| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P07317.003 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Group portrait of three sailors holding pith helmets. Identified, left to right, Able Seaman (AB) ...
Description
Group portrait of three sailors holding pith helmets. Identified, left to right, Able Seaman (AB) James Edward Lye; AB William Edward Gillies; unidentified. AB Lye and AB Gillies were best mates who served together aboard HMAS Yarra. Whilst escorting a convoy in the Indian Ocean on 4 March 1942, HMAS Yarra was attacked by the Japanese cruisers Atago, Takao and Maya. The Yarra defended the convoy for an hour and half, but was then sunk with the loss of 138 of her crew. Both AB Lye, aged 20, and AB Gillies, aged 19, were among the crew killed in action. There were only 13 survivors. The names of both men are commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, United Kingdom.