Rupert Cowper Robison DSC, RAN
| Born | 29 May 1909 | Springwood, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Died | 7 Jun 1999 | (90) | Rozelle, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Ranks
Retired: 21 Aug 1944 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Rupert Cowper Robison, RAN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMAS Stuart (D 00) | Lt. | Destroyer | 26 Sep 1940 | 28 Sep 1940 |
| HMAS Stuart (D 00) | Lt. | Destroyer | 7 Oct 1940 | 10 Jan 1941 |
| HMAS Stuart (D 00) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 22 Aug 1941 | 4 Jan 1942 |
| HMAS Voyager (D 31) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 6 Jan 1942 | 25 Sep 1942 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMAS Stuart (D 00)
15 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Stuart (Lt. R.C. Robison, RAN) commenced refit at the Malta Dockyard. (1)
26 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During her refit, HMAS Stuart (Lt. R.C. Robison, RAN), is docked in No.2 Dock at the Malta Dockyard. (2)
17 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Stuart (Lt. R.C. Robison, RAN) is undocked. (3)
4 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Stuart (Lt. R.C. Robison, RAN) completed her refit at Malta. She conducted trials off Malta on this day. (4)
8 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and destroyer HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) departed Malta to join the Mediterranean Fleet at sea. (4)
10 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2050B/10, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta. En-route they had been with the Mediterranean Fleet briefly. (5)
22 Aug 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Alexandria for Port Said and eventually Australia. She could only proceed on her starboard engine. (6)
23 Aug 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Port Said from Alexandria. She then transited the Suez Canal southbound and arrived at Port Tewfik later the same day. (6)
24 Aug 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Port Tewfik for Aden. (6)
27 Aug 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Aden from Port Tewfik. (6)
28 Aug 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Aden for Colombo. (6)
4 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Colombo from Aden. (7)
7 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Colombo for Singapore. (7)
11 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Singapore from Colombo. (7)
12 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Singapore for Batavia. (7)
14 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Batavia from Singapore. En-route shadowing exercises had been carried out with RAF aircraft and also with Dutch airforce aircraft. Also HMAS Stuart was 'intercepted and shadowed' by the Dutch destroyer HrMs Van Nes (Lt.Cdr. C.A. Lagaay, RNN). (7)
16 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Batavia for Fremantle. (7)
21 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from Batavia. (7)
22 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) departed Fremantle for Melbourne. (7)
27 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) arrived at Williamstown (Melbourne) from Fremantle. (7)
29 Sep 1941
HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison, RAN) proceeded from Williamstown to Victoria Dock where she commenced a major refit. (7)
Destroyer HMAS Voyager (D 31)
3 Mar 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) completed her refit at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard at Sydney although there was still some unfinished work. (8)
13 Mar 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted basin trials at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard. (8)
18 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted D/G trials at Sydney. (8)
21 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted D/G trials at Sydney. (8)
30 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) proceeded from Sydney to Jervis Bay to commence a work-up period there. (8)
31 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises at Jervis Bay. (8)
1 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises with aircraft and gunnery exercises at Jervis Bay. (9)
2 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises with aircraft, high speed manoeuvering exercises and gunnery exercises at Jervis Bay. (9)
4 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Jervis Bay for Sydney. En-route gunnery and torpedo firing exercises were carried out. She also carried out a night A/S patrol. (9)
5 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Garden Island, Sydney from Jervis Bay. (9)
6 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) departed Sydney for Fremantle. She was escorted out by the destroyers HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) and USS John D. Edwards (Lt. W.J. Giles, Jr., USN).
HMAS Voyager had however to return to Sydney soon after sailing due to her steering engine malfunctioning. The ship had to be steering by using the main engines. (9)
13 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises at Sydney. (9)
15 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) proceeded to the Morts Dock Shipyard where she was docked for repairs to her Asdic installation. (9)
16 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) is undocked. (9)
19 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Sydney escorting the troopship Queen Elizabeth (British, 83673 GRT, built 1939).
