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� Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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� Topic: Aussie PT Boat men
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I just came across an interesting article in a 1945 newspaper,which reported that 2 Australian servicemen were awarded The American Legion of Merit for Meritorious services as liason officers attached to a PT Ron in the South West Pacific Theatre.
Major J Throsby (AIF) and Lt Eric Howett(RANR),were the first Australians assigned to PT Boats and were with them in all major operations off New Guinea,New Britain,New Ireland and the Phillipines.
Lt Howett was seconded to Admiral Barbey for piloting the invasion fleet to Lae in 1943 he was wounded in 1944 when the Boat he was on was attacked by a Japanese plane off New Ireland.
Anyone have an idea about which Ron or which Boats they served on ?

Michael

Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Dec 10, 2012 - 11:42pm
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm

hi michael/do not jnow of any aussies assigned to a boat but there was an australian company next to out base at either treasury or rendova,be well
earl, i think it was at rendova
we would visit with each other at times.a nice nunch of guys

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 5:28am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Michael;
Major Throsby is very well known in PT circles, Chic Baughman, Ray Leary, Jim Miller, Skip Dean, "Demon" DeMoine and George Vanderbilt, were some of his close friends out in the area. I believe he was also made a member of Peter Tare. He wrote his PT bio ("Along with Cousin Sam") and it was posted on the Peter Tare website, It is an excellent first hand narrative.
http://www.petertare.org/menu.htm

He worked with RON 6 Div 17, RON 7, 8, 9, 12, 21, and 24. He was not assigned to a specific boat, he usually accompanied the RON CO or the OTC of the specific patrol. He worked with the PT's all the way to Morotai He was relieved by LT.Allan Nock, AIF.
LT Howlett, RANR, I have not read about before.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 5:37am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks Ted,
much appreciated,i believe they had both lived in New Guinea,so both knew the lay of the land and the surrounding waters like the back of their hands.
Early tour guides if you like

cheers

Michael

Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 11:00am
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm

There is a nice story here on our website that was written by Earl Palmer Brown, Skipper of PT-122. The above Peter Tare web site was his doing and I believe he was one of the last president of the organization. in the 1990's we became good email buddies, Its been sometime since hearing from him, he might have past on by now. We had discussed and he sent copies of the story about Major Throsby, "Along with Cousin Sam", and my wife word processed (electronic file) the story for him in the late 1990's when he was planning to create the website.

OUT IN THE AREA
by Earl P. Brown, Skipper of PT-122
[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/Lt-EarlBrown-Out-of-the-Area.pdf[/url]

Here is a photo of a Poster of his beloved PT122, he commission the artwork and sent me a printed copy:

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 11:13am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Dick;
There is also another print out there of PT 122, I have seen it, however the boat is green camo and it is a port quarter view.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 5:49pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Your right, of course. I took a look and never realize it was 122. This is a photo of the poster that HQ sells, or did sell. It is a signed water color.

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 5:59pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Thats the one I have.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 8:20pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

I just found out that Lt Eric M Howitt was wounded on the 29th April 1944 whilst on PT 346.
PT 346,347 and 350 were all attacked on that day by Planes from Green Island (Friendly Fire),with terrible loss of life.
PT346- 9 Killed 9 Wounded
PT347- 2 Killed 3 Wounded
PT350- 3 Killed 5 Wounded

Lest We Forget

Michael

Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Dec 11, 2012 - 10:44pm
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm

Micheal;
For full story go to :http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/ptboat/PT-346.html
Howlett is listed as WIA.
It has a link to Dan Williams(son of PT 347 Skipper) excellent website.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 12, 2012 - 7:08am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks Ted,
much appreciated,i believe they had both lived in New Guinea,so both knew the lay of the land and the surrounding waters like the back of their hands.
Early tour guides if you like
cheers

Michael

I’m very interested to hear the memories regarding these two gentlemen. My name is Chris and I’m the grandson of James Herbert Throsby. I have many memories of him as a wonderful grandfather, so down to earth and family orientated. He was a Major with the 36th Battalion (dubbed Ike’s Marines). The battalion had a lot of heavy service in PNG. My grandfather was attached as a liaison to the USN PT operations. It’s so nice to hear the perspective of the USN. It’s ANZAC Day today here in Australia and one of my sons who is an Army Cadet had his role in the ceremonies along with his unit this morning, early. Just thought I’d share a comment. Kind regards, Chris

Posted By: Chris Whitney | Posted on: Apr 24, 2022 - 4:04pm
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Apr 9, 2022 - 11:23am

Thanks Ted,
much appreciated,i believe they had both lived in New Guinea,so both knew the lay of the land and the surrounding waters like the back of their hands.
Early tour guides if you like
cheers

Michael

I’m very interested to hear the memories regarding these two gentlemen. My name is Chris and I’m the grandson of James Herbert Throsby. I have many memories of him as a wonderful grandfather, so down to earth and family orientated. He was a Major with the 36th Battalion (dubbed Ike’s Marines). The battalion had a lot of heavy service in PNG. My grandfather was attached as a liaison to the USN PT operations. It’s so nice to hear the perspective of the USN. It’s ANZAC Day today here in Australia and one of my sons who is an Army Cadet had his role in the ceremonies along with his unit this morning, early. Just thought I’d share a comment. Kind regards, Chris

