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Collection of major typhoon documents relating to Captain Dun

Date1920s-1980s

Object numberANMS1342

NameArchive series

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the family of Burnham Walker Dun

Terms

DescriptionThis collection of 58 documents relate to the major typhoons experienced in the career of Master Mariner Captain Burnham Walker Dun. These documents consist of 24 black and white photographs, 4 newspaper clippings, 2 books, 1 envelope, 1 telegram, 1 document on typhoon warnings, 2 graphs, 10 letters and 1 report relating to Typhoon Wanda (1962); 1 graph and 3 letters relating to Typhoon Polly (1960); 1 weather chart and 1 newspaper clipping relating to Typhoon Amy (1962) and 1 letter relating to Typhoon Marie (1954).HistoryBurnham Walker Dun 1905-1992 began his apprenticeship with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company in 1921 when he was just short of his 16th birthday. After four years in the coastal ships of AUSN he gained his Second Mate's certificate in Sydney and joined the Eastern & Australian Steamship Company (E&A) as Fourth Officer on the TANDA. He served 43 years with this Company sailing to ports between Australia and eastern Asia, retiring in 1967. He gained his Master's Certificate in 1929, at the age of 24. In 1942, while he was Chief Officer on the NANKIN, the ship was captured by the German raider THOR. He spent the rest of the war with the surviving crew labouring in Japanese POW camps. He returned to Australia in poor health and spent years trying to get compensation. Although he was an Australian resident employed by an Australian company (managing agents Macdonald Hamilton) the ship was British owned and registered, and he obtained only limited compensation. He went back to sea with E&A in 1946, had his first permanent command in 1947 on the second NANKIN, and served in the company's ships EASTERN, NELLORE, ARAFURA and ARAMAC until he retired. During this time he carried cargo regularly to Japan, where he established friendly relationships with his former captors. During his career he made a number of rescues at sea and survived several severe typhoons. On retirement, he became a Nautical Assessor and took part in marine Courts of Enquiry, including the enquiry into the collapse of the Tasman Bridge, caused by the cargo ship LAKE ILLAWARRA striking one of the bridge's piers.