Three Navies honoured

Japanese Consul Mr Hisao Nishimaki lays a wreath on the Kuttabul memorial in remembrance of SBLT Katsuhisa Ban, one of the submariners to die in the attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942.

By Graham Davis
More than 300 people lined Hibbs Road at Sydney’s Garden Island with their heads bowed and remembered brave men from three navies.

They remembered the 21 young men from the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Navy who lost their lives when a torpedo fired by a Japanese midget submarine tore the ferry HMAS Kuttabul apart at the seawall.

They also remembered the six Japanese submariners who bravely entered Sydney Harbour on the night of May 31/June 1, 1942 in three midget submarines to attack US and RAN warships, knowing they may not return.

Three survivors from the Kuttabul sinking are alive today
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They are Neil Roberts and Bill Williams of Sydney and Colin Whitfield from New Zealand.

Neil and Bill were at the memorial service but Colin was unable to attend because of illness.

As CHAP Chris Aulich led prayers at the service the drone of a seaplane echoed across Garden Island.

It was a poignant reminder to May 30, 1942 when WO Susumo Ito flew his float plane (launched from one of the mother submarines) over the harbour to identify targets for the midgets.

In his address Neil Roberts told how a bandsman named Cummins had saved at least two lives by diving into the water to rescue victims.

He said Colin Whitfield had his ankles broken by the impact and would have drowned had he not been rescued.

Neil paid tribute to the bravery of the RAN and RN sailors on that night and to the Japanese submariners who lost their lives in the attack.

Neil Roberts and Bill Williams laid wreaths on the Kuttabul memorial, followed by Keith Hall President RSL NSW, the New Zealand Consul General Peter Heenan and senior naval personnel.

They were led by VCDF, RADM Russ Shalders and CDRE Boyd Robinson from MHQ.

The Japanese Consul General, Mr Shigenobu Kato stood with head bowed for an extended time after he laid a wreath to remember the six Japanese submariners.

He was followed by Consul Hisao Nishimaki who laid a wreath in remembrance of SBLT Katsuhisa Ban, a tribute requested by cousin Masaru Ban in Japan.

 

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