Geoff Cole, who retired as Commanding Officer of HMAS Albatross in 2000 after a 40 year career in the Royal Australian Navy, is giving an illustrated talk on the Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour during World War II this Saturday.

“This audacious attack by Japanese midget submarine crews on May 31, 1942 proved to be a sharp wake-up call to Sydneysiders for whom the war had seemed distant,” says Geoff.

This ‘Battle for Sydney’ was one of the most significant events of World War II to occur on Australian soil.

“There were two major incidents on the Australian mainland,” Geoff says, “the air raids into Darwin (February 1942) and these midget subs in Sydney Harbour.

“It took people some time to hear about the raids on Darwin, but when things happened in Sydney Harbour, it was pretty hard to keep that under wraps.”

Geoff Cole had a 40 year career in the Navy

Geoff’s family lived in Northern Queenland at this time and he says the war seemed much closer.

“The airforce was active out of Townsville, fighting the Battle of the Coral Sea. We knew that war was a lot closer than the southerners thought.”

Geoff will talk about the actual intrusion into Sydney Harbour by the submarines and how close they came to major success.

“I include in the talk a video clip from an old classmate of mine, Admiral Peter Briggs who as one of modern generation of Australian-trained submariners, had a good understanding of submarine warfare and tactics.

“He says it was pretty close to a lot worse happening that day. He says it was only by the Grace of God that torpedoes aimed at the USS Chicago and HMAS Canberra missed and ran aground at Garden island, blowing up the requisitioned Sydney Harbour ferry Kuttabul, which at that time was being used as an RAN depot ship.”

The Kuttabul sank immediately and 21 Allied naval ratings, 19 Australians and two British were killed. Others were badly injured or trapped.

The two buildings outside the gate to Garden Island on Macleay Street Potts Point, which are used today as barracks, as named in honour of the Kuttabul.

Geoff’s talk is part of Kiama’s Anzac Day Remembrance weekend and will be held at Kiama Library and presented by the Kiama and Districts Historical Society.

Geoff saw active service on HMAS Vendetta in Malaysia/Borneo during the confrontation period. He attained the rank of Captain in 1987. He was Commanding Officer of HMAS Nirimba in 1989 to 1992, and Commanding Officer of HMAS Albatross from 1997 to 2000, before his retirement.

Kiama and Districts Historical Society talk, Saturday April 22, 2.30-4.40pm Kiama Library. $3 Members and $5 non members.