Eric Gordon (Ricky) Devereux

Eric Gordon (Ricky) Devereux

Personal Information
Date of Birth	7 Sep 1921
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	16 years, 7 days
Description	5'4" (1.63m) tall ; ; fresh complexion ; hazel eyes ; dark brown hair ; scar over right eyebrow
Occupation	Mill hand
Military Information
Reg Number	22078
Date of Enlistment	30 Apr 1938
Rank	Able Seaman
Unit/Formation	HMAS Sydney
Post War Details
Fate	KIA 20 Nov 1941

Pre War

Aged 14, Ricky worked at Curtis's timber mill in Bedfordale, remaining there for 2 years until he joined the Navy in April 1938.

War Service

On entering the Navy he was sent to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria to undertake general seamanship training. ON completion of his training he was posted to the HMAS Sydney in Feb 1939 as an Ordinary Seaman. Sydney, a Leander Class Light Cruiser, capable of 32 knots was in Fremantle when war broke out.

HMAS Sydney remained on local patrol duties around the Australian coastline until April 1940 based on Fremantle. The Sydney played a very minor role with the first convoy of troops sent to the Middle East, escorting the bulk of the ships that were to comprise Convoy US 1 from Sydney to Jervis Bay on the NSW coast.

She was to play a far more important role with Convoy US 2 comprising Strathaird, Dunera, Ettrick, Neuralia and Nevasa (carrying WA personnel), joining them in the Great Australian Bight on 19 Apr 1940. Arriving in Fremanlte on 21 Apr 1940, the convoy paused to allow local leave and to take on stores before departing on 22 Apr 1940 with Sydney and HMS Ramilles as escort On 28 Apr 1940. Sydney was relieved by the French cruiser Suffren and turned for home.

However, before she reached Fremantle, on 1 May 1940 she received new orders requiring her to head north again to Colombo in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) via a call at Singapore for bunker fuel. From there she sailed via Aden and the Suez Canal to Alexandria in Egypt where she joined the British 7th Cruiser Squadron for duty in the Mediterranean. While in the Mediterranean, the Sydney had participated in a bombardment of Bardia in Libya and in the sinking of the Italian ship Espero. Ricky was a member of the Sydney's cutter crew that rescued many of the Italian survivors of the action. She was to withstand many attacks by enemy aircraft, to the point that she was considered 'lucky'. Ricky was a member of a 4 inch gun, part of the ship's air defence. On 8 Jul 1940 the Sydney was part of the vanguard of the British Fleet that engaged an Italian fleet consisting of 2 Battleships, 12 Cruisers, and many Destroyers. While action followed, it was inconclusive and the Sydney returned to Alexandria to replace their depleted stock of ammunition.

On 18 Jul 1940 Sydney with a Destroyer escort sailed to provide support for a destroyer flotilla operating near Greece. The next morning Sydney sighted two Italian Cruisers. Ricky's diary gives a more personal insight into the action that followed.

July 19th - At 0200 hours Dodecanese Island sighted – assumed 2nd degree of readiness. 0615 reverted to 3rd degree. 0735 enemy reported by Hyperion. Increased to 25 knots – 0815 increased to 28 knots. Approx 0820 came abreast destroyers Havock , Hindy, Hero and Ilex. 0825 sighted enemy cruisers – increased to full speed. At 0828 Sydney opened fire at 20,000 yards – 0835. Made contact with destroyers. Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni sunk at 0920 after furious battle – 0921 hit by shell through forward funnel – upper deck sprayed with shrapnel and splinters – Havock picked up Italian survivors 545 in all. 1025 Sydney ceased fire as other cruiser was out of range. Before it got out of range we hit it several times – reported as badly damaged. 1200 we passed small island on way back to Alex. 1510 turned back to go to assistance of Havock who had been heavily bombed while picking up survivors – had been hit in engine room. Many of the Italians on board were killed besides a few of our own sailors. 1630 joined Havock – she was doing quite a good speed although her engine room was damaged. Approx. 1900 Sydney and destroyers heavily bombed – no hits registered. 2100 parted company with destroyers.

In early September the Sydney was involved in the bombardment of Naval bases at Scarpanto and Stampelia before enjoying leave in Athens and then Christmas in Malta where the Sydney was given a refit and painted. In January 1941 she was replaced in the Mediterranean by the HMAS Perth which headed for Fremantle via Alexandria and the Seychelles. While refueling in the Seychelles she received word from a cargo ship that it was being shelled by a raider. With incomplete information, the Sydney was unable to locate the raider and arrived back in Fremantle on 4 Feb 1941.

The West Australian crew members were granted two weeks leave while Sydney sailed for the east coast. At the conclusion of their leave they boarded a train for Sydney NSW to rejoin their ship which then returned to its duties in West Australian waters.

In Jun 1941

Post War

Notes

Details of the HMAS Sydney's voyages are an amalgam of information taken from Across the Sea to War Peter Plowman, Rosenburg Publishing, and the unpublished The Story of Gordon"Toosdee" Devereux MM by Jan Kramer.

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