The Top Ender Magazine October November 2020 Edition

Know Darwin
4-inch Deck Gun of USS Peary
One of USS Peary's 4-inch
deck guns forms the memorial
to the ship on the esplanade
in Darwin.
This gun was salvaged by Carl
Atkinson in the 1950s, and now points
towards the Peary's grave. Further salvage
of the Peary took place between
1959 and 1960 by the Fujita Salvage
Company from Japan. Mr Ryugo Fujita
later gave 77 bronze crosses manufactured
from bronze his company
had salvaged from SS Zealandia to
the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church,
which is in Smith Street. The crosses
are attached to the pews, the pulpit
and communion rails to this day.
This plaque in the accompanying
photograph can be found on the base
of the gun (cover photo).
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