Imperial Awards
The two documents below detail a recommendation for awards made by Second Officer Charles and Purser Jacobs towards the end of World War II., followed two years later—in July 1947—by the announcement, in the London Gazette, of honours for five of the survivors. An interesting question is: did everyone deserving of an award receive one in 1947?
Belatedly, Amos Helwend received the British Empire Medal at an investiture ceremony at Admiralty House, Sydney, early in February 1949.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
M.V. TULAGI—SUNK BY ENEMY ACTION 28/3/44
Re ALI SARIWEE, AMOS HELWEND and “KALAPIN”
It has come to our notice that mention has been made of proposed recommendation of the above Malay seamen for some form of recognition in connection with loss of M.V. “TULAGI”.
In this connection we wish to state that, in our opinion, it is unlikely that there would have been any survivors but for the skill, perseverance and unselfish effort of these three men
Fifteen men (11 Europeans, 3 Malays and 1 Indian) survived the actual sinking, and were afloat on rafts in company for 53 days. A little before dusk on the fifty-third day rafts parted company owing to personnel not having sufficient strength to again re-tie broken painter.
On fifty-ninth day, raft carrying 3 Europeans, 3 Malays and 1 Indian reached an Island in the Seychelles after passing through heavy surf. Raft carrying eight Europeans not since heard of.
Total food supply allowed each person: Half biscuit and 12 milk tablets per day for 27 days, and two cubes chocolate per day for 6 days. Water was not a problem in the early part of the trip owing to frequent heavy rains.
Fishing lines were in rafts but these were useless as we had no hooks. Malays improvised a spear from a raft stanchion and a pair of scissors from first aid box. By this means they were able to secure small fish occasionally. As many as eight fish (¾ lb. to 1½lbs.) were caught in one day and the longest period without food at all was eight days. Malays were always alert for opportunity to catch food and, probably owing to being used to a harder life than Europeans, retained their strength longer and were able to throw a spear when we Europeans could no longer stand without assistance.
When it became apparent that all lives depended upon the Malays retaining their strength, it was suggested that the greater part of available food be eaten by them. They would not entertain this suggestion, however, and insisted that all must be equally divided. We were often wakened from sleep by a call to eat fish just caught.
Management of the raft fell mainly to them. Sail was made from side screens and mast (a plank torn loose from raft) rigged. Nearly all work was done by the three Malays who insisted that the white men should rest and conserve their strength.
Throughout the entire experience the men displayed excellent morale and aptitude and it would hardly be possible to explain in words just how much they did for the wellbeing of the party.
Sd: R. T. Charles
2nd Mate
Sd: D. G. Jacobs
Purser.
S Y D N E Y,
4th July, 1945.
This document may be found in the National Archives of Australia.
CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS
OF KNIGHTHOOD,
St. James Palace, S.W.1.
1st July, 1947.
The KING has been graciously pleased to
give orders for the undermentioned appointments
to the Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire and for the following awards of the
British Empire Medal, in the Merchant Navy.
To be an Additional Officer of the Civil Division
of the Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire:—
Leycester John Rawden Therry Ward, Chief
Engineer Officer, m.v. “Tulagi”, Burns,
Philp & Company Ltd., London.
To be Additional Members of the Civil
Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire:—
Richard Thomas Charles, Second Officer,
m.v. “Tulagi”, Burns, Philp & Company
Ltd., London.
Dudley Gerald Stewart Jacobs, Purser, m.v.
“Tulagi”, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd.,
London.
Awarded the British Empire Medal
(Civil Division):—
Ali Bin Sarawee, Quartermaster, m.v.
“Tulagi”, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd.,
London.
Basu Mian x Abdul Bhooya, Fireman, m.v.
“Tulagi”, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd.,
London.
The m.v. “Tulagi” was on a voyage from
Australia to Colombo when she was
torpedoed on the 27th March, 1944 1 and sank
in a matter of seconds.
Many of the crew went down with the ship,
but others were able to swim to rafts which
had floated clear.
Four of the rafts were tied together and
stores were taken from damaged lifeboats.
After drifting for about a month it
was decided, in order to make better
progress, to divide the 15 survivors between two
rafts. One raft with 7 survivors was in
charge of the Chief Engineer and after a
voyage of 58 days land was sighted. Nothing
more was heard of the other raft.
The survivors were all in an extremely
exhausted condition owing to the privations
which they had suffered during the long
period adrift. For part of the time they had
existed on rainwater and fish and birds.
Chief Engineer Officer Ward, with Second
Officer Charles and Purser Jacobs showed
determination and courage in the face of
great privations during the 58 2 days the raft
was adrift and did everything possible for the
survivors. Quartermaster Sarawee and
Fireman Bhooya were outstanding in managing
the raft and did much to supplement the
rations by their skill in catching fish and
birds.
______
Notes on the Awards:
1: 28th March, at 00:10 a.m.
2: 58 days and 23 hours.