'Heroic little ship in dire straits'
Datec 1980
Object numberANMS1285[026]
NameNewspaper clipping
MediumInk on paper
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Helen Stevenson
DescriptionA newsaper article titled 'Heroic little ship in dire straits'. The article relates to the need for donations to the Krait Appeal Fund to hopefully raise $250 000 to restore the KRAIT.
The KRAIT at this stage was "used for training the public in safe boating courses: boat handling; coastal navigation and is always given pride of place during Royal visits. She is inspected by school history classes; used by the scouts, sea cadets, cubs and guides. Other roups that use the KRAIT are Sydney Technical College, Rotary, Lions, Legacy, Apex and senior citizens clubs, interstate company sales seminars and private trippers. KRAIT is much more than just a little wooden ship - she is a dedicated and operational floating memorial, manned and maintained by volunteers."
HistoryOriginally a fishing vessel named KOFUKU MARU, KRAIT was built in 1934 in Japan and collected fish from fishermen and ports around the Rhio Archipelago, transporting the catch to markets in Singapore.
In early World War II the vessel was confined to port and was used by Captain Bill Reynolds to evacuate hundreds of civilians to Sumatra and rescue survivors of ships sunk along the coastline of Sumatra and Malaya. It was renamed KRAIT, a deadly species of snake, and soon was central to the highly successful covert Operation Jaywick in September 1943. Under the cover of darkness and disguised as a Japanese fishing vessel, it took 14 men, 5 British and 9 Australian commandos and Z Special Force personnel, to within 20 miles of Japanese occupied Singapore undetected. Three pairs of operatives in folboats (folding canoes) used limpet mines to blow up and damage seven Japanese tankers and freighters, totalling 37,000 tonnes. A few days later the raiders and KRAIT met the rendezvous point successfully and all members of the unit were returned safely. It was commissioned HMAS KRAIT in 1944.
After the war KRAIT was sold to a British saw miller for the Borneo timber trade and was renamed PEDANG (Sword). In the late 1950s two Australians, in Borneo for a business trip, recognised the vessel and set up a public appeal and trust fund to purchase the vessel. It returned to Australia in 1964 and was operated by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol. In 1985 it was transferred to the Australian War Memorial and restoration work was completed by the Sydney Maritime Museum to return it to its wartime appearance. It has been on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum since 1988 and is the focal point for an annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
In July 2011 one of the last surviving members of Operation Jaywick, RAN Leading Telegraphist Horace "Horrie" Stewart Young passed away.Significance"KRAIT is much more than just a little wooden ship. It is not what she is but what she has done to earn herself a place in the history of Australia.She is a dedicated Floating Memorial, a floating legend to perpetuate the memory of those who served in her and is a reminder to all Australians of the courage and service given by many in the building of our traditions. She singularly belongs to Australia and to Australians and forms part of our history."