| Place | Africa: North Africa, Western Desert, Western Desert (Egypt), Salum |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P01810.004 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Date made | 30 June 1941 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
The destroyer HMAS Waterhen about to roll over and sink, the day after sustaining severe damage ...
Description
The destroyer HMAS Waterhen about to roll over and sink, the day after sustaining severe damage in an air attack by German dive bombers off the port of Salum in Egypt. The Waterhen had been carrying reinforcements to the besieged garrison at Tobruk. It was one of several Australian vessels that operated a shuttle service between Tobruk and various ports in Egypt, a service that became known as the Tobruk ferry or Tobruk taxi. The entire crew of the ship and all of the troops she had been carrying had been rescued by the British destroyer, HMS Defender.