Famed WW2 veteran, Frank McGovern has died, at age 103.

[onetrack]

This news is a little late, but I only just found out that the famed WW2 veteran, Frank McGovern, died on 24th May 2023, at age 103. You might say, "well, that's a great innings for someone" - but when you read what Frank McGovern endured, you have to admire the sheer tenacity of human nature, and Franks tremendous abilities.

 

Frank McGovern joined the RAN in 1939 at age 19 aand was posted to HMAS Westralia. In November 1941, he was posted to the 6,800 ton Light cruiser, HMAS Perth. As many of you might know, this WW2 HMAS Perth, along with the USS Houston, endured a major attack by a convoy of Japanese destroyers that they accidentally encountered in the Sunda Strait - and both HMAS Perth and USS Houston were sunk, with massive losses of sailors on both ships. Any survivors found, were picked up by the Japanese and sent to Changi.

 

Frank was one of the 328 survivors of the 681 crew complement on HMAS Perth. He was sent to Changi - and then sent to work on the Burma Railway. Frank survived the completion of the Burma railway, so he was sent to Saigon ready to be moved to Japan as forced labour. But the Americans had blockaded the Mekong Delta, so he was sent back to Changi - and not by first class carriage, I'll wager.

 

From Changi, Frank board the ill-fated Rakoyu Maru. In case you didn't know, the Rakoyu Maru, carrying some 2,200 British and Australian POW's, was torpedoed in the South China Sea by an American submarine, the USS Sealion II.

1,559 British and Australian soldiers died in the sinking of the Rakoyu Maru. Some of the survivors of the sinking of the Rakoyu Maru were picked up by American submarines - but the majority of the survivors were picked up by the Japanese, and still sent to Japan.

Frank was one of the survivors picked up by the Japanese, and ended up in being forced to work in a Japanese steel mill. Whilst there, the steel mill was bombed by the USAF, and 3 of Franks mates were killed, and Frank suffered a fractured spine.

A short time later, Frank witnessed a bright flash in the sky one morning - from the direction of Hiroshima. He had witnessed the dropping of the worlds first Atomic Bomb.

 

A few days later, all their guards disappeared, and the POW's learned of the surrender of Japan. They climbed onto the roof of their internment camp and painted "PW" to advise Americans of the presence of POW's.

The USAF dropped advisory leaflets telling them to remain where they were, until they were rescued by a land party, and also dropped food. Frank was soon rescued and spent some time in hospital recuperating, and returned home on 17th Sept 1945 - only to learn that his brother, Vincent - also a crew member on HMAS Perth, had not survived the sinking of his ship.

 

Despite all this, and despite obviously suffering great trauma from his wartime experiences, Frank set about supporting his Navy and POW mates, by forming the HMAS Perth Association, and the Naval POW’s Association.

As a result, I believe Frank McGovern should be recognised as one of Australias greatest wartime heroes - and I salute his memory and his achievements.

 

Frank McGovern - the last survivor of the sinking of HMAS Perth - https://rnzncomms.org/frank-mcgovern-last-survivor-of-hmas-perth/

 

HMAS Perth (I) - https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-perth-i

 

70th Anniversary of the sinking of the Rakoyu Maru - https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/70th-anniversary-sinking-rakuy-maru

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by onetrack