Remembrance Day KRAIT Memorial Service
Date2010
Object number00026798
NameOrder of service
MediumPaper, ink
DimensionsOverall (Closed): 210 x 148 mm
Overall (Open): 210 x 297 mm
Overall (Open): 210 x 297 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionOrder of service for the Remembrance Day ceremony held at ex-HMAS vessel KRAIT, berthed at the Australian National Maritime Museum. KRAIT was a Japanese fishing vessel built in 1934 located in Singapore. In World War II under allied command it was central to the highly successful covert Operation Jaywick in which British and Australian commandos blew up and damaged seven Japanese tankers and freighters in the port of Singapore.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.
SignificanceThe traditions of the navy are reflected in the many ceremonial events associated with the life of a ship. KRAIT, on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum, was central to the highly successful Operation Jaywick in World War II. This order of service is indicative of the strong role of ceremony in naval life.
