TORRES STRAITS 147 



of 3^ feet. Away from the channel itself the reefs still remain 

 practically uncharted. Such remarks as are still on the chart — 

 'Reef seen by Mr. Ashmore in 1811 (not surveyed)' and 'Fly 

 entered here (dangerous)' — do not inspire confidence. 



Much more recently Lieutenant-Commander Karl Oom, 

 R. A.N. , who had served in Challenger in Labrador, had completed 

 a survey of the western end of the channel and H.M, Australian 

 Ships Moresby and Vigilant had sounded and swept a portion of 

 the Great North East Channel ; two former Challenger officers were 

 also serving in these ships, 'Tancred Pass' and 'Lowry Islet' 

 bearing witness to their efforts. 



It was now decided to sweep the entire channel for obstructions 

 and widen it wherever possible, the survey to be given utmost 

 priority. 



Challenger's Captain was placed in command of Task Unit 

 70.^.2. under the operational control of the Commander U.S. 

 7th Fleet. The Unit consisted of the ship herself, the Royal Aus- 

 tralian Naval Trawlers Goolgwai, Samuel Benhow and Burraween, two 

 seine net fishing vessels, Polaris and Winter, and a motor launch. 

 All these vessels were fitted with echo sounding equipment and 

 an assortment of sweeping gear. 



Lieutenant- Commander R. T. Tripp and General Gordon were 

 posted from Challenger to the Goolgwai and Samuel Benhow respec- 

 tively, and these two ships, forming the advance guard of this 

 strangely assorted unit, sailed from Sydney for Torres Straits on 

 I 3th September, 1 944. Challenger was to hasten after them in early 

 October at the conclusion of her refit. 



Captain Wyatt had time only to see this operation getting under 

 way before his orders came to return to England. In the following 

 year he was to take over as Hydrographer of the Navy from Vice- 

 Admiral Sir John Edgell. This meant that he had reached the 

 highest post it is possible for a naval surveyor to hold, but in spite 

 of this knowledge it was a sad day for Captain Wyatt when he 

 had to leave Challenger knowing that she was his last sea-going 

 command. He had always been a man of the sea. He loved the 

 ship and her company and there were tears in his eyes when he 

 said good-bye. He was going, he told the men, to become a 'nine 

 o'clock sailor', and so the First Lieutenant, Bill, took over com- 

 mand of the ship. 



