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Career information

Transferred to the Emergency List on 10 October 1949

Light cruiser HMS Dauntless (D 45)

25 Aug 1939
Around 1430/25, the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Portsmouth. At sea she joined the passenger/cargo ship Dunera (11162 GRT, built 1937) to escort her to Gibraltar.

Around 2000/25, the light cruiser HMS Colombo (Commodore R.J.R. Scott, RN) departed Plymouth to join HMS Dauntless and Dunera which she did around 2315/25.

Around 1800/26, they were joined by the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter (Capt. F.S. Bell, RN, flying the flag of Commodore H.H. Harwood, OBE, RN) which remained with HMS Dauntless, HMS Colombo and the Dunera until around 1330/28.

HMS Dauntless, HMS Colombo and the Dunera arrived at Gibraltar around 0630/29. (1)

31 Aug 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Gibraltar. (2)

2 Sep 1939

Convoy AB 1/1.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 2 September 1939 and arrived at Capetown on 29 September 1939.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; British Ardour (British (tanker), 7124 GRT, built 1928), British Loyalty (British (tanker), 6993 GRT, built 1928), British Motorist (British (tanker), 6891 GRT, built 1924), British Princess (British (tanker), 7019 GRT, built 1917), British Progress (British (tanker), 4581 GRT, built 1927), City of Hereford (British, 5101 GRT, built 1927), City of Shanghai (British, 5828 GRT, built 1917) and Rowanbank (British, 5159 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the light cruisers HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. A. Poland, RN). Shortly after sailing four destroyers joined for A/S escort. These were HMS Douglas ( Cdr. R.F.B. Swinley, RN), HMS Watchman (Cdr.(Retd.) V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN), HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, RN) and they remained with the convoy until 0800/3.

At 1300/11, HMS Dauntless parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Freetown where she arrived around 1100/13.

At 0830/13, HMS Despatch turned over the convoy to HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) which had departed Freetown around 1900/12 to join the convoy. HMS Despatch arrived at Freetown around 0615/14.

At 1045/29, the convoy was dispersed near Capetown after which most of the ships proceeded into Capetown harbour. HMS Durban arrived at Simonstown around 1700/29. (3)

14 Sep 1939

Convoy SL 1.

This convoy departed Freetown 14 September 1939 and arrived in UK waters on 1 October 1939.

This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Barrister (British, 6348 GRT, built 1939), Cliftonhall (British, 5063 GRT, built 1938), Ettrickbank (British, 5138 GRT, built 1937), Henry Stanley (British, 5026 GRT, built 1929), Jose de Larringa (British, 5303 GRT, built 1920), Luciston (British, 5017 GRT, built 1924), Peebles (British, 4982 GRT, built 1936) and Scientist (British, 6198 GRT, built 1938).

On departure from Freetown (around 1600/14), the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN).

At 0715/21, HMS Dauntless was relieved by the light cruiser HMS Capetown (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) which had departed Gibraltar around 1630/17. HMS Dauntless then returned to Freetown arriving there around 0700/25.

HMS Capetown parted company with the convoy at 1735/24. She returned to Gibraltar around 0715/27.

Part of the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 1 October 1939. (4)

28 Sep 1939

Convoy SL 3.

This convoy departed Freetown on 28 September 1939 and arrived in UK waters on 15 October 1939.

This convoy was made up the following merchant vessels; Anglo-Saxon (British, 5596 GRT, built 1929), Badjestan (British, 5573 GRT, built 1928), Bradburn (British, 4736 GRT, built 1930), City of Venice (British, 8762 GRT, built 1924), Clan Alpine (British, 5442 GRT, built 1918), Corinaldo (British, 7131 GRT, built 1921), Cromarty (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936), Dunster Grange (British, 9494 GRT, built 1928), Hollinside (British, 4172 GRT, built 1930), Ionic Star (British, 5602 GRT, built 1917), King James (British, 5122 GRT, built 1925), Kumasian (British, 4992 GRT, built 1930), Mabriton (British, 6694 GRT, built 1920), Macgegor Laird (British, 4992 GRT, built 1930), Margot (British, 4545 GRT, built 1926), Penhale (British, 4071 GRT, built 1924), Richard de Larrinaga (British, 5358 GRT, built 1929), River Afton (British, 5479 GRT, built 1935), Sambre (British, 5260 GRT, built 1919), Temple Pier (British, 4312 GRT, built 1928), Tresillian (British, 4743 GRT, built 1925), Ulysses (British, 14647 GRT, built 1913) and Westmoor (British, 4359 GRT, built 1924).

