Hector Waller
Encyclopedia
Hector Macdonald Laws Waller, DSO
& Bar
(4 April 1900 – 1 March 1942) was the captain of the light cruiser HMAS Perth (D29)
in World War II
. In a naval career spanning almost 30 years, he served his country in two world wars. Waller went down with his ship (HMAS Perth accompanied by the USS Houston
) when it encountered a Japanese invasion fleet consisting of two cruisers and twelve destroyers in the Battle of Sunda Strait
at the beginning of March 1942.
, Australia, the son of William Frederick Waller, a shopkeeper, and his wife Helen Waller (née Duncan). He was the youngest child in the family, and had seven older brothers (Charles, Robert, William, Arthur, Henry, Ernest, and Donald) and two older sisters (Jessie and Alice). He attended the Benalla East State School and, later, the Benalla High School, becoming one of the latter institute's top students.
on 1 January 1918. From there, he travelled to the United Kingdom and, in April, was appointed to serve aboard his first ship, the Royal Navy
's dreadnought HMS Agincourt
. In February 1919, Waller transferred to the light cruiser HMAS Melbourne
, and two months later returned to Australia. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
in March 1921, after which he went through professional training in the UK before returning to join the staff of the RANC. Waller married Nancy Bowes on 7 April 1923 in Sydney.
. In 1929, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
. In July 1930, he was posted to the RAN's flagship, HMAS Australia, as squadron signals officer.
After a few years, Waller was promoted to the rank of Commander
and made executive officer of the RANC in 1934. He had developed a strong reputation as a communications officer by this stage of his career. In 1936–1937, he spent six months working in the British Naval Intelligence Division. A brief stint as executive officer of the repair ship HMS Resource followed. From 1937 to 1939, he commanded the destroyer HMS Brazen
. This was a valuable learning experience, allowing him to develop his ship handling skills; his duties included monitoring the Spanish Civil War
.
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and became commander of the 'Scrap Iron Flotilla
' (so named by the Germans). Not long afterwards, he gained the respect of the senior officers above him by his seamanship during the salvage of the Trocas, a disabled tanker. In May 1940, he was appointed to command the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, which included the Scrap Iron Flotilla, and a month later he was promoted to the rank of Captain
.
In July 1940, the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla took part in the Battle of Calabria
. In September, Waller was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO) for 'courage, enterprise, and devotion to duty.' During this period, he was also Mentioned in Despatches twice, once for work with the inshore squadron co-operating with the Army in Cyrenaica
and again for good service in Greek waters. Waller earned a Bar to his DSO during the Battle of Cape Matapan
.
. A few months later, in January 1942, the ship was assigned to help defend the Dutch East Indies. The Allied fleet that Perth joined was crushed by a Japanese
fleet at the Battle of the Java Sea
in late February. Waller was lost with his ship when the cruiser was sunk in a battle
against an overwhelming Japanese force in the early hours of 1 March 1942. A third Mention in Despatches was awarded posthumously. Waller was survived by his wife and their two sons.
, the Benalla Cenotaph, and the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon
, United Kingdom. Waller Street in Benalla and Waller House of Benalla College are both named after him. The Benalla Costume and Pioneer Museum displays his medals and one of his dress uniforms. A telescope used by Waller hangs in the Wardroom Mess at HMAS Cerberus
.
HMAS Waller
, launched in 1999, was the third of the Collins class submarine
s to enter service, and was named in honour of Waller. On 13 March 2010, a memorial to Waller was unveiled in his home town of Benalla.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(4 April 1900 – 1 March 1942) was the captain of the light cruiser HMAS Perth (D29)
HMAS Perth (D29)
HMAS Perth was a Modified Leander class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. She was constructed for the Royal Navy , and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In a naval career spanning almost 30 years, he served his country in two world wars. Waller went down with his ship (HMAS Perth accompanied by the USS Houston
USS Houston (CA-30)
USS Houston , nicknamed the "Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast", was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy...
