Gilbert Sutherland Gordon, RAN
| Born | 23 Mar 1914 | Moonee Pounds, Victoria, Australia |
 | Ranks
Retired: 8 Dec 1964 Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Gilbert Sutherland Gordon, RAN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMAS Castlemaine (J 244) | Lt. | Minesweeper | 23 Jun 1944 | Nov 1944 |
| HMAS Vendetta (D 69) | Lt. | Destroyer | 11 Nov 1944 | 31 May 1945 |
Career information
Transferred to the Emergency List 9 July 1947.Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMAS Vendetta (D 69)
19 Nov 1944
Around 1500K/19, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Madang for Aitape where she arrived around 0840K/20.
While en-route she had been ordered to search for the crew of a downed aircraft in position 03°42'S, 145°00'E. She reached the area around 1945K/19 and commenced searching the area. Later in the search she used starshell to illuminate the area. The search was abandoned around 2240K/19 not having find any trace of the missing aircraft and its crew. (1)
20 Nov 1944
Around 0910K/20, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Aitape for Humboldt Bay where she anchored around 1815K/20 after having fuelled. (1)
21 Nov 1944
Around 1800K/21, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Humboldt Bay for Sorido, Biak with a short stopover at Mios Woendi.
She arrived at Sorido in the afternoon of 23 November 1944. (1)
26 Nov 1944
Around 1800I/25, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Sorido, Biak for Morotai. She was escorting the gasoline tanker USS Elkhorn (2762 GRT, built 1944) (Lt. T.A. Norris, USNR).
They arrived at Morotai around 0900I/27 and departed again, after the USS Elkhorn had discharged her cargo, around 0100I/28.
They arrived at Sorido around 1500I/29. HMAS Vendetta then continued on to Mios Woendi where she arrived around 1700I/29. After fuelling at Mios Woendi, HMAS Vendetta returned to Sorido anchorage around 0800I/30. (1)
3 Dec 1944
Around 0600I/3, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Sorido to make rendezvous off Scharnhorst Point [This is in approximately 05°58 S, 147°27'E] with USS Griffin (T/Capt. J.F. Madden, USN) around 1100I/5.
They arrived at Mios Woendi around 0700I/8. (2)
10 Dec 1944
Around 0900I/10, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi for Sorido where she picked up her sailing orders. She then made rendezvous around 1300I/10 with the troopship General Harry Taylor (American, 12420 GRT, built 1944) which was en-route to Morotai.
They arrived at Morotai around 0740I/12.
Around 1700I/12, The troopship departed Morotai for Hollandia. She was escorted by HMAS Vendetta as far as Mios Woendi. (2)
14 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600I/14, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) arrived at Mios Woendi from escort duty. (2)
18 Dec 1944
Around 1300I/18, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi escorting the submarine USS Stingray (T/Cdr. H.F. Stoner, USN) to position 01°15'N, 134°40'E.
They parted company around 1030I/19. HMAS Vendetta then set course to make rendezvous with the motor torpedo boat tender USS Acontius () and a group of 15 motor torpedo boats. [The report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta gives the number of motor torpedo boats as 17 but this seems to be incorrect.]
Around 1300I/19, when 37 nautical miles to the west of the intended route of USS Acontius, 14 [The report of proceedings gives the number 16, but this must be incorrect] motor torpedo boats were sighted. They reported that they had not sighted the Acontius since leaving Mios Woendi around 1600I/18.
Around 1440I/19, USS Acontius and the 15th motor torpedo boat were sighted. The other motor torpedo boats had meanwhile continued on independently and contact was not regained.
HMAS Vendetta, USS Acontius and the single motor torpedo boat arrived at Palau around 1200I/21. Five hours later the other motor torpedo boats also arrived.
The motor torpedo boats were from Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 31 and were the following; PT-453, PT-454, PT-455, PT-462, PT-463, PT-464, PT-465, PT-466, PT-467, PT-468, PT-469, PT-470, PT-471, PT-472 and PT-473. (2)
21 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the afternoon of evening, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN), departed Palau for Mios Woendi where she arrived around 0600I/23. (2)
23 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2145I/23, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi to make rendezvous with the submarine USS Stingray (T/Cdr. H.F. Stoner, USN) in position 01°15'N, 134°40'E.
Rendezvous was effected around 1000I/24 and they arrived around 0840I/25. (2)
27 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300I/27, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi escorting the submarine USS Stingray (T/Cdr. H.F. Stoner, USN) to position 01°15'N, 134°40'E.
They parted company around 0940I/28.
HMAS Vendetta returned to Mios Woendi around 2130I/28. (2)
29 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi for Madang, via Hollandia for a fuel stop there. (2)
31 Dec 1944
Around 1000I/31, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) arrived at Madang from Mios Woendi, via Hollandia.