On departure from Freetown, around 1800/28, the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN). She parted company with the convoy at 1817/7 and proceeded to Gibraltar where she arrived around 0700/10.

The bulk of the convoy arrived in UK waters on 15 October 1939. (5)

10 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1745/10, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Gibraltar for Malta where she arrived around 0800/13.

HMS Dauntless is to join the China Station to enable more modern cruisers to be withdrawn from that Station. (6)

13 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1715/13, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Malta for Port Said where she arrived around 0800/16. (6)

16 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1230/16, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Port Said for Aden where she arrived around 0830/20. (6)

20 Oct 1939
Around 1400/20, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Aden for Colombo where she arrived around 1145/26.

She was ordered to examine the Cargados, Carajos and Chagos Island groups en-route for German activity. (6)

28 Oct 1939
Around 0840EF/28, HMS Eagle (Capt. A.R.M. Bridge, RN), HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN), departed Colombo for Singapore where they arrived around 0830GH/1.

The cruiser were to join the China Station to replace more modern cruisers there which had left for other stations.

HMS Eagle was to dock and undergo some repairs at the Singapore Dockyard. (7)

2 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for a patrol in the Sunda Straits. (8)

4 Nov 1939
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) relieved HMS Birmingham (Capt. E.J.P. Brind, RN) on the Sunda Strait patrol. (9)

10 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615/10 the British light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is relieved on the Sunda Strait patrol by the French heavy cruiser Suffren (Capt. R.J.M. Dillard). HMS Dauntless then set course to return to Singapore where she arrived around 0900/12. (10)

17 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises in Johore Strait. (10)

19 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for a patrol in the Sunda Strait. (10)

21 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived in the Sunda Strait. Here she spoke the Dutch destroyer HrMs Van Nes (Lt.Cdr. J.S. Bax) which is on neutrality patrol. (10)

24 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While on patrol in the Sunda Strait, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), conducted gunnery exercises. (10)

26 Nov 1939
Around 1030/26, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) made rendezvous in the Sunda Strait with the French sloop Amiral Charner (Cdr. F.M. Faye) which was to relieve her on the Sunda Straits patrol. HMS Dauntless then departed for Singapore arriving these around 0900/28. (10)

4 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Singapore. (11)

5 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is docked in the floating dock at Singapore. (11)

6 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is undocked. (11)

7 Dec 1939
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for a patrol around Borneo. (11)

9 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Miri, Sarawak. (11)

10 Dec 1939
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Miri for Labuan. She shifted to Jesselton (now called Kota Kinabalu) later on the same day. (11)

11 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Labuan. (11)

13 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Jesselton for patrol. She made a short stop at Kudat in the afternoon before continuing her patrol. (11)

14 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Sandakan. (11)

16 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Sandakan for Si Amil Island. (11)

17 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) made a shoty stop at Si Amil Island before she departed for Singapore via the Makassar Strait. (11)

23 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) returned to Singapore from patrol. (11)

8 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for a patrol around Sumatra. (12)

17 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) returned to Singapore from patrol. (13)

22 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for a patrol off northern Sumatra. (13)

26 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) anchored off Langkawi. (13)

27 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) proceeded from Langkawi to Penang. (13)

6 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted torpedo firing and gunnery exercises off Penang. (14)

8 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Penang. (14)

9 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Penang. (14)

10 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang for Singapore. (14)

11 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore. (14)

22 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) both conducted exercises off Singapore. (15)

23 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) both conducted exercises off Singapore. (15)

2 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Saigon. (16)

