Commando who found the KRAIT visits Bay
Date1982
Object numberANMS1285[011]
NameNewspaper clipping
MediumPaper based material
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Helen Stevenson
DescriptionAn article published in the Hervey Bay, Fraser Island Sun on 1 October, 1982. Titled 'Commando who found the KRAIT visits Bay' the article tells the story of John Walne who had been the superintendent of police in Sabah in 1952 when the KRAIT was rediscovered being used by a local saw miller.
HistoryDespite her extraordinary success in Operation Jaywick, after the war the vessel KRAIT was back in Borneo and being used in what was suspected to be illegal trade. The whereabouts of the little vessel were unknown until 1952/1953 when according to John Walne, the then superintendent of police in Sabah, was informed that KRAIT was still operating and being used to haul logs by a local businessman, Mr Barrett. Barrett had renamed the vessel PENGANG.
After managing to verify the identity of KRAIT, super intendant Walne contacted the 'Z' Special Unit in Australia and they began in earnest to raise awareness and funds to purchase the vessel and bring it back to Australia. This process took ten years and in 1962 Walne organised a meeting with Barret and the Governor General of Borneo. Sir William Goode who negotiated the purchase of KRAIT and back in Australia a public appeal was put out for donations to return the vessel back to Australia. This milestone was achieved in 1964 when KRAIT arrived in Sydney Harbour to a hero's welcome.
SignificanceThe KRAIT has a long history of service in Australia and was very successful in WWII in an attack on Singapore Harbour known as Operation Jaywick. Despite its small size and age, KRAIT came to symbolise the extraordinary courage and resilience that characterised much of Australia's involvement in the war in the Pacific.