Capn Waller An Perth
Captain Waller & Perth
The Japanese navy they came south,
Invaded Indonesia, in 1942
Cruiser Perth of 6 inch guns,
Captain Hector Waller was to choose her,
De Ruyter, Java , Perth and the 8 inch guns of USS. Houston,
They fought battles against overwhelming odds,
Dodged 5 torpedo attacks till sunk were the 2 Dutch cruisers,
Waller took Houston with him, back to Indonesia,
Reload refuel to fight again, fought to the death, not losers,
These 2 game ships attacked the invasion fleet,
With guns a bloody blazing, fired torpedoes and sunk,
Some Transports , damaged Cruisers , quite amazing,
point blank at Destroyers chasing,
till one of a hundred torpedoes hit,
And Perth went down still racing,
Houston she sank about 20 minutes later,
Japanese thought they fought a Battleship,
So much damage it was crazy.
Don Johnson
http://www.gunplot.net/perthww2/Perth.htm
Captain Waller continued on at half speed in an effort to stop the ship taking more men with her when she finally went. Then her bows dipped gently down, her stern raised out of the water, only one of her four screws still turning. It was said she did not sink but 'steamed out'. Her much loved Captain last seen in the glare of the flames, on the bridge, giving orders.
Houston, after a similarly heroic performance also went down. Perth's total complement was 681. Of these 353 were lost in action, 4 died ashore and 324 were captured, of these 106 died whilst prisoners of war 53 of them on the infamous Burma-Siam railway.
In all the Japanese had lost fifteen ships and could not believe that a Battleship was not present. A report in the Syonan Times in Japan in 1942 read - In the terrific battle in Sunda Strait many ships on both sides were sunk. It must be remembered, however, that the lighter Nipponese ships were fighting a superior force which included a battleship".The Japan Times made a similar admission.
Commemoration $5 coin minted by the Australian mint to mark the 60th. Anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait.
In 2002, the Royal Australian Mint produced a special $5 coin depicting both Perth and Houston, designed to remember the 60th. Anniversary of their sacrifice, and sinking, at the Battle of Sunda Strait in 1942.
Copyright © Don Johnson | Year Posted 2011
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