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Farewell to the last member of Operation Jaywick
Vale Mostyn Berryman 9 November 1923–6 August 2020
MOSTYN (MOSS) BERRYMAN, who died on 6 August 2020, was the last surviving member of the epic Second World War commando raid Operation Jaywick. Moss was an Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy when recruited for the raid, and trained and served in secrecy with its 14-man team of Z-Special Force operatives through much of 1943. This extraordinary venture took those operatives far into the Japanese-held waters of Indonesia. Posing as Malay fishermen aboard the Japanese fishing vessel Krait, the team mounted a covert raid on shipping in Singapore Harbour. Six commandos embarked aboard three folding canoes and approached Singapore under cover of darkness. On the night of 26 September 1943, they entered the harbour and used limpet mines to sink or damage six Japanese merchant ships. Krait successfully recovered all six members of the strike team and returned to Western Australia in early October 1943 without being detected. Moss remained aboard Krait during the raid and manned its Bren guns and other small arms, but was also a reserve commando for the canoe team. Blessed with excellent eyesight, he spent much of his time at the top of Krait’s mast looking out for other vessels, which were given a wide berth. Operation Jaywick had an enormous impact on Japan’s confidence, as it caught the occupying force in Singapore completely by surprise, and mystified its military leadership. Indeed, most Japanese officials refused to believe the raid had been carried out by Allied forces and instead thought local Singaporean insurgents were responsible. At the conclusion of Operation Jaywick, Moss and others went on to serve in other theatres, but key members of the raid later undertook a second covert operation, codenamed Rimau. Tragically, this mission was a failure, and all of the commandos involved lost their lives. Moss’s final wartime deployment was aboard the destroyer HMAS Vendetta, and he was demobilised in February 1946.
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01 Moss Berryman aboard Krait at the museum, 2014. Image Andrew Frolows/ANMM 02 Mostyn Berryman (front row, centre) and fellow commandos on board MV Krait en route to the Singapore area during Operation Jaywick. Image Australian War Memorial P00986.001
For many years he was owed an additional five shillings per day in ‘danger money’ that had been promised to the Jaywick operatives, and when it was finally paid the amount was topped up to $5,000. After the war, Moss returned to stockbrokers S C Ward & Co, for whom he had he worked as a clerk before the war began. He remained with them until his retirement 46 years later. He married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Cant, who died in 2018. The museum was fortunate to form a direct association with Moss when restoration of Krait commenced. This work was carried out in collaboration with the Australian War Memorial (in whose collection Krait resides) and involved the combined efforts of the museum’s Curatorial and Fleet staff and external contractors to return the vessel to its 1943 appearance and configuration. The restoration coincided with the 75th anniversary of Operation Jaywick and was intended to share the raid’s story and significance with the public. From his home in Adelaide, Moss liaised with curator David Payne and reviewed plans of Krait’s 1943 configuration, advised on aspects of the vessel’s appearance and outfitting, and regularly checked up on the restoration’s progress. His input reinforced the team’s confidence that the restored vessel would genuinely reflect what the Jaywick operatives saw when they undertook their dangerous mission aboard Krait during September and October 1943. Krait’s restoration was completed in time for the 75th anniversary of Operation Jaywick on 26 September 2018. Unfortunately, for medical reasons Moss was unable to travel to Sydney, but thanks to mobile phones, he was ‘virtually’ brought aboard during early sea trials. This enabled him to again hear the sound of the reliable Gardner engine that took him and his mates deep into enemy territory, and safely back to Australian shores. Moss and his family have kindly offered objects to the museum that he carried with him aboard Krait during Operation Jaywick. These include a machete and truncheon that are now part of the National Maritime Collection. Other items, including his RAN boatswain’s whistle and a sarong worn as part of his Malay fisherman disguise, were recently offered as a donation by his daughter Rosemary Hayward. Moss Berryman is survived by his four daughters and numerous grand- and great-grandchildren.
