Allan a Murray

Get the Oars Out Allan a Murray

This book is a description of the sinking of the SS Iron Chieftain by the famous Japanese submarine I-24 on 3 June 1942.

SS Iron Chieftain was the first merchant vessel sunk off the south-east coast of Australia by submarines in World War II; twelve merchant seamen lost their lives. Thirty-seven survived, including twenty-five who spent more than a day rowing to shore in a lifeboat. Second Cook George Anderson, Allan Murray's maternal grandfather, was in the lifeboat. This book is a tale of loss, luck, endurance and leadership and is indicative of the experience of many who served in Australia's Merchant Navy in World War II. The book documents the failures of the command chain in the lead up to the sinking and draws upon many first-hand accounts from the crew.

The Foreword for this book has been written by Allan's Duntroon classmate, Murray Lott, who grew up in Newcastle where his father worked for BHP. After a lengthy career in the Regular Army, Murray retired to Sydney and now spends many days boating and fishing on Sydney Harbour.