She parted company with the troopship the following day. (9)
21 Apr 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Williamstown, Melbourne.
She departed again later the same day escorting the troopship President Coolidge (American, 21936 GRT, built 1931).
Rendezvous was made on 23 April 1942 with HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) which took over the escort of the troopship. (9)
23 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Sydney from escort duty. (9)
24 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) had a quick docking at the Morts Dock Shipyard for repairs to the rope guards on one of the propeller shafts. (9)
27 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Sydney for Melbourne. (9)
28 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Melbourne from Sydney. (9)
30 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Melbourne for Fremantle.
At Melbourne Oerlikon AA guns had been fitted. (9)
5 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Albany as she had not enough fuel to make it to Fremantle. (10)
10 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Albany with USS Seal (Lt.Cdr. K.C. Hurd, USN). (10)
11 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Albany for Fremantle. She was escorting the transport USS Gold Star. (10)
13 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) and USS Gold Star arrived at Fremantle from Albany. (10)
17 May 1942
Convoy SU 4D.
This convoy departed Fremantle on 17 May 1942.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Duntroon (British, 10346 GRT, built 1935), Felix Roussel (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930) and Willard A. Holbrook (American, 14812 GRT, built 1921).
On departure from Fremantle the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser USS Phoenix (Capt. H.E. Fischer, USN) and the destroyer HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN).
The Duntroon was delayed by engine trouble and sailed around two hours later to overtake and join the convoy at sea which she did around 0135H/18.
Around 1600H/19, HMAS Voyager parted company with the convoy in position 35°20'S, 120°00'E. She was to return to Fremantle.
Around 0500HI/20, the convoy was dispersed. USS Phoenix then set course to return to Fremantle.
(11)
20 May 1942
Around 1530H/20, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) returned to Fremantle from convoy escort duty. She then commenced boiler cleaning which was completed on the 28th. (10)
29 May 1942
The destroyers HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with the submarine USS Sculpin (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Chappell).
On completion of the exercises the destroyers set course for Geraldton. (10)
30 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Gerlandton from Fremantle. (10)
1 Jun 1942
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Geraldton for exercises but shortly after departure they were informed that a strange ship escorted by two destroyers had been spotted by aircraft. The destroyers worked up to full speed to intercept and investigate but later a signal was received that there was one destroyer and that she had been identified as USS Chields (Lt.Cdr. F. O'Beirne, USN) en-route from Exmouth Bay to Fremantle. The movements of this ship had been unknown to the local naval command.
The destroyers then return to Geraldton. HMAS Voyager had one engine out of action due to her starboard condenser outlet being blocked by thick seaweed. which was subsequently removed. (12)
2 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises off Geraldton. (12)
4 Jun 1942
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN), HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) and HMAS Geraldton (Cdr.(Retd.) H.M. Harris, RNR) conducted exercises off Geraldton.
On completion of the exercises HMAS Stuart proceeded to Fremantle. (12)
5 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Geraldton for Fremantle. (12)
6 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from Geraldton. (12)
9 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted compass swing trials off Fremantle. (12)
10 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (12)
11 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Seadragon (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Ferrall, USN). (12)
12 Jun 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted gunnery exrcises off Fremantle. These were interrupted mid-afternoon by a report that an unidentified submarine had been sighted but a search of the area produced no results.
HMAS Voyager returned to Fremantle the following morning. (12)
18 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (12)
24 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (12)
25 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted exercises off Fremantle with local shore batteries. (12)
26 Jun 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Searaven (Lt.Cdr. H. Cassedy). (12)
27 Jun 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Searaven (Lt.Cdr. H. Cassedy). (12)
2 Jul 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) and HMAS Burnie (T/Lt. T. Christy, RANR(S)) conducted exercises off Fremantle.
In the evening HMAS Voyager conducted exercises with the local defences. (13)
4 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the tanker USS Trinity (T/Capt. W. Hibbs, USN) well to the westward of Cape Leeuwin.
Rendezvous was effected around 1530H/6, in very heavy weather, in position 34°25'S, 108°12'E. Commenced escorting the tanker to Albany.
