HMAS Parramatta (D55)

The first HMAS "Parramatta" (D55) was a River class torpedo boat destroyer laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited of Govan at Glasgow in Scotland, launched on 9 February 1910 by Mrs. H. E. Asquith, wife of the British Prime Minister, commissioned as Royal Navy ship HMS "Parramatta" for the voyage to Australia on 10 September 1910, and passed to the control of the Australian government at Broome in Western Australia on 15 November 1910.

"Parramatta", along with sister ship HMAS "Yarra", was the first ship to be commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy.

Operational history

"Parramatta" operated with the fleet in the search for the German Pacific Squadron, took part in the capture of the German Colonies in the South West Pacific, was present at the surrender of German New Guinea at Rabaul on 13 September 1914, assisted in the consolidation of the Australian occupation of New Guinea and New Britain, served with the British Far East Patrol at Sandakan in Borneo and Singapore, operated in the Mediterranean as part of the British 5th Destroyer Flotilla, operated with an Allied Squadron at Constantinople, returned to Australia on 21 May 1919, paid off at Sydney on 22 July 1919, recommissioned for the period 17 May to 13 June 1920 for the visit of the Prince of Wales in HMS "Renown", was based at Westernport as a training ship from October 1924 until November 1925, and was placed in Reserve with a Care and Maintenance Party in May 1926 for Naval Reserve Training at Adelaide.

HMAS "Parramatta" paid off on 20 April 1928 and handed over to the Cockatoo Dockyard for dismantling on 17 October 1929. The hulk was used as accommodation by the NSW Penal Department before it was sold to George Rhodes of Cowan as scrap. The remains were deposited on a mudbank north of Milson Island, on the Hawkesbury River.

Memorial

Beginning on 7 July 1973, the bow and stern sections were salvaged. They were converted to memorials, with the stern installed on the south bank of the Parramatta River in Parramatta, New South Wales and the bow at Garden Island, New South Wales.

References

* [http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Parramatta_(I) Sea Power Centre webpage on HMAS Parramatta (I)]
* Memorial information boards located in Parramatta, New South Wales.