At Madang she commenced boiler cleaning which was completed on 8 January 1945. (3)
8 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100I/8, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Madang for Aitape.
9 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0530I/9, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Aitape for bombardment duty. She had arrived at Aitape not long before. At Aitape she picked up bombardment liaison staff.
During the bombardment to the east of Aitape in the Matapau / Sowom area a total of 206 4" rounds were fired at three targets. Aircraft assisted in marking the targets and also for spotting duties.
On completion of the bombardment, HMAS Vendetta returned to Aitape.
Around 1100I/9, HMAS Vendetta then departed Aitape for Hollandia where she arrived later the same day.
After topping off with fuel at Hollandia she departed for Mios Woendi around 2030I/9. She arrived at Mios Woendi on the 10th. (4)
11 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300I/11, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi escorting the submarine USS Stingray (T/Cdr. H.F. Stoner, USN) westwards.
HMAS Vendetta returned to Mios Woendi around 0600/13. (4)
12 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1730I/12, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN), which was on A/S patrol off Humboldt Bay, was ordered to provide medical assistance to the transport Edwin T. Meredith (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
At 1825I/12, the ships doctor was transferred to the American transport but he was only able to make out a death certificate as the patient had died in the meantime.
HMAS Vendetta resumed the A/S patrol around 1900I/12. (5)
14 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy BG 510.
This convoy departed Sorido, Biak around 1900I/14.
It was made up of the following ships; Edwin Markham (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), El Morro (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1944) and Ludington (American, 8266 GRT, built 1920).
It was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) and the the minesweepers HMAS Gladstone (T/Lt. J.W. Penney, RANR(S)) and HMAS Lithgow (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D. Logan, RAN , Senior Officer).
The convoy arrived at Morotai around 0800I/17. (4)
20 Jan 1945
Convoy GB 729.
This convoy departed Morotai around 1600I/20.
It was made up of the following ships; Edwin Markham (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), El Morro (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1944) and Stanford Newel (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
It was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) and the the minesweepers HMAS Gladstone (T/Lt. J.W. Penney, RANR(S)) and HMAS Lithgow (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D. Logan, RAN , Senior Officer).
At 2148I/22, HMAS Vendetta was detached to search for the crew of an aircraft which had crashed into the sea near the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Biak around 2345I/22.
HMAS Vendetta arrived at Mios Woendi around 0040I/23 having abandoned her search around 2250I/22. (4)
28 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0630I/28, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi for Noemfoor Island where she arrived around 1230I/28.
Personnel and stores were embarked and Vendetta then departed for Morotai where she arrived around 1815I/29. (4)
30 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100I/30, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Morotai for Mios Woendi where she arrived around 1815I/31. (4)
2 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400I/2, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi for Madang via Hollandia.
A short fuel stop was made at Hollandia and she then departed Hollandia to continue the passage to Madang around 1430I/3.
She arrived at Madang around 1315K/4. (6)
5 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000K/5, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Madang for Hansa Bay with Army personnel and stores.
She arrived at Hansa Bay around 1600K/5, where a part of the passengers were disembarked.
Around 1800K/5, HMAS Vendetta anchored off the mouth of the Ramu river where the remainder of the Army personnel were landed.
Around 2130K/5, HMAS Vendetta weighted anchor and proceeded to make rendezvous with the repair vessel HMAS Platyphus (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Menlove, DSO, RANR(S)) and the air-sea rescue vessel HMAS Air Watch (Lt. E.B. Hopkins, RANVR).
Rendezvous was effected around 2350K/5.
Shortly after midnight HMAS Air Watch developed engine trouble and speed had to be reduced but around 1800I/6 she had to be taken in tow by HMAS Platyphus while repairs were being made.
Around 2100I/6, repairs were completed, the tow was slipped and HMAS Air Watch was able to proceed under her own power again.
They arrived at Humboldt Bay around 0700I/7. (6)
7 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1600I/7, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Humboldt Bay escorting HMAS Platyphus (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Menlove, DSO, RANR(S)) to Mios Woendi where they arrived around 0700I/9. (6)
14 Feb 1945
Convoy GI 11.
This convoy departed Humboldt Bay (Hollandia) around 1600I/14.
It was made up of the transports; Clan Lamont (British, 7250 GRT, built 1939), John Lind (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Moses Rogers (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), Ralph A. Cram (American, 7207 GRT, built 1943), Sea Corporal (American, 8040 GRT, built 1944), Simon Bolivar (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and Swartenhondt (Dutch, 5084 GRT, built 1924).