4 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) made rendezvous with the river gunboats Cockchafter (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN) and HMS Gnat (Lt.Cdr. S.R.H. Davenport, RN) to escort them to Singapore. (16)

6 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), Cockchafter (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN) and HMS Gnat (Lt.Cdr. S.R.H. Davenport, RN) arrived at Singapore. (16)

9 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore to patrol in the Sunda Strait. (16)

11 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The British light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) relieved the French sloop Amiral Charner (Cdr. F.M. Faye) on patrol in the Sunda Strait. (17)

15 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) ended her patrol in the Sunda Strait to return to Singapore. (16)

18 Mar 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore from patrol.

She returned from patrol with problems with her condensers which needed retubing. (16)

19 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Saigon. (16)

21 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Saigon. (16)

23 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Saigon to return to Singapore. (16)

25 Mar 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore. She departed Singapore for a patrol to the north of Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies and off the eastern entrance to the Sunda Strait to monitor German merchant vessels that were reported ready to leave for Germany. (16)

4 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore from patrol. (18)

6 Apr 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore. She retuned the following day. (18)

9 Apr 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Hong Kong. (18)

12 Apr 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Hong Kong where she is to undergo repairs to her condensers. (18)

27 May 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is docked at Hongkong. (19)

31 May 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is undocked. (20)

3 Jun 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted full power trials off Hongkong. (21)

6 Jun 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted exercises with aircraft and MTB's off Hong Kong. (21)

7 Jun 1940
During the night of 7/8 June 1940, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN), HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN) and HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (21)

10 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN), HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN), HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) and MTB's all conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (21)

12 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Hong Kong.

In the evening she conducted a night encounter execises with HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (21)

14 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (21)

17 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Hong Kong for Saigon. (21)

20 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Saigon. (21)

22 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Saigon for Singapore. (21)

24 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore.

She departed for Penang later the same day. (21)

26 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Penang. (21)

30 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang to patrol in the northern entrance to the Strait of Malakka. (21)

4 Jul 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is ordered to return to Singapore. (22)

6 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore from patrol. (23)

9 Jul 1940
HMS Danae (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) and HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (24)

15 Jul 1940
HMS Danae (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) and HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr. R. Alexander, RN) all conducted exercises (with each other) off Singapore.

On completion of the exercises HMS Danae proceeded on patrol along the east coast of Malaya while also making some port visits. (24)

24 Jul 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore to patrol off Sabang / northern entrance to the Strait of Malakka. (25)

26 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Penang. (25)

27 Jul 1940
The British transports Alipore (British, 5273 GRT, built 1920), Bangalore (British, 6067 GRT, built 1928) departed Penang for Bombay. They were to be escorted until Colombo by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN).

HMS Dauntless escorted these ships until 2000 hours on 1 August. (25)

2 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) made a short stop to fuel at Trincomalee before departing for Penang later the same day. (26)

6 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Penang. (26)

15 Aug 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Penang. (27)

21 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang to patrol off the Mentawei Islands (west of Sumatra) to search for a possible enemy raider that is thought to be operating in the area. (26)

28 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) retuned to Penang from patrol. (26)

9 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang to patrol off the Nicobar Islands to intercept a possible enemy raider that might be operating in the area. (28)

12 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) returned to Penang from patrol. (29)

16 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang to patrol in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the northern tip of Sumatra as an enemy raider is suspected to be operating in the area. (28)

28 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) returned to Penang from patrol. (28)

1 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang for Singapore. (30)

2 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore. (30)

16 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (30)

17 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (30)

24 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Hong Kong. (31)

28 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Hong Kong. (30)

12 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (32)

13 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Hong Kong. (32)

20 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Hong Kong for Singapore. (32)

24 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore. (32)

27 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is docked in the floating dock at Singapore. (32)

29 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is undocked. (32)

5 Dec 1940
The merchant vessel Gurna (British, 5248 GRT, built 1919) and the river gunboat Taranantula (Cdr.(Emgy.) R.C.F. Creer, RAN) departed Singapore for Colombo via Penang and Nancowry. They were escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN). (33)

7 Dec 1940
The light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), river gunboat Tarantula (Cdr.(Emgy.) R.C.F. Creer, RAN) and the the merchant vessel Gurna (British, 5248 GRT, built 1919) arrived at Penang.

