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Anzac Day 2022: Remarkable story of a WA man’s heroics following sinking of HMAS Armidale made public

Phil HickeyThe West Australian
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The actions of Engine Room Artificer Leslie Higgins’ (left) and David Richards (right) following the sinking of HMAS Armidale in 1942 are becoming more public.
Camera IconThe actions of Engine Room Artificer Leslie Higgins’ (left) and David Richards (right) following the sinking of HMAS Armidale in 1942 are becoming more public. Credit: The West Australian

The remarkable story of a WA man’s heroics and ingenuity following the sinking of HMAS Armidale in 1942 at the height of WWII is slowly becoming more public — and for good reason.

The actions of Engine Room Artificer Leslie Higgins and how he and many other men managed to flee to safety in a motorboat soon after Japanese aircraft attacked and sank HMAS Armidale in the Timor Sea on December 1, 1942 is the stuff of legend.

Higgins’ actions in the wake of the vessel being sunk – which claimed the lives of about 100 men — were recently detailed in a newsletter compiled by the Perth-based Remembering HMAS Armidale Association.

It revealed how Higgins was instrumental in getting the boat — which had survived the Japanese machine-gun and torpedo attack — working, so he and others could flee to safety.

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Higgins managed to rebuild the boat’s motor with a tool fashioned from a can opener, silver paper from a cigarette packet and some cardboard.
Camera IconHiggins managed to rebuild the boat’s motor with a tool fashioned from a can opener, silver paper from a cigarette packet and some cardboard. Credit: supplied/supplied

Although badly wounded, covered in black oil and suffering from a broken jaw after jumping into the water amid orders to abandon the ship, Higgins managed to rebuild the boat’s motor with a tool fashioned from a can opener, silver paper from a cigarette packet and some cardboard.

Once the motorboat was running he, the captain, Lt-Cdr David Richards and about 20 other men — many of whom were also wounded — headed to an area north of Bathurst Island in a bid to be spotted by Allied forces.

Somehow, Higgins and his colleagues kept the boat moving despite the limited amount of petrol.

When that finally ran out they used lubrication oil from the carburettor and ran the motor as a diesel engine.

An informal group portrait of members from HMAS Armidale.
Camera IconAn informal group portrait of members from HMAS Armidale. Credit: AWM P03773.003/supplied

Every time the engine stopped working, the exhausted crew would row until Higgins was able to get it going again.

Finally, after five days and 160 nautical miles Higgins and his heroic mates were sighted by an RAAF plane and were rescued the following day.

Higgins, who had achine-gun wounds to both legs and a shattered hip, spent five weeks in a Darwin hospital.

The Bathurst class Corvette, HMAS Armidale, in Port Moresby harbour, after successfully convoying troopships and supply vessels from Australia.
Camera IconThe Bathurst class Corvette, HMAS Armidale, in Port Moresby harbour, after successfully convoying troopships and supply vessels from Australia. Credit: AWM 026612/supplied

His nephew, Alan, who spent 21 years in the Royal Australian Navy, first spoke about his uncle’s heroics at a Kings Park memorial service in 2020.

He said his uncle — one of 14 children — was a very private person who did not discuss the war in great detail.

“Being an ex-serviceman myself, I am sure that Anzac Day meant a lot to Les and he got to remember his many mates he lost on Armidale,” he said.

“Mateship among ex-servicemen is a very strong bond that never ends until they take their last breath.”

Teddy Sheean was awarded a Victoria Cross — eight decades after his actions of bravery in 1942.
Camera IconTeddy Sheean was awarded a Victoria Cross — eight decades after his actions of bravery in 1942. Credit: Supplied

HMAS Armidale was further preserved in Australian history in 2020 when war hero Teddy Sheean was awarded a Victoria Cross — eight decades after his actions of bravery in 1942.

The Tasmania-born farm labourer turned sailor was just 18 years old when he defended the RAN vessel as it came under attack from the Japanese.

Aiming his gun towards approaching aircraft to protect escaping navy mates, the youngest man on HMAS Armidale ultimately went down with the ship.

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