Posted By: Chris Whitney | Posted on: Apr 26, 2022 - 8:21pm
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Apr 9, 2022 - 11:23am

Thanks Ted,
much appreciated,i believe they had both lived in New Guinea,so both knew the lay of the land and the surrounding waters like the back of their hands.
Early tour guides if you like
cheers

Michael

I’m very interested to hear the memories regarding these two gentlemen. My name is Chris and I’m the grandson of James Herbert Throsby. I have many memories of him as a wonderful grandfather, so down to earth and family orientated. He was a Major with the 36th Battalion (dubbed Ike’s Marines). The battalion had a lot of heavy service in PNG. My grandfather was attached as a liaison to the USN PT operations. It’s so nice to hear the perspective of the USN. It’s ANZAC Day today here in Australia and one of my sons who is an Army Cadet had his role in the ceremonies along with his unit this morning, early. Just thought I’d share a comment. Kind regards, Chris

Posted By: Chris Whitney | Posted on: Apr 27, 2022 - 5:56pm
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Apr 9, 2022 - 11:23am

Thanks Ted,
much appreciated,i believe they had both lived in New Guinea,so both knew the lay of the land and the surrounding waters like the back of their hands.
Early tour guides if you like
cheers

Michael

I’m very interested to hear the memories regarding these two gentlemen. My name is Chris and I’m the grandson of James Herbert Throsby. I have many memories of him as a wonderful grandfather, so down to earth and family orientated. He was a Major with the 36th Battalion (dubbed Ike’s Marines). The battalion had a lot of heavy service in PNG. My grandfather was attached as a liaison to the USN PT operations. It’s so nice to hear the perspective of the USN. It’s ANZAC Day today here in Australia and one of my sons who is an Army Cadet had his role in the ceremonies along with his unit this morning, early. Just thought I’d share a comment. Kind regards, Chris

Posted By: Chris Whitney | Posted on: Apr 28, 2022 - 6:06pm
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Apr 9, 2022 - 11:23am

Chris . . .

It has probably been 25-years ago when I received a document you might be interested in. But because of the length of time, I’m having troubles trying to find the electronic file. Probably within a day or so and after searching through dozen of hard Drive I hope to recover it and will post it hear as soon as I can.

As memory serves me I had received an unpublished document given to me by a pen-pal friend, Earl Palmer Brown, a skipper of PT 122. This document was a photocopy, of a photocopy, of a photocopy and probably even more copy generations of a document, which was written by Major James Throsby, a war-time friend which he knew. This document was given to me so I could reproduce it in a readable condition. Since the document sent to me was in a barely readable condition, I had my wife Mary Ann, attempt to reproduce it on my firm’s phototypesetting equipment. After struggling with it for several days, she had the document completed and several copies made, When finished I sent the copies along with a copy of the original electronic files back to Earl, probably early 1997. At the time, It was his desire to provide copies to the members of the Peter Tare organization during their 1997 Reunion.

Hopefully, I can find the files and convert them to a PDF so the file can be copied and shared. If memory serves me correctly (very doubtful at my age) it was 40 to 50 pages of typeset text and it’s title was something containing With Cousin Sam or something similar. Keep your fingers crossed as I attempt to find the drives, let a lone read them.

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 29, 2022 - 2:26pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Chris . . .

Here is an excerpt from[b] “At Close Quarters, PT Boats in the United States Navy”[/b]
by Captain Robert J. Bulkley, Jr. Naval History Division, Washington 1962. pages 210-211

[blue]“Commander Mumma built up his staff gradually over a period of months. Commander Munroe was his Chief Staff Officer; most of the other members of the staff were drawn from the squadrons. Two staff officers who should be mentioned were Maj. James T. Throsby, AIF, who joined the task group late in December 1942, to provide liaison between the PT's and the Australian ground forces, and Lt. Eric M. Howitt, RANVR, who joined the boats at Morobe as a pilot. Major Throsby had longer continuous service in Task Group 70.1 than any other person, American or Australian. He accompanied the boats all the way up the New Guinea coast, into Morotai in the Halmaheras, and finally to Balikpapan in Borneo. Lieutenant Howitt, who in peacetime had been, among other things, a master of vessels engaged in inter-island trade, knew the New Guinea and New Britain coasts like the back of his hand. He guided the boats through reefs and into harbors at night with uncanny accuracy, and usually was the coolest person on the boat when the shooting began. For their invaluable assistance both of these officers were awarded the Legion of Merit; Throsby in the degree of Legionnaire, Howitt in the degree of Officer.”[/blue]

Here is another excerpt from “Knights of the Sea” published by PT Boats Inc.,
This from the [b]“Knights of the Sea”[/b] publication This material was probably derived from the [b]“At Close Quarter”[/b] book in which I have posted above.

