Lieutenant Tom Robbins

Tom Robbins completed a Batchelor in Engineering in 1940 and was commissioned into the Navy as an Engineering Officer. In June 1941 he joined the ship’s company of the cruiser HMAS Perth, stationed in the Mediterranean. At the time HMAS Perth was in the port of Alexandria undergoing repair of battle damage inflicted earlier in the year. Not long after, Perth returned to Australia and by the end of 1941 was carrying out patrols and escort duties in New Caledonia, New Guinea and Indonesia. On 13 March 1942, the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Curtin) announced to the nation that HMAS Perth and HMAS Yarra, operating in the Java Sea, were missing. He said: “In view of the circumstances surrounding operations in that area it is with deep regret that I announce that these two ships must be presumed lost”. The list of missing personnel in the Adelaide Advertiser the following day included Sub-Lieutenant Thomas Fellows Robbins. Indeed, HMAS Perth had been torpedoed by Japanese warships and sank in the Sunda Straight on 1 March 1942. After the crew abandoned ship, Sub-Lieutenant Robbins was pulled from the water by an enemy ship and returned to Japan where he was interned at the Zentsuji Prisoner of War Camp. After the Japanese surrender in August 1945 he was liberated by US troops and arrived back in Sydney a month later. He was one of only 218, from the Perth's company of 686, that were recovered from Japanese Prisoner of War camps and repatriated to Australia.

Promoted during his internment, Lieutenant Tom Robbins is proudly included on the Leigh Creek Honour Roll – Lest we Forget.

Leigh Creek Honour Roll

Other Countries

Taylor, Margaret - Royal Navy (WW2)
Taylor, Bob - Captain (British Army)

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."