K13 SUBMARINE MEMORIAL – CARLINGFORD

Photographs taken by John Papenhuyzen – Volunteer Guide ANMM Darling Harbour

LEUT Chris Forward from HMAS Stirling had an inquiry from a relative - what is the link between the British K class submarines and Australia (and therefore the K-13 memorial in NSW). A quick note to our National Secretary, Peter Smith, soon had the information on its way. For those that endured the Sunday Divisions at Carlingford a quick reminder.

In 1915 the British Admiralty secretly planned a class of submarines of revolutionary design. These submersible destroyers, as they were called, were to be the largest, heaviest and fastest submarines built anywhere in the world at that time. Driven on the surface by steam engine, with a conning tower and retractable funnels, they proved to be so fast that no British

submarines of the 1939-45 War could outstrip them. Between August 1916 and May 1918 the Royal Navy commissioned 17 of these vessels, designating them the "K" class this design had been evolved out of fear that the German Navy were building U-boats capable of 20 knots on the surface. The main engines, two turbines fed by two oil-fired boilers producing 10,500 horsepower and these were backed by four electric motors for underwater propulsion, plus a 1,800 hp diesel unit for use on the surface while the boilers were building pressure.

On the morning of 29 January 1917 at 0800 hours, with 80 men on board, LCDR Godfrey HERBERT RN gave out the order to cast off and tugs towed the giant submarine K13 out of the basin of Fairfield’s yard to move slowly down the Clyde. There was a crew of fifty three, plus fourteen directors and employees of Fairfield’s, five representatives of subcontractors, five Admiralty officials, a Clyde pilot, with two passengers being the Commanding and Engineer officers of Submarine K14, which was being built at the same yard.

K13 looked impressive, she was 339 feet long and displaced on the surface 1,800 tons, figures greater than those of the largest destroyers at that time. Her submerged displacement was 2,600 tons. While the day before she had dived and remained satisfactorily submerged in Gareloch for an hour. On the final test drive a careful check of the dials and instruments showed everything functioning correctly. One indicator was seen to be flickering, but this was thought to faulty wiring and a bad contact. The indicator was vitally important however. It showed whether the boiler room ventilators were fully shut before diving.

There were in all nine watertight doors and apart from the torpedo hatches, twelve hatches and innumerable valves, manholes and other openings in the hull: "Too many damned holes", as more than one submariner observed. For an incredible fifty-seven hours the 47 survivors were trapped in the submarine after it sank. They were finally able to climb out through a hole cut in the plating of the forward deck of the submarine. Against all odds they survived in this tomb of death while what was described as bad salvage was carried out above them with one botch after the next occurring. The final tally of survivors was officially forty-eight with a loss of thirty-two. K13 was raised to the surface six weeks after her fatal plunge and in mid March was towed into Fairfield’s for refitting.

Some months later, with minimal ceremony, she was re-commissioned into the Royal Navy as K22. In the 16 years between 1917 and 1932 over 300 men lost their lives in the K-class and all died as the result of accidents".

Why therefore is a monument of K13 in Australia? Here the facts become hazy and take time to piece together, but this is a fascinating story. During 1961, Mrs. M Freestone the widow of Charles, survivor of HMS K13, paid for the building of a memorial in commemoration of those who have lost their lives in K13 and other submarines. Born in Chelmsford, Essex in 1896, he volunteered for Submarine service in the Royal Navy during the First World War and was a Leading Telegraphist on K13. Subsequently he was transferred at his own request to HMA Submarines J3 and, later, J4 and at the end of his service in the RAN he remained in Australia. He was greatly attached to the Parramatta district where he achieved outstanding success as a manufacturer, employer and investor. This district reminded him of Chelmsford; both located on a river with large industrial zones and pleasant rural areas surrounding them.

He set aside part of his subdivision in Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford in 1956 to be named the "K13 Memorial Park". Without seeing the Memorial commenced Charles died in May 1958. His health was impaired by pneumonia and by long drawn out and exhausting battle with the authorities to have his "Greenacres" property released from the Green Belt and recognised as residential area. His wife then courageously took up her husband’s dream. An architect was employed and while keeping in mind Charles’ idea of using "good solid Australian stone as used by the pioneers" to embody a seascape motif with the letters "K13" prominently displayed, a plan was finally submitted to the council which was adopted in March 1961.

Rear Admiral H.A. SHOWERS CBE RAN (Rtd) conducted the service commemorating the unveiling and dedication of the K13 Memorial to all Commonwealth submariners on Sunday, 10 September 1961, in the presence of Mrs. M.F. FREESTONE. Subsequently the Fourth Submarine Squadron of the Royal Navy and later RAN held Squadron Divisions at the Memorial each year, which included presentations of awards and wreath laying ceremony.

The inscription on the memorial reads: "This memorial has been created in memory of those officers and men of the Commonwealth who gave their lives in submarines while serving the cause of freedom. It is called the "K13" memorial in particular memory of those lost in HM Submarine K13."

Written by Pauline Garland, the Librarian of the Submarine School Library, HMAS PLATYPUS