[blue][b]JAMES H. THROSBY, Major,
Australian Imperial Forces.[/b]

Served as Coastwatcher and liaison officer, 7th Fleet Staff, between PTs and Australian ground forces from Dec. 1942 to Jan. 1944 with longer continuous time in Task Group 70.1 than any other individual, American or Australian. Provided information of most probable points of contact against Japanese water borne supply lines and evacuation where they connected with supply lines on land. Accompanied by Rons 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 all the way up to the New Guinea coast into Morotai and Balikpapan in Borneo. Participated actively in 30 combat patrols frequently far behind enemy lines. Contributed greatly to the operations that resulted in the successful amphibious landings at Nassau Bay, Lae and Finschhafen, on Papua New Guinea .

For invaluable assistance, awarded Legion of Merit in the degree of Legionnaire on 3/29/44. Jan. and Feb. 1943 operated under command of MTB Division Seventeen, which became part of Ron 8. Tent-mate of Barry Atkins in Papua and New Guinea. Died in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia in May 1981.[/blue]

[green]The above information was taken from, page 470, “Knights of the Sea” publication, 1982, produced by PT Boats, Inc. It was a short history / facts of PT Boats and those that served on, serviced, and maintained during World War II. It includes a listing of all known PT Boat veterans at the date of publication as well as member-friends of the organization, in which Major Thorsby, being one of those members.[/green]

Dick . . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 29, 2022 - 2:36pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Hello Dick
I copied the Along with Cousin Sam story to my PC and will post it here tomorrow. I missed the part where you dont actually have it. I think I saved it directly from the Peter Tare website when it was still active.
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 29, 2022 - 10:03pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Hi Jerry . . .

Yes if you have an easy copy to get, please post it. In the mean time I have which drive the file is stored on, now to the garage attic and dig through the 50 or so Hard Drives stored there.

When Earl Brown was the president of Peter Tare, I prepared two different copies for him. One he could give to their web designer to post in the site., and an other, more formatted for printing. I’m not sure what I have, but will post what I hopefully find if it is different from your copy.

Thanks again Jerry.

As another note, a couple of earlier post in this topic had missing files because of the Photobucket’s hostage program. Well I have been able o find those items and updated the posts to there original, or some what original state. Two post, one with a pdf file and a image, the other with a single image.

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 30, 2022 - 11:41am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Dick I will email it to you and then perhaps you can post it? or put it into our library? It is too large to post into the forum.
Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 1, 2022 - 12:46am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

OK Dick email sent to gdinc address
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 1, 2022 - 12:35pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Got it Jerry, thanks much.

I will convert it to PDF and then post it a little later.

I found my original digital files, I'll post the "print publication" one along with your website copy.

Thanks again,
Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: May 1, 2022 - 2:28pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Thanks guys, I look forward to seeing it. [:-cheers-:]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 1, 2022 - 6:09pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Linked here are two versions of the “Along with cousin SAM” document, The two documents are the same except for the addition of a few photos that were added to the website version. The photos aren’t necessarily germane to the story, other than being of the same time period and mission area. They were not part of James Throsby unpublished document as sent to me, early on, but I believe added form the Peter Tare library.

[b]The first link[/b] is a .DOC file from Jerry Gilmartin which was taken from the website prior to its demise (the file has been converted to a PDF file for ease of use.)

[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/Along-with-Cousin-Sam-docu.pdf[/url]

[b]The second link[/b] is from my drive archives back in 1997, where my firm reproduced the document in two forms. This linked version was to be printed and handed out to attendees at the 1997 Peter Tare Reunion. The copy supplied here is the print published version which is formatted as a book. My other archive, not linked, was just the original recreation of the text file only for use on the Peter Tare website.

[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/Along-With-Cousin-SAM-Publication.pdf[/url]

These will be added to the “Document” page soon.

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: May 1, 2022 - 8:44pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Thank You Dick!

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 1, 2022 - 9:37pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Thanks Ted,
much appreciated,i believe they had both lived in New Guinea,so both knew the lay of the land and the surrounding waters like the back of their hands.
Early tour guides if you like
cheers

Michael

I’m very interested to hear the memories regarding these two gentlemen. My name is Chris and I’m the grandson of James Herbert Throsby. I have many memories of him as a wonderful grandfather, so down to earth and family orientated. He was a Major with the 36th Battalion (dubbed Ike’s Marines). The battalion had a lot of heavy service in PNG. My grandfather was attached as a liaison to the USN PT operations. It’s so nice to hear the perspective of the USN. It’s ANZAC Day today here in Australia and one of my sons who is an Army Cadet had his role in the ceremonies along with his unit this morning, early. Just thought I’d share a comment. Kind regards, Chris

Posted By: Chris Whitney | Posted on: Apr 26, 2023 - 10:58am
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Apr 9, 2022 - 11:23am

Hi Chris!
Did you already read "Along with Cousin Sam" that is linked by Dick (Moderator) two posts before yours? It is a very good read.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 30, 2023 - 9:28pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm