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Training |
Recruitment |
Training in Australia
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Voyage
to Singapore |
Training in Malaya
Departed Sydney
29/10/1941; arrived Singapore 20/11/1941
Troopship to
Singapore
Due to the threat of Japan entering the
war, more troops were being sent to Singapore in late 1941. Zealandia departed
Sydney on 29/10/1941, escorted by HMAS Adelaide to the Great
Australian Bight. Off Albany, HMAS Sydney took over as escort and
her and Zealandia continued to Fremantle. They departed on 11/11/1941 and
headed north.
On 17/11/1941 in the Sunda Strait, HMS
Durban took over as the escort and the two ships proceeded to
Singapore, arriving there on 20/11/1941. Meanwhile, HMAS Sydney
had headed back towards Fremantle, but just two
days later was sunk by the German raider Kormoran.
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Starboard side view of the merchant vessel Zealandia, which
was sunk on 19/2/1942 during a Japanese air raid on the Darwin area.
Australian War Memorial - ID No. 043177 |
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Zealandia on fire in Darwin harbour after receiving a direct hit
during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin. This photograph was
taken from HMAS Swan by a member of the crew.
Australian War Memorial - ID No.
P01214.003 |
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After dropping off her troops in
Singapore, Zealandia departed there in late November 1941, and headed
straight for Darwin. She then made several trips carrying troops to New
Guinea, and taking evacuees from Darwin to Sydney. She arrived
back in Darwin on 6/2/1942 and was still in port when Japanese aircraft
attacked the town on 19/2/1942. Zealandia was hit, caught fire
and later sank in Darwin harbour.
(Source: Across the
Sea to War; NAA: B883 Service Record NX73009)
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