By Graham Davis

Chaplain Ian McKendrick conducts the memorial service for those killed in the Japanese midget submarine torpedo attack on the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney Harbour during World War 2.

Photo: ABPH Nina Nikolin

Edan Roberts (middle), grandson of sinking survivor Neil Roberts (right) and CO Kuttabul CMDR Brian Eagles lay a wreath at the Kuttabul Memorial Service in Sydney.

Photo: ABPH Nina Nikolin

There are parallels within the community when the Japanese attacked Sydney in 1942 and within the community of today, the commanding officer of HMAS Kuttabul, CMDR Brian Eagles said earlier this month.

Both were concerned with the “unknown”, what World War 2 would bring and what terrorism might bring today, he said.

There was also a parallel within the Royal Australian Navy.

In 1942, sailors were as outstanding as they were today, CMDR Eagles said. His remarks came when he delivered the formal address at the June 1 memorial service to the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul.

On the night of June 1, 1942, a torpedo fired by one of three Japanese midget submarines which entered Sydney Harbour missed its prime target, a US cruiser, and destroyed the former ferry Kuttabul as she lay alongside the seawall on the eastern side of Garden Island. Nineteen RAN sailors and two RN sailors were killed.

Others escaped to tell of harrowing rescues, particularly by a bandsman named Cumming who plucked many from the water.

Today, there are just three known survivors alive - Mr Neil Roberts who attended the service with his son Andrew and grandson Edan 7, Mr Colin Whitfield, now confined to hospital in New Zealand and another unnamed man living in Western Australia.

A fourth survivor, Mr Bill Williams from Sydney has died since he attended the 2003 service. Close to 200 people attended the ceremony conducted at the Kuttabul Memorial.

Among the dignitaries to attend were the Japanese Consul General Mr Yasuaki Nogawa and his consul Mr Kainuma Minoru.

Most senior naval officer was CDRE Geoff Geraghty, the new Systems Commander. Students from the Paddington Primary School and St Vincents Girls High School attended because of the schools’ close links with some of the victims from WW2 and the RAN.

Relatives of other victims attended along with representatives of returned service organisations. When the call to lay wreaths was made Mr Roberts, his grandson Edan and CMDR Eagles, stepped forward with a wreath in the shape of an anchor.

The men helped the seven-year-old lower the tribute. The schoolboy from Dudley in Newcastle provided a snappy salute to the 21 sailors killed, some of them his grandfather’s mates, who lost their lives 62 years earlier.

By the time all tributes had been laid the memorial, back-dropped by a sparkling Sydney Harbour and with DMS boats bobbing at their moorings, was nearly covered by brightly coloured flowers and wreaths of laurel.

The Kuttabul Memorial Service came five days before thousands gathered on the beaches of Normandy to remember those who lost their lives in the Allied invasion which began with Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944.

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