They departed later the same day to continue their passage to Colombo. The river gunboat Cricket (Lt. J.L. Goatley, RN) had joined them at Penang for the passage to Colombo.

On the 9th, shortly after noon, they briefly stopped off Nancowry Island. Both river gunboats then secured alongside HMS Dauntless and then were supllied with oil, stores and water before the passage was continued. (33)

13 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), Cricket (Lt. J.L. Goatley, RN), Taranantula (Cdr.(Emgy.) R.C.F. Creer, RAN) and the merchant vessel Gurna (British, 5248 GRT, built 1919) arrived at Colombo. (34)

15 Dec 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Colombo for Penang. En-route she was to patrol the entrance to the Gulf of Bengal for a few days. (34)

21 Dec 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Penang from patrol. (34)

27 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Penang. (34)

31 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Penang. Also a speed trial was carried out. (34)

1 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1815/1, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Penang to make rendezvous with the troopship Narkunda (British 16227 GRT, built 1920) and then escort her in the northern entrance to the Malakka Strait.

Rendezvous was effected at 1200/2 in position 06°04'N, 95°53'E.

After a brief stop at Penang they arrived at Singapore in the evening of the 4th. (35)

7 Jan 1941
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore around 1530/7 to make rendezvous with the transport Lycaon (British, 7552 GRT, built 1913).

Rendezvous was effected around 1200/9, in position 03°20'N, 91°27'E when escort was taken over from HMS Antenor (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN) which was then to proceed to Colombo.

At 1200/12, HMS Dauntless parted company with the Lycaon in approximate position 05°41'N, 99°53'E.

HMS Dauntless returned to Singapore around 1700/13. (35)

21 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Singapore. (36)

22 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted HA gunnery exercises off Singapore. (36)

30 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Penang. (36)

31 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Penang. (36)

9 Feb 1941
Around 0930/9, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Penang and shortly afterwards made rendezvous with the troopship Narkunda (British, 16227 GRT, built 1920) which had departed Singapore on the 6th.

HMS Dauntless escorted the troopship until around 1300/11, when the escort was turned over in approximate position 05°57'N, 85°35'E to HMNZS Leander (Capt. R.H. Bevan, RN). At the rendezvous position both cruisers then conducted some exercises with each other.

Narkunda and HMNZS Leander arrived at Colombo on the 12th.

HMS Dauntless returned to Penang around 1530/14. (37)

20 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang, initially to make rendezvous with an eastbound merchant vessel in the Indian Ocean that was carrying important cargo. She was however soon diverted to patrol off Phuket as it was feared that Italian merchant vessels interned there were going to escape. (37)

3 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) returned to Penang from patrol. (38)

8 Mar 1941

Convoy BM 4.

This (troop) convoy departed Bombay on 8 March 1941 and arrived at Penang on 17 March 1941. Some ships went on to Singapore, arriving on 17 March 1941.

The following transports / troopships were part of this convoy; Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), El Madina (British, 3962 GRT, built 1937), Felix Roussel (French, 17083 GRT, built 1930), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926), Rohna (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926), Santhia (British, 7754 GRT, built 1925), Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923), Varela (British, 4651 GRT, built 1914).

On departured from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Antenor (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN). On the 12th it was joined by the light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) after which HMS Antenor parted company and returned to Bombay. On the 13th the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) joined. On the 14th the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) also joined. HMS Emerald parted company with the convoy on the 15th.

On the 17th, HMS Durban arrived at Penang with the Elma, El Madina, Felix Roussell, Santhia and Talma.

On the 18th, HMS Dauntless arrived at Singapore with the Rajula, Rohna and Varela. (39)

9 Mar 1941
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang to make rendezvous with convoy BM 4 en-route from Bombay to Malaya. While proceeding to the rendezvous she was to check on the Italian merchant vessels at Phuket.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy BM 4 ' for 8 March 1941.] (38)

18 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore after convoy escort duty. (40)

1 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (41)

2 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted HA gunnery exercises off Singapore. She also served as target during torpedo and bombing exercises by aircraft. (41)

8 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Penang. (41)

9 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Penang. (41)

10 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0515/10, HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN), departed Penang and made rendezvous with the French (British controlled) troopship Felix Roussel (17083 GRT, built 1930) with 300 Indian soldiers on board for Bombay.

