Katoomba (HMT K)

 

 

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Intercommand Movement from Eastern Command to Western Command for Katoomba

More 8th Division personnel, including over 600 members of the 2/15 Field Regiment, were on board Katoomba when she sailed from Sydney on 29/7/1941. Another 8th Div. group, an advance party of the 27th Brigade, travelled by train from Bathurst to Western Australia to join the convoy. At Fremantle, both groups embarked HMT DD (Sibajak)  for the voyage to Singapore.

Some files at the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives of Australia include information about the number of troops that travelled to Western Australia on board Katoomba. Instructions for Convoys, and troop movements, were subject to last minute changes, so there are some differences in the counts from the various source documents.

The following troops were listed for movement by train, from Liverpool to Pyrmont:

Serial No. Unit   All Ranks from Liverpool to Pyrmont
No.1 Special 2/15 Field Regiment Detachment 330 on D15
depart 1128hrs
On D15
arrive 1230hrs
           
No.2 Special 2/15 Field Regiment Detachment 289 on D15
depart 1228hrs
On D15
arrive 1330hrs
  8 Division Signals (Detachment) Field Regiment Section 28    
  84 LAD (Light Aid Detachment)   13    
Total     660    

(Source: NAA: MP729/7, 26/421/51 Machine guns and ammunition for transports of conveys US 11A and US 11B)

The following troops were listed for embarkation on Katoomba for the voyage from Sydney to Freemantle:

Serial No. Unit   Officers WO's & Sgt.s Cpls & Ptes. Total Location Remarks
61529 2/15 Field Regiment & 1st Reinforcements   39 46 552 637 Holdsworthy

Embark at Sydney on D15

Transfer to HMT DD (Sibajak) on arrival at Fremantle, as arranged by Western Command

  less Ship's Staff and Unit Advance Party proceeding overland (approx.)   - - -18 -18 Holdsworthy
Total           619  
               
61539 8 Division Signals (Detachment) Field Regiment Section 1 1 26 28 Holdsworthy
61530 84 LAD (Light Aid Detachment)   1 1 11 13 Holdsworthy
Total           660  
               
  RAAF   - - 22 22 -
  RNZN   1 1 31 33 -
Total     42 49 624 715    

(Source: NAA: MP729/7, 26/421/51 Machine guns and ammunition for transports of conveys US 11A and US 11B)

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Last updated 14/02/2023