S. S. "Carola"

An undisclosed operational base,

Wednesday, 17th June. 1942.

Dear Dad.

           We arrived here four o'clock this afternoon and received the cheerful news that they had been raided at ten am, a ship (the Macdhui)  which was in convoy with us from Sydney received a direct hit fair in the middle the saloon.  She went on ahead of us -from Townsville and we travelled slowly, otherwise we should have been in it. It is believed that four of the crew were killed. This is the first ship to be hit here. The yellow men have picked a bad time to start on the shipping. The bombed ship should finish discharging to-morrow and let us in to get rid of our very undesirable cargo. We expect them over again tomorrow and every day for a while, now, so we can't get away from here too soon for anybody on board. You will know I'm O.K. when you read this, Dad, otherwise I would not be writing it. So-long till to-morrow, I’m going to get some sleep while we have the chance. I bet the darned mosquitoes start as soon as the wind drops,      Maybe the Jap's. too!

                                                                                                  Thursday, 18th.

          To-day, I had the horrible experience of seeing a, good ship   (the Macdhui) blasted by three bombs and drift about the harbour burning like hell and letting off terrific explosions and dense clouds of smoke. She finished up on a reef end slowly burned out and capsized with the Red Ensign still flying a couple of hours after she was hit.

             I think I'll remember to-day's experiences of a full scale air-raid for some time. The alert sounded about 10.45am. and they came over about twenty five minutes later. 

2.

       Eighteen or twenty heavy bombers headed straight for us at about 25,000feet.  We could hear the drone of the engines, but they were almost overhead before we could see them. Their shape was plain enough, even at that height, shining like silver. We were the first target and all we could do was watch them shot bombs at us.  Our machine guns were manned, but naturally they were useless.  The anti-aircraft batteries ashore started and I thought at first they were bomb explosions until I looked up and saw the puffs of white smoke around the bombers. The aiming was accurate, but they couldn't get high enough. Then the bombs started coming, we could hear them and some of us could see them when they were well up. The first one fell from fifteen to twenty yards a stern of us. The blast was terrific, and most demoralizing.  I don’t mind admitting that I didn't feel too good, with the possibility of a few dozen more corning right on its tail.  However, the next one fell approximately the same distance off our port bow and then, I suppose, about twenty or thirty between us and the ship that collected three or more direct hits, which incidentally was the one hit yesterday.  Another lot fell between her and a Dutchman and the remainder just exploded across the harbour until a couple hit one of the heads, sending up a shower of rocks. We estimate that between a hundred and a hundred and twenty bombs were dropped and the fun was all over in less than one minute. But, Gosh, what a minute!

              Five or ten minutes after the raid shrapnel from the anti-aircraft fire started showering down on us and we had to rush for cover again. We didn't get the all-clear till two hours after so most of the crew were wandering around with their life-jackets on, waiting for another attack.

3.

Just as well they didn't have another go, our nerves were a bit ragged from the first one and I think some of the boys would have gone ashore and stopped there if we had any more.  One of the sailors broke down to-night and had to be taken ashore to the hospital.

Friday, 19th.

          All quiet! Our bombers went over last night and gave the Jap. bases something to keep them busy in return for yesterday's raid on the shipping.  Weather conditions were not too good here for a raid to-day so maybe if it's the same to-morrow we shall be lucky enough to finish discharging early Sunday morning and get away at daylight. (Cargo mostly Aviation Gas in 44gal drums)  

          I wanted to see an air-raid and feel quite satisfied with yesterday's exhibition.  I haven't any inclination whatever to see another one. Anybody who does is loco.  Mind you, I'm not moaning about it, as I knew what to expect when we came here., but I don't think I realiszed that they would get so close.  I didn't really give the matter any thought until they dropped a bomb twenty yards from me. That sort of woke me up to the fact that there was a war on and that at the moment I was in the middle of it.  After these last two raids nobody can tell me that the Jap. bombing is no good. It's almost perfect.

          Some of the crew have taken to going ashore at night and sleeping in empty houses. They reckon we haven’t a chance of getting away from here if the Jap's, come over again.  I've offered to bet any of them a fiver that we shall, but they won't take it on, as they unreasonably explain that I can't lose, anyway.

4.

                                                                                       Sunday, 20th.

         Well, Dad, we are discharged and ready to sail but the Navy has decided to keep us here until a Yankee ship has finished and take us across together. Perhaps they think that one ship sunk this week is not enough. We would be far better off leaving right now, without waiting for an escort. It should be much better to be torpedoed than bombed. I'd like to have some of these bright jokers who give the orders, on board if we are bombed again, just to watch their reactions.

         It was all quiet again yesterday, probably due to the bad visibility, but they should be over again this morning, sometime, especially as it's Sunday. That seems to be their favourite day.(In Sydney and Newcastle, anyway.)

10.5am.- It seems that I was right! The third mate just looked in and tells me the alert has been given, so I'll put on my lifejacket and try to give you a running description of this raid. They should be over within half an hour. I've decided to stay in my armour plated cabin (radio room) this time as I nearly collected a piece of shrapnel on Thursday, wandering about the ship watching the fun, if it may be called that.

           We are anchored off a small island outside the harbour and have a small boat lowered in case of accidents. It's not far to swim, though, and there certainly won't be any sharks about if there are bombs dropped in the water. You should have seen the dead fish in the harbour on Thursday. It doesn't matter a great deal if we are hit now. The ship is empty and they use armour piecing bombs, so they will simply go clean through the ship and make a nice round hole in the bottom.

5.

The old tub might sink in that case but there should be plenty of time to take the boats.

               We can hear planes somewhere but I think they are fighters. There may be a dog-fight on over behind the hills. Some of our fighters went up just before the alert was given so I thing they must have intercepted the Jap's. It is now 10.45am I've been wandering up on the bridge now and again to have a look through the glasses.  

11am.- All clear!  No fun, sorry!

4.45pm - Our escort just came out with the sailing orders so we are away at last. We are going back to Townsville for orders and maybe to load, but just at present there is no information.

Townsville, 25th.

             News at last.  We are going back north to Lucinda Pt. and Cairns to load sugar for Sydney.  Should be in Sydney for some time.

Luciada Point,

Tues. 3oth.

               They just decided, after changing the orders five times already since we arrived here, that we shall not go to Cairns but take all the sugar here, go back to Townsville for some more and pick up same other cargo for Brisbane. Ah, we might get home one of these days.

Friday, 3rd July.

                We left Lucinda this morning after an extremely quiet week there.  It wouldn't very well be otherwise in that village. There is a little scattered group of house, a pub and plenty of mosquitoes.  It is just a loading port for the sugar district.

6.

               Most of the crew buzzed off to Ingham, about twenty miles inland, but the second mate an I didn't get further than a little country town called Halifax and then we only went in Saturday and Wednesday to see the local pictures. It has been a good holiday, here. I enjoyed our stay better than I would have in a city.

                Well, Dad, I could go on writing but I started this three weeks ago so I think it is about time I finished it. We are leaving for Brisbane in the morning so should be home pretty soon. Cheerio!

                                                                Your affectionate son,

                                                                 Doug

                                                                (Radio Officer  D. M. MacLeod)