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HMAS Nizam Inscription
HMAS Nizam Inscription

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Graeme Saunders / Glen Yeomans

The monument commemorates 10 sailors who drowned when the H.M.A.S. Nizam was hit by a king wave in February 1945.

In February 1945, HMAS Nizam was hit by a heavy squall as she rounded Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia. A huge sea from the starboard quarter caused the ship to keel over an estimated 60 to 70 degrees, burying the whole of her port side in the water. The ship was travelling at 21 knots and the water swept down the ship sweeping boats, davits and sailors overboard.

The ten sailors who drowned were : -

Ordinary Seaman John Sydney Wallace Barnett
Ordinary Seaman  Garnet Joseph Hill
Ordinary Seaman Leslie Alexander Holloway
Able Seaman Alfred George Kerr
Able Seaman Victor Charles Joseph Keys
Able Seaman Allen Wilfred Milich
Ordinary Seaman Keith James Mills
Stoker (II) John Poulton
Able Seaman Vincent Gordon Richardson
Acting Leading Seaman Colin Samuel Ryder

Location

Address:Leeuwin Road, Adjacent to Lighthouse, Cape Leeuwin, 6290
State:WA
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -34.375
Long: 115.136389
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Disaster
Sub-Theme:Maritime
Actual Event Start Date:11-February-1945
Actual Event End Date:11-February-1945

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Thursday 11th February, 1993
Front Inscription

On the night of February 11, 1945 the destroyer HMAS Nizam was struck by a freak wave at 2215 hours, 11 miles due south of this  point.  Tragically, 10 Ratings were swept overboard and lost at sea.  

They wWere

L. S. Colin S. Ryder               O.D. John S. W. Barnett
A. B. Alfred G. Kerr                O.D. Garnet J. Hill
A. B. Victor C. J. Keys            O.D.  Leslie A. Holloway
A. B. Allen W. Milich               O.D.  Keith J. Mills
A. B. Vincent G. Richardson   STO. John Poulton

This memorial was erected in their memory by the "N" Class Destroyers Assn. of Australia.

Lest We Forget.

Plaque :

Dedicated on 11th February 1993 by Captain W. F. Cook, L.V.O. R.A.N. (RTD) who was Commanding Officer of HMAS Nizam.

Source: MA,WMR
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au