war on the side of Germany. An officer in HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), at the time of the announcement commented, ‘The news came like the proverbial bomb in our midst.’
Event#2
HMAS MANOORA, (armed merchant cruiser - my own father's ship), shadowed the Italian merchantman ROMOLO in the Pacific, west of Nauru.
11 June 1940 HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), with HMA Ships STUART, VAMPIRE, and VOYAGER, (destroyers), sailed at 0100, westward from Alexandria.
12 June 1940 The crew of the Italian liner ROMOLO, scuttled their ship west of Nauru, after a long pursuit by HMAS MANOORA, (armed merchant cruiser). MANOORA picked up the survivors from their boats.
10 June 1940 Event#1
Italy entered the war on the side of Germany. An officer in HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), at the time of the announcement commented, ‘The news came like the proverbial bomb in our midst.’
Event#2
HMAS MANOORA, (armed merchant cruiser - my own father's ship), shadowed the Italian merchantman ROMOLO in the Pacific, west of Nauru.
11 June 1940 HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), with HMA Ships STUART, VAMPIRE, and VOYAGER, (destroyers), sailed at 0100, westward from Alexandria.
12 June 1940 The crew of the Italian liner ROMOLO, scuttled their ship west of Nauru, after a long pursuit by HMAS MANOORA, (armed merchant cruiser). MANOORA picked up the survivors from their boats.
