Operation Pilgrimage group are honoured

THE IMPORTANCE of the Hervey Bay Historical Village & Museum to not only the Fraser Coast Region but indeed to the national interest, has again been demonstrated with our Museum being just one of four places Australia wide selected to be part of a Commemoration Ceremony later this year.

On 30th September 2023, a unique ceremony will take place at the Hervey Bay Museum.

Members of the “Operation Pilgrimage Group”, representatives of the “Krait” Memorial, the RSL and invited VIP’s, will witness a moving ceremony commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the successful “Operation Jaywick”.

The raid by Australian Commandoes into Singapore Harbour on the night of 26th September 1943.

A similar ceremony will be held at Exmouth in Western Australia and just two other places in Australia.

Leader of the “Operation Pilgrimage Group’, Mr. Allan Miles OAM, will attend and honour the Group which is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of Commandoes who served their Country.

Local historian, John Anderson says “Hervey Bay has a very close connection with the top secret World War II Commandoes training area on Fraser Island, recognition given after the war where the “KRAIT” and Z Force Memorials were established at Dayman Point, Urangan.”

The radio operator on the “Krait”, Mr. Horrie Young, retired to Hervey Bay in the 1960’s, started the local radio club here and brought with him his souvenir piece of the “Krait” which is now on permanent display at the Museum.

The story of “Operation Jaywick” is told in detail at the Museum about a group of Commandoes sailing into enemy waters when Japan occupied Singapore, “secured” a local fishing boat which they renamed “Krait”, sailed back to Western Australia and fitted out the boat with collapsible canoes, limpet mines, explosives and provisions. 

They sailed back into Singapore Harbour and managed to attach the magnetic limpet mines onto Japanese ships.

They then returned to Australia as “heroes”.