The tankers; Bandelier (American, 10448 GRT, built 1944), E.H. Blum (American, 11638 GRT, built 1941), Joshua Tree (American, 10448 GRT, built 1945) and Pennsylvania Sun (American, 11394 GRT, built 1938).
Small Army cargo ships; FS-175 (American, 573 GRT, built 1944), FS-179 (American, 573 GRT, built 1944), FS-193 (American, 573 GRT, built 1944), FS-258 (American, 560 GRT, built 1944), FS-317 (American, 560 GRT, built 1944) and FS-361 (American, 560 GRT, built 1944).
The following Navy ships were also part of the convoy; destroyer tender USS Dobbin (T/Capt. S.Y. Cutler, USN), attack transport USS Banner (6010 GRT, built 1944) (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Pace, USNR), attack cargo USS Torrance (8172 GRT, built 1944) (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Euerle, USNR), stores ship USS Acubens (7176 GRT, built 1944) (Cdr. E.B. Ellis, USNR) and landing ship LCI(L)-608 (Lt.(jg) D.S. Bays, USNR).
The convoy was escorted by the frigates USS Allentown (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Cardwell, USCG), USS Charlottesville (Lt.Cdr. B.D. Shoemaker, Jr., USCGR), USS Sandusky (Lt.Cdr. T.R. Sargent, 3rd., USCG) and the destroyer escorts USS Pratt (Cdr. R.H. Wanless, USNR) and USS Rombach (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Gill, USN).
At 2000I/15, the Biak section of the convoy departed that place.
It was made up of the transports; Elco Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944) and Robert W. Bingham (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944).
Also part of the Biak section were the Small Army cargo ships; FS-196 (American, 573 GRT, built 1944) and FS-253 (American, 560 GRT, built 1944).
They were escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt. M. Germaine, RANVR, temporary in command)
Around 0100I/16, USS Charlottesville parted company with the main body of the convoy to take over the escort of the Biak section from HMAS Vendetta which she did around 0230I/16. USS Charlottesville rejoined the main body of the convoy with the Biak section around 1245I/16.
The convoy arrived at San Pedro Bay (Leyte) around 1730I/20.
15 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2000I/15, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. M. Germaine, RANVR, temporary in command) departed Sorido, Biak with the Biak section of convoy GI 11.
HMAS Vendetta's Commanding Officer, Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN, was at Mios Woendi to attend a seamanship board so the ships 1st Lt. was in temporary command.
[For more info see the event ' Convoy GI 11 ' for 14 February 1945.] (6)
16 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600I/16, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. M. Germaine, RANVR, temporary in command) returned to Sorido from escort duty. She proceeded to Mois Woedi later the same day. (6)
17 Feb 1945
From 17 to 24 February 1945, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) cleaned boilers at Mios Woendi. Also some small repairs were made and the ship was painted. (6)
26 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) conducted Hedgehog exercises off Mios Woendi. (6)
1 Mar 1945
Around 1115I/1, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Mios Woendi for Hollandia where she arrived the following day. (5)
2 Mar 1945
Around 1315I/2, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Hollandia to return to Mios Woendi. This signal was later cancelled and she returned to Hollandia taking over the A/S patrol off Humboldt Bay from HMAS Katoomba (Lt.Cdr. F.N. Allison, RANR) around 0715I/3. (5)
6 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700I/6, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) was relieved on the A/S patrol off Humboldt Bay by Colac (Lt. K.J. Hopper, RANR(S)). (5)
10 Mar 1945
Around 1145I/10, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) relieved Colac (Lt. K.J. Hopper, RANR(S)) on the A/S patrol off Humboldt Bay. (5)
13 Mar 1945
Around 1100I/13, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) was relieved on the A/S patrol off Humboldt Bay by HMAS Wagga (A/Lt.Cdr. C.J.P. Guille, OBE, RANR(S)).
After fuelling and watering, HMAS Vendetta departed Humboldt Bay for Madang around 1600I/13.
HMAS Vendetta was to proceed to Australia for refit. (5)
14 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630I/14, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) arrived at Madang from Humboldt Bay. (5)
15 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700I/15, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Madang for Dreger Harbour. (5)
16 Mar 1945
Around 0720K/16, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) arrived at Dreger Harbour from Madang.
After fuelling she departed for Brisbane around 0920K/16. (5)
20 Mar 1945
At 0604K/20, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) grounded while entering Brisbane.
She was refloated at 1418K/20 and towed upstream by tugs.
She was docked at 1555K/20 for underwater inspection for damage sustained. Damage was severe and she was then taken in hand for repairs and refit.
[We have been unable to find out when she was undocked.] (5)
Sources
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for November 1944
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for December 1944
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for December 1944 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for January 1945
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for January 1945
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for March 1945
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for February 1945
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