HMS Dauntless was to escort the troopship until west of Ceylon. She parted company with the troopship at 1937/14. HMS Dauntless arrived at Colombo around 0730/15. (42)

16 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Colombo for Singapore. (42)

21 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore. (42)

27 Apr 1941
Around 1100GH/27, the British troopship Aquitania departed Singapore for Colombo. She had on board New Zealand troops for the Middle East (Suez). She was being escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) until 1455GH/28 when HMS Danae (A/Capt. F.J. Butler, MBE, RN) took over. HMS Danae had departed Penang around 0600GH/28.

HMS Dauntless then proceeded to Penang arriving there around 0800GH/29.

Aquitania and HMS Danae arrived at Colombo around 0930EF/1. (43)

7 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Penang for Singapore. (44)

8 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Singapore. (44)

12 May 1941
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is taken in hand for refit at Singapore. (44)

20 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is docked in the floating dock at Singapore. (44)

28 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is undocked. (44)

15 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Singapore for Penang.

Around 2230 hours HMS Dauntless and HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) collided with near the Malakka lighthouse.

Both ships were damaged. HMS Emerald had 16 crew killed, HMS Dauntless one.

On the 16th they were joined by by the destroyers HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) and HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN).

Both cruisers were able to proceed under their own power to Singapore where they arrived on the 17th. (45)

19 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is taken in hand for collision damage repairs at Singapore.

[As no logbook is available for this period no further details can be provided.] (19)

Heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (D 33)

4 Jan 1942
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Port Moresby for Sydney escorting the troopship Aquitania (British, 44786 GRT, built 1914). (46)

8 Jan 1942
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and the troopship Aquitania (British, 44786 GRT, built 1914) arrived at Sydney from Port Moresby. (46)

25 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and the destroyers HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN) and HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) departed Batavia to pass through the Sunda Strait.

Later the same day the destroyers parted company to make rendezvous with convoy BM 11 which they joined around noon on the 26th.

HMAS Canberra set course for Fremantle.

[For more info on convoy BM 11 see the event ' Convoy BM 11 ' for 19 January 1942.] (46)

29 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from Batavia. (46)

10 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and the troopship Warwick Castle (British, 20107 GRT, built 1930) arrived at Fremantle. (47)

11 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Fremantle for Sydney. (47)

17 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Sydney from Fremantle. (47)

18 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) is taken in hand for refit the Garden Island naval base at Sydney. (47)

11 May 1942
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) completed her refit at Sydney. (48)

12 May 1942
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted D/G trials at Sydney. (48)

16 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted full power trials off Sydney. (48)

18 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery trials off Sydney on completion of which she set course for Port Phillip. (48)

20 May 1942
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived in Port Phillip from Sydney. She anchored off Mornington.

From 20 to 25 May 1942 exercises were carried out in Port Phillip. (48)

26 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) proceeded to Port Melbourne from Port Phillip. (48)

27 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Port Melbourne for Sydney. (48)

28 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived at Sydney from Port Melbourne.

Before entering harbour night gunnery exercises were carried out. (48)

1 Jun 1942
A.M. on 1 June 1942, HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) departed Sydney as the harbour was being attacked by Japanese midget submarines. On leaving the harbour she was joined by USS William B. Preston (Lt.Cdr. E. Grant, USN) for A/S protection.

Around 1600K/1, USS Chicago (Capt. H.D. Bode, USN) and USS Perkins (Lt.Cdr. W.C. Ford, USN) also departed Sydney. They joined HMAS Canberra around 2050K/1 and HMAS Canberra, USS Chicago and USS Perkins then proceeded northwards to join Task Force 44 for exercises. They joined Task Force 44 on 3 June.

(49)

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