Around 1030H/9, they arrived at Albany. HMAS Voyager had sustained engine room and weather damage in the rough seas. Repairs were taken in hand by the ships staff with assistance from USS Holland (T/Capt. P.E. Pendelton, USN).
13 Jul 1942
'Schooner' convoy.
This convoy departed Colombo on 13 July 1942.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Athlone Castle (British, 25565 GRT, built 1936), City of Canterbury (British, 8331 GRT, built 1922), City of Lille (British, 6588 GRT, built 1928), Clan MacDonald (British, 9653 GRT, built 1939), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dunedin Star (British, 11168 GRT, built 1936), Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1939), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926) and Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918).
On departure from Colombo the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Worcestershire (A/Capt.(Retd.) E.H. Hopkinson, RN), sloops HMIS Jumna (Cdr. J.E.N. Coope, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (Capt. P.A. Mare, RIN) and the corvettes HMS Aster (Lt. W.L. Smith, RNR) and HMS Tulip (Lt.Cdr. A. Wilkinson, RNR).
Around 1845F/14, HMIS Jumna, HMIS Sutlej, HMS Aster and HMS Tulip parted company in position 02°23'N, 80°23'E.
Around 1750F/16, the City of Lille was ordered to proceed independently as she was unable to keep up with the convoy. Position was 06°03'S, 81°34'E.
Around 1330F/19, the light cruiser USS Phoenix (Capt. H.E. Fischer, USN) took over from HMS Gambia in position 17°02'S, 82°24'E. HMS Gambia then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Mauritius.
Around 0715F/20, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. W.L.G. Adams, RN) took over from HMS Worcestershire in position 20°11'S, 83°17'E. HMS Worcestershire then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Mauritius.
Around 0855H/27, the destroyer HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) joined the convoy in position 31°04'S, 112°00'E.
Around 1350H/27, the minesweeper HMIS Madras (Lt. S.G. Karmarkar, RINR) joined the convoy and five minutes later the convoy was split up, in position 31°11'S, 112°16'E, into two sections ' Schooner A ' for Melbourne and ' Schooner B ' for Fremantle.
' Schooner A ' was made up of the transports Athlone Castle, City of Canterbury, Dunedin Star and Martand. They were escorted by USS Phoenix and HMAS Voyager.
' Schooner B ' was made up of the transports Aronda, Clan MacDonald, Devonshire, Ekma, Rajula and Westernland. They were escorted by HMS Kanimbla and HMIS Madras.
' Schooner B ' arrived at Fremantle in the morning of the 28th.
At 1015H/28, in position 33°28'S, 113°48'E, ' Schooner A ' merged with convoy ZK 12 which was coming from Fremantle escorted by the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN). Convoy ZK 12 was made up of the transport Duntroon (10346 GRT, built 1935) and the armed merchant cruisers HMAS Manoora (A/Capt. J.M. Armstrong, RAN) and HMAS Westralia (A/Capt.(Emgy.) H.V. Hudson, OBE, RAN).
Around 1900H/29, in position 36°45'S, 119°48'E, HrMs Tromp and HMAS Voyager parted company with convoy ' Schooner B '. They were to return to Fremantle.
Around 0530K/3, the Athlone Castle, City of Canterbury, Dunedin Star and Martand parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Melbourne.
Around 0715K/5, the destroyer HMAS Arunta (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN) joined the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Sydney around 1630K/5.
19 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) commenced boiler cleaning at Fremantle. This was completed on the 25th. (13)
27 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400H/26, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the ' Schooner ' Convoy.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' 'Schooner' convoy ' for 13 July 1942.] (13)
31 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700H/31, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from convoy escort duty. (13)
31 Jul 1942
Convoy Schooner B '.
This convoy departed Fremantle on 31 July 1942.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Clan MacDonald (British, 9653 GRT, built 1939), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Elisabeth Bakke (Norwegian, 5450 GRT, built 1937), Kaituna (British, 4914 GRT, built 1938), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926) and Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918).