) when it encountered a Japanese invasion fleet consisting of two cruisers and twelve destroyers in the Battle of Sunda Strait
Battle of Sunda Strait
The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II. On the night of 28 February – 1 March 1942, the Australian light cruiser and the American heavy cruiser faced a major Imperial Japanese Navy task force. After a fierce battle of several hours duration, both Allied...
at the beginning of March 1942.
Early life
Waller was born on 4 April 1900 in Benalla, VictoriaBenalla, Victoria
Benalla is a city of just over 9,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about southwest of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.- Overview :...
, Australia, the son of William Frederick Waller, a shopkeeper, and his wife Helen Waller (née Duncan). He was the youngest child in the family, and had seven older brothers (Charles, Robert, William, Arthur, Henry, Ernest, and Donald) and two older sisters (Jessie and Alice). He attended the Benalla East State School and, later, the Benalla High School, becoming one of the latter institute's top students.
Early career
Waller entered the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) in December 1913. He was chief cadet captain in 1917, his final year at the college. In that year, he also won the prestigious King's Medal. He was promoted to the rank of MidshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 1 January 1918. From there, he travelled to the United Kingdom and, in April, was appointed to serve aboard his first ship, the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's dreadnought HMS Agincourt
HMS Agincourt (1913)
HMS Agincourt was a dreadnought built in the early 1910s. The ship was originally ordered by Brazil, but the collapse of the rubber boom plus a lessening of the rivalry with Argentina led to her resale while still under construction to the Ottoman Empire who renamed her as Sultan Osman I...
. In February 1919, Waller transferred to the light cruiser HMAS Melbourne
HMAS Melbourne (1912)
HMAS Melbourne was a Town class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Commissioned in 1913, the cruiser served during World War I. She was paid off in 1928, and broken up for scrap in 1929.-Design and construction:...
, and two months later returned to Australia. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in March 1921, after which he went through professional training in the UK before returning to join the staff of the RANC. Waller married Nancy Bowes on 7 April 1923 in Sydney.
Communications and command
In 1924, Waller began training as a signals officer in England. He finished at the top of the advanced course and, in May 1926, took charge of the Signals and Wireless-Telegraphy School at Flinders Naval Depot, Westernport, Victoria. From 1928 to 1930, he served with the Royal Navy as a signals officer aboard the destroyer HMS BrokeHMS Broke (1914)
HMS Broke was a Faulknor-class destroyer leader of the Royal Navy, initially built for the Chilean Navy as the Almirante Lynch-class destroyer Almirante Goni. The outbreak of the First World War led to her being purchased by the Admiralty in August 1914 shortly after her launching, and renamed HMS...
. In 1929, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. In July 1930, he was posted to the RAN's flagship, HMAS Australia, as squadron signals officer.
After a few years, Waller was promoted to the rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and made executive officer of the RANC in 1934. He had developed a strong reputation as a communications officer by this stage of his career. In 1936–1937, he spent six months working in the British Naval Intelligence Division. A brief stint as executive officer of the repair ship HMS Resource followed. From 1937 to 1939, he commanded the destroyer HMS Brazen
HMS Brazen (H80)
HMS Brazen was a of the British Royal Navy that saw service early in World War II, before being sunk in June 1940.-Construction:The ship was ordered on 22 March 1929 from Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company at Hebburn under the 1928 Programme. She was laid down on 22 July 1929, and launched on...
. This was a valuable learning experience, allowing him to develop his ship handling skills; his duties included monitoring the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
World War II
At the outbreak of World War II, Waller was appointed to command HMAS StuartHMAS Stuart (D-00/100)
HMAS Stuart was a British Scott-class destroyer leader. The ship was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company for the Royal Navy during World War I, and entered service at the end of 1918. The majority of the destroyer's British service was performed in the Mediterranean, and in 1933 she was...
and became commander of the 'Scrap Iron Flotilla
Scrap Iron Flotilla
The Scrap Iron Flotilla was an Australian destroyer group that operated in the Mediterranean and Pacific during World War II. The name scrap iron flotilla was bestowed upon the group by Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels....
