Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4856    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 29TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,400

GROUP OF FIVE TO KIA: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; with added Unit Citation for Gallantry. 23228 F.N.Salisbury on last two medals, first three medals unnamed. The named medals impressed. Mounted on card, extremely fine and rare.

RAN Leading Stoker Francis Norman Salisbury, born Carlton, Vic on 05Jun1920; Enl.05Mar1939 Melbourne,;KIA 04Mar1942 aboard HMAS Yarra.

HMAS Yarra (II) Royal Australian Navy Unit Citation for Gallantry. For acts of extraordinary gallantry in action off Singapore on the 5th of February 1942 and in the Indian Ocean on the 4th March 1942.

On the 5th February 1942 a convoy, about to enter Singapore Harbour was attacked by Japanese aircraft and the troop transport Empress of Asia was severely damaged, resulting in major fires and the ship bagan to sink. Despite the threat from continuing air attack and the explosions in the Empress of Asia, HMAS Yarra's Commanding Officer, Commander Wilfred Hastings Harrington, RAN, manoeuvred the ship alongside the stern of the sinking transport, enabling 1334 men to be directly transferred across to Yarra. Yarra then proceeded to rescue a further 470 men from life rafts and floats in the vicinity. In doing so, Yarra's crew showed conspicuous devotion to duty, outstanding seamanship and shop handling skills and extraordinary courage in the face of immediate danger, directly from the enemy and from the burning troop transport.

On the 4th March 1942, Yarra and her convoy of three merchant vessels were proceeding to Fremantle, having departed Java two days before. In the early hours of the morning, Yarra's lookouts sighted a Japanese surface action group, consisting of three heavy cruisers and two destroyers. Each individual Japanese warship was greatly superior to Yarra in fighting strength and speed. Without concern for his own or his ship's safety, Yarra's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin, RAN, immediately manoeuvred the ship between the enemy and the convoy, made smoke to screen the convoy and closed to engage.

Despite the obvious fate that awaited them, Yarra's ship's company conducted themselves with distinction and utter professionalism throughout the action that followed. They showed extraordinary courage, skill and conspicuous devotion to duty in the face of a far superior enemy as they turned rowards them and engaged against overwhelming odds. Yarra was struck by heavy enemy shellfire, badly damaged and set on fire yet continued to engage the enemy. When it was obvious the ship was about to sink, the order to abandon ship was given. Despite this order the last remaining gun crew continued to engage the enemy until silenced by direct fire. From a ship's company of 151 men there were only 13 survivors.

Through their actions, the ship's company of HMAS Yarra (II) displayed extraordinary gallantry in the face of overwhelming odds, which is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Royal Australian Navy.