On departure from Fremantle the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. W.L.G. Adams, RN), destroyer HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) and the minesweeper HMAS Wollongong (T/Lt. G.A. Keith, RANR(S)). HMAS Wollongong most likely was with the convoy only for a short time.
Around 1900H/2, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Voyager parted company with the convoy to return to Fremantle.
The Elisabeth Bakke arrived at Adelaide on 5 August 1942 after having been detached from the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Melbourne on 7 August 1942. It appears that the Westernland proceeded to Sydney independently.
4 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800H/4, HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from convoy escort duty. (14)
10 Aug 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Seal (T/Cdr. K.C. Hurd, USN).
On completion of the exercises HMAS Voyager anchored in Gage Roads. During the night, in a gale, she dragged her anchor and then got underway. She returned to Fremantle early the following morning. (15)
14 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1750H/14, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Fremantle for Darwin. (15)
15 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0953H/15, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Geraldton due to a breakdown of her steering engine.
After repairs had been completed, and the ship had fuelled to capacity, taken on board fresh water and fresh stores she departed around 1330H/15 to continue her passage to Darwin. (15)
20 Aug 1942
around 0800H/20, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Darwin. She had only 25 tons of fuel remaining and also some defects in the engine room had developed for which repairs were undertaken. (15)
23 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the morning, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) got underway during a Japanese air raid in the Darwin area. (15)
24 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted an A/S patrol in the approaches to Darwin. (15)
25 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted an A/S patrol in the approaches to Darwin. (15)
26 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted an A/S patrol in the approaches to Darwin. (15)
27 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted an A/S patrol in the approaches to Darwin. (15)
28 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) conducted an A/S patrol in the approaches to Darwin. (15)
30 Aug 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Darwin for Geraldton and then onwards to Fremantle.
[No report of proceedings is available for September 1942, so some details for this month might be missing.] (15)
4 Sep 1942
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from Darwin. Apparently she had proceeded directly to Fremantle. (16)
7 Sep 1942
The light cruisers HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNN), armed merchant cruisers HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. W.L.G. Adams, RN), HMAS Manoora (A/Capt. J.M. Armstrong, RAN) and the destroyer HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Fremantle escorting the combined convoys US 16 and US 17.
[For more info on these convoys see the event ' Convoys US 16 and US 17 ' for 23 August 1942.] (17)
8 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) returned to Fremantle from convoy escort duty. (18)
14 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Fremantle for Darwin via Geraldton. (18)
15 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Geraldton from Fremantle. She arrived with a burnt out thrust bearing for which repairs were undertaken which were estimated to take two days. (18)
16 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With the repairs completed, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN), departed Geraldton for Darwin. (18)
20 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Darwin from Geraldton. (19)
22 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) departed Darwin with troops and supplies for Timor.
23 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1830H/23, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) arrived at Betano Bay. She dropped anchor and started to disembark the troops and the supplies. She had anchored not in an ideal position and it was decided to hoist anchor and re-position the ship. While doing so the ship was taken by the current and pushed closer inland. The port propeller could not be started without endangering the boats in which the troops and supplies were being disembarked. Lt.Cdr. Robinson decided to try to swing the ship round by using the starboard shaft and while doing so the ship grounded by the stern. Attemps to get off were futile and by next morning the propellers and shafts were embedded in the sand.
In the afternoon of the 24th, the ship was attacked and damaged by Japanese aircraft.
She was scuttled by her crew early on the 25th after it had been decided that further salvage attempts would be futile.
Sources
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for 26 September to 31 October 1940
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for November 1940
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for December 1940
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for January 1941
- ADM 53/115208 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for January 1941
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for August 1941
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart for September 1941
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for March 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for April 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for May 1942
- Log of USS Phoenix for May 1942 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for May 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for June 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for July 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Adelaide for August 1942 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for August 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager for August 1942
- ADM 199/2574 + War diary Commander Allied Naval Force Western Australia for September 1942
- Commander Allied Naval Force Western Australia for September 1942
- War diary Commander Allied Naval Force Western Australia for September 1942
- ADM 199/2574
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
You can help improve officers Rupert Cowper Robison's page
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this officer.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve his page.