' (so named by the Germans). Not long afterwards, he gained the respect of the senior officers above him by his seamanship during the salvage of the Trocas, a disabled tanker. In May 1940, he was appointed to command the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, which included the Scrap Iron Flotilla, and a month later he was promoted to the rank of Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
.
In July 1940, the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla took part in the Battle of Calabria
Battle of Calabria
The Battle of Calabria, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in World War II. It was fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. The battle occurred 30 miles to the east of Punta Stilo, the "toe" of Italy , on 9 July 1940...
. In September, Waller was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) for 'courage, enterprise, and devotion to duty.' During this period, he was also Mentioned in Despatches twice, once for work with the inshore squadron co-operating with the Army in Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
and again for good service in Greek waters. Waller earned a Bar to his DSO during the Battle of Cape Matapan
Battle of Cape Matapan
The Battle of Cape Matapan was a Second World War naval battle fought from 27–29 March 1941. The cape is on the southwest coast of Greece's Peloponnesian peninsula...
.
Battle of Sunda Strait
In October 1941, Waller took command of HMAS PerthHMAS Perth (D29)
HMAS Perth was a Modified Leander class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. She was constructed for the Royal Navy , and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936...
. A few months later, in January 1942, the ship was assigned to help defend the Dutch East Indies. The Allied fleet that Perth joined was crushed by a Japanese
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
fleet at the Battle of the Java Sea
Battle of the Java Sea
The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, that sealed the fate of the Netherlands East Indies....
in late February. Waller was lost with his ship when the cruiser was sunk in a battle
Battle of Sunda Strait
The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II. On the night of 28 February – 1 March 1942, the Australian light cruiser and the American heavy cruiser faced a major Imperial Japanese Navy task force. After a fierce battle of several hours duration, both Allied...
against an overwhelming Japanese force in the early hours of 1 March 1942. A third Mention in Despatches was awarded posthumously. Waller was survived by his wife and their two sons.
Legacy
Waller's name appears on the Australian War MemorialAustralian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, the Benalla Cenotaph, and the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, United Kingdom. Waller Street in Benalla and Waller House of Benalla College are both named after him. The Benalla Costume and Pioneer Museum displays his medals and one of his dress uniforms. A telescope used by Waller hangs in the Wardroom Mess at HMAS Cerberus
HMAS Cerberus, Victoria
HMAS Cerberus is the Royal Australian Navy's primary training establishment, located adjacent to Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is also an official bounded locality of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
.
HMAS Waller
HMAS Waller (SSG 75)
HMAS Waller is the third of six Collins class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy .Named for Captain Hector Waller, the boat was laid down in 1992, and launched in 1997...
, launched in 1999, was the third of the Collins class submarine
Collins class submarine
The Collins class is a class of six Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The Collins class takes its name from Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine Collins; all six submarines are named after significant RAN personnel who distinguished themselves in...
s to enter service, and was named in honour of Waller. On 13 March 2010, a memorial to Waller was unveiled in his home town of Benalla.
See also
- Admiralty type destroyer leader
- Albert H. RooksAlbert H. RooksAlbert Harold Rooks was a Captain in the United States Navy who posthumously received the Medal of Honor during World War II.-Biography:Albert Harold Rooks was born in Colton, Washington, on December 29, 1891...
- American-British-Dutch-Australian CommandAmerican-British-Dutch-Australian CommandThe American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
- Conrad Emil Lambert HelfrichConrad Emil Lambert HelfrichLuitenant-Admiraal Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich, GNL, KCB of the Royal Netherlands Navy was a leading Dutch naval figure of World War II. He was born in Semarang....
- Leander class cruiser (1931)Leander class cruiser (1931)The Leander class was a class of eight light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s that saw service in World War II. They were named after mythological figures, and all ships were commissioned between 1933 and 1936...
External links
- Australian War Memorial: 005002/13 contains a photograph of Waller (1940).
- Australian War Memorial: ART27505 contains a painting of Waller (1957).
- Benalla Costume and Pioneer Museum: Captain Hector Waller display contains photographs of a memorial to Waller (2010).