War comes to Australia - the Japanese attack on Sydney and Newcastle [AH014]

[@fordprefect80]

My grandmother observed the sub attack on Newcastle, she lived on Tyrrell Street at the time. Probably ignored instructions to stay indoors and I'd say many others did the same.

[@aushistory]

A personal connection! I'm sure many ignored warnings and went to have a look.

[@davidhynd4435]

I knew that we had Japanese subs come into Sydney Harbour, but I didn't realise that there was any loss of life, other than the Japanese themselves. I'm impressed that we showed such respect to the Japanese submariners. I wonder how likely it is that Australian submariners would have been shown similar respect, were the shoe to be on the other foot? War, such a stupid waste of life and infrastructure!

[@theharper1]

Did you know that the base at Garden Island is now called HMAS Kuttabul in memory of those who were killed that night? It was very lucky that there wasn't more loss of life from the shelling of the Eastern Suburbs. My parents lived in the area at the time, and a shop nearby was hit.

[@davethom73]

I remember my father telling us kids about that night, he was an air raid warden in Mosman.

[@lindsaybrown7357]

My wife has a small piece (section of pipe work) of one of these submarines with a tag attached, distributed by the government as souvenirs to raise funds for the war effort. She's planning to donate it to the Aust War Memorial.

[@towgod7985]

I've not heard about this attack before, but that's not surprising as we don't get anything but domestic history taught in school. Very interesting video I will have to look into some more. Thanks much. Cheers frm Hamilton, Ont.

[@toma-st1jy]

Nice video Helped with my mini SA.

[@richsmith7200]

Our schools are a joke here. Few realize how close Australia was to imminent danger from the Japanese. Well always be with Australia.

[@ItsJustLiam]

yeah this crazy. never heard this once

[@greygalah]

The XO of USS Chicago, realising the danger to his ship at dock, ordered the ship to cast off rather than be a sitting duck. The captain returned from a dinner party held at the British admiral in charge of security of Sydney Harbour (how times have changed). Rear Admiral Muirhead-Gould was under the influence and made disparaging remarks about the Australians who had set off the alarm and fired on the subs, suggesting they were seeing pirates. Captain Howard Bode of the Chicago was also pissed and countermanded the order to set sail. Hence the sub fired on Chicago and the tragedy of the Kuttabul occurred. It was Muirhead-Gould who, being a colonel blimp type, wanted to show Imperial Japan the courtesy of a military funeral for their sailors in the hope of affording better treatment of POWs. Of course, it had zero effect. At the time, he was severely criticised in Australia. Later, at the Battle of Savo Island in the Solomon Islands, Bode displayed extreme incompetence (perhaps even cowardice) in a night battle that resulted in the loss of HMAS Canberra as well as many US ships. He avoided the findings of an inquiry into his actions by swallowing a bullet in Panama City where he had been sent on gardening leave. The US followed up by naming one of their ships the USS Canberra. And, thus, in the early years of WW2, there were utter dead wood floating around in command.

[@AshleyFarmer-e2s]

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