ON THIS DAY - Shoalhaven Holidays

- On This Day -
11 1912 The Government Savings Bank of NSW shifted from its agency in
the Nowra Post office to a new site in Junction Street.
NOVEMBER 5
34 1878 Tuesday 5th November. Calamia of Nowra, trained by
32 Etienne De Mestre wins the Melbourne Cup.
33 This was the fourth horse and fifth win for the Shoalhaven. Calamia
won an easy victory (2 lengths) from Tom Kirk and Wasay (a further
length behind). First prize was £1,790, the crowd was 80,000 and
there were 30 starters. Calamia started at 10/1 and carried 8 stone
2 lbs. The winning time was 3 minutes 35¾ seconds.
36 1940 In heavy seas Captain Fegen, in His Majest’s Armed Merchant
Cruiser JERVIS BAY, was escorting thirty one merchantmen in an
eastbound convoy across the Atlantic. At about 1700 hours the
convoy was attacked by the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL
SCHEER.
In an endeavour to protect the convoy, which had been ordered to
scatter, The JERVIS BAY went into action. Totally out gunned her
steering gear was hit early on and in an hour all guns were out of
action. The ship was on fire. About two hours after the engagement
had ended she sank, still with her colours flying.
Through her action, and that of the BEAVERFORD, the German
raider was only able to sink six of the thirty one ships.
Of the JERVIS BAY’S complement 180 were lost, while the 65
survivors owed their lives to the gallant action of a Swedish cargo
ship, the BROSTROM owned STUREHOLM, which turned back after
dark to look for them.
His action in, once sighting the powerful German warship, drawing
clear of the convoy and making straight for the enemy, and in so
doing bringing his ship between the raider and her prey allowed them
to scatter and escape. Crippled, in flames, unable to reply fire for
nearly an hour the JERVIS BAY held the German’s fire.
For this Captain Fogarty Fegen was awarded the Victoria Cross “for
valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the
many ships it was his duty to protect.”
4 1951 Clarkson Oval, HMAS Albatross, was named after Lieutenant Keith E
Clarkson, DFM, RAN, who died on this day when his aircraft was
shot down over the Han River, Korea.
36 1990 Captain D.J. Ramsay officially opened the Royal Australian Naval
College Historical Collection at HMAS CRESWELL to coincide with
the 50 th Anniversary of the sinking of the JERVIS BAY.
66