Acknowledgments The Australian National Maritime Museum acknowledges the support provided to the museum by all our volunteers, members, sponsors, donors and friends. The museum particularly acknowledges the following people who have made a significant contribution to the museum in an enduring way or who have made or facilitated significant benefaction to it.
Honorary Fellows John Mullen AM Peter Dexter AM
Ambassadors Christine Sadler David and Jennie Sutherland
Major Donors – SY Ena Conservation Fund David and Jennie Sutherland Foundation Honorary Life Members Yvonne Abadee Dr Kathy Abbass Robert Albert AO RFD RD Bob Allan Vivian Balmer Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC Maria Bentley Mark Bethwaite AM Paul Binsted Marcus Blackmore AM David Blackley John Blanchfield Alexander Books Ian Bowie Ron Brown OAM Paul Bruce Anthony Buckley Richard Bunting Capt Richard Burgess AM Kevin Byrne Sue Calwell RADM David Campbell AM Marion Carter Robert Clifford AO Helen Clift Hon Peter Collins AM QC John Coombs Kay Cottee AO Helen Coulson OAM Vice Admiral Russell Crane AO CSM John Cunneen Laurie Dilks Anthony Duignan Leonard Ely Dr Nigel Erskine John Farrell Kevin Fewster AM Bernard Flack Daina Fletcher Sally Fletcher Teresia Fors Derek Freeman CDR Geoff Geraghty AM Anthony Gibbs Brian Gibson am RADM Stephen Gilmore AM CSC RAN Paul Gorrick Lee Graham Macklan Gridley Sir James Hardy KBE OBE RADM Simon Harrington AM Christopher Harry Gaye Hart AM Peter Harvie Janita Hercus Philip Hercus Robyn Holt William Hopkins Julia Horne RADM Tony Hunt AO Marilyn Jenner John Jeremy AM Vice Admiral Peter Jones AO DSC Michael Kailis Hon Dr Tricia Kavanagh John Keelty Helen Kenny Kris Klugman OAM Jean Lane Judy Lee David Leigh Keith Leleu OAM Andrew Lishmund James Litten Hugo Llorens Tim Lloyd Ian Mackinder Stuart Mayer Jack McBurney Bruce McDonald AM Lyn McHale Ronald McJannett VADM JOnathan Mead AM RAN Ron Miller Arthur Moss Patrick Moss Rob Mundle OAM Alwyn Murray Martin Nakata David O’Connor Gary Paquet David Payne Prof John Penrose AM Neville Perry Hon Justice Anthe Philippides Peter Pigott AM Len Price Eda Ritchie AM John Rothwell AO Kay Saunders AM Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN David Scott-Smith Sergio Sergi Mervyn Sheehan Ann Sherry AO Shane Simpson AM Peter John Sinclair AM CSC Peter R Sinclair AC KStJ (RADM) John Singleton AM Brian Skingsley Eva Skira Bruce Stannard AM J J Stephens OAM Michael Stevens Neville Stevens AO Frank Talbot AM Mitchell Turner Adam Watson Jeanette Wheildon Hon Margaret White ao Mary-Louise Williams AM Nerolie Withnall Cecilia Woolford (nee Caffrey) Honorary Research Associates Lindsey Shaw Jeffrey Mellefont Paul Hundley Rear Admiral Peter Briggs Dr Ian MacLeod Dr Nigel Erskine David Payne John Dikkenberg
Congratulations to Stephen Martin, who won the Signals 132 caption competition with this entry: ‘Pink curtains, you said?’
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Signals ISSN 1033-4688 Editor Janine Flew Assistant editor Laura Signorelli Staff photographer Andrew Frolows Design & production Austen Kaupe Printed in Australia by Pegasus Print Group Material from Signals may be reproduced, but only with the editor’s permission. Editorial and advertising enquiries signals@sea.museum – deadline midJanuary, April, July, October for issues March, June, September, December Signals is online Search all issues at sea.museum/signals Signals back issues Back issues $4 each or 10 for $30 Extra copies of current issue $4.95 Call The Store 02 9298 3698
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