Savo sea battle remembered

By LEUT Chris Woods

The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Sir Allan Kemakeza, closest to camera, sits next to the Commanding Officer of HMAS Manoora CMDR Martin Brooker and other RAMSI personnel during a memorial service for the former cruiser HMAS Canberra I, which was sunk after a fierce sea battle on August 9, 1942 off Savo Island. Photo: LSPH David Connolly

The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Sir Allan Kemakeza embarked aboard HMAS Manoora (CMDR Martin Brooker) by LCM-8 to witness the ship’s memorial service to the valiant crew of the former heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra I.

Canberra I was sunk in the bloody night battle with a large Japanese cruiser force in August 1942 off Savo Island.

The cost of overall victory for the allies was high, CMDR Brooker said to the assembled VIP’s, guests and ship’s company.

“The loss of life in one night at the battle of Savo Island was more than the US Marine loss in the entire 6-month Guadalcanal campaign”, he said.

Manoora sailed from Honiara to the spot near Savo Island where Canberra I now rests to conduct the service.

84 Australian sailors were killed when, “With the enemy firing torpedoes and heavy shelling, HMAS Canberra I was hit several times and set on fire with her engine room knocked out.”

“USS Chicago also received torpedo hits. The Allied ships fired star shells in an attempt to counterattack, but they had been fired at from extremely close range with no warning.

“Their return fire was largely ineffective,” he said.

It was imperative that the Solomon Islands did not remain in the enemy’s hands since that would place Australia in a precarious position by having land-based bombers within striking distance of the east coast.

“The southern force was the first to be sighted by the Japanese from scout-plane flares, along with a burning freighter that helped silhouette the ships,” he said.

In just 32-minutes the Japanese force had inflicted massive damage, sinking four heavy-cruisers and severely damaging a heavy-cruiser and destroyer.

“The enemy had comparative scratches on just three cruisers.

“Most of us can only imagine what these men went through that night.

“Many of us have been placed in areas of uncertainty and on occasion danger, but to pay the ultimate sacrifice for your country takes courage beyond our comprehension.

“Many of us here in the Solomon Islands today along with our friends of the Solomon Islands act with courage and steadfastness to restore law and order to this place.”

Members of Manoora’s crew dropped wreaths in the water over Canberra Is resting place.

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