Back in the 80's i was working with the department of defence /Navy as a Mechanical Fitter with a section called support craft group . We were based at Putney on the Parramatta River where we did repair and refit work on all the Navys support vessels up to about 100ft.
It was very common to see boats that needed major repairs being towed up to our wharves , they we always familiar looking so they never drew much attention until oneday a rather strange vessel was being towed up and tied along side our pontoon.
The name on the side " KRAIT " didnt give any of us a clue to what it was or where it was from but a few rumours about its origins made me intrigued enough to find out more. Pre internet then i had to use a library to investigate and found a book called the Heroes . The book told me the story about the Krait which was an old Japanese fishing boat and the Allied forces used it to ferry people away from Singapore when it was being invaded by Japan.
Being Japanese in origin it seemed to avoid Jap plane attention while other boats were sunk on they way to safety on neighboring islands. This didnt go unoticed by Australian Renoylds and Brittish Ivan Lyon who organised to have the old vessel sent to Australia for they had special plans for its use.
Over a year later it was sailed back to Japanese occupied Singapore not with civilians but a crew of secret Z Special Unit comandoes on one of the most daring and successful raids in wartime history.
More to come.
It was very common to see boats that needed major repairs being towed up to our wharves , they we always familiar looking so they never drew much attention until oneday a rather strange vessel was being towed up and tied along side our pontoon.
The name on the side " KRAIT " didnt give any of us a clue to what it was or where it was from but a few rumours about its origins made me intrigued enough to find out more. Pre internet then i had to use a library to investigate and found a book called the Heroes . The book told me the story about the Krait which was an old Japanese fishing boat and the Allied forces used it to ferry people away from Singapore when it was being invaded by Japan.
Being Japanese in origin it seemed to avoid Jap plane attention while other boats were sunk on they way to safety on neighboring islands. This didnt go unoticed by Australian Renoylds and Brittish Ivan Lyon who organised to have the old vessel sent to Australia for they had special plans for its use.
Over a year later it was sailed back to Japanese occupied Singapore not with civilians but a crew of secret Z Special Unit comandoes on one of the most daring and successful raids in wartime history.
More to come.
What's the story Gary 
