Armidale episode 5

EPISODE 5: A difficult decision.

Picking the crew to row the whaler, who will stay with the rafts and who will go? The motor boat makes good headway until the engine gives out. Catalinas, together with Hudsons and Beaufighters, are combing the Timor Sea.

“I remember one bloke ... He said, ‘I’m off to the canteen’. He just jumped off the bloody raft and went. That’s the last we saw of him. Going for the canteen.” . . . .

“Of course, we were quickly using up our energy and our sores were getting worse. Even to hold the oar was an effort with our cracked, swollen, and festering hands. How long could we last?” Ordinary Seaman, Rex Pullen.