Territory Stories

Chai Cheng

Details:

Title

Chai Cheng,

Name

Chai Cheng,

Also known as

Cheng, Chai,

Collection

WWII Roll of Honour, HistoryNT, Second World War, 1939-1945,

Date

2021,

Occupation

Engineman,

Service

Australian Merchant Navy,

Unit

MV Neptuna,

Date of death

1942-02-19,

Place of burial

Kahlin Beach, Berrimah War Cemetery, Adelaide River War Cemetary grave No. N.A.13,

Biographical notes

Cheng Chai was a 45 year old Engineman on the MV Neptuna. He was buried on 20 February 1942 at Kahlin Beach, and reburied on 29 June 1942 at Berrimah War Cemetery. His final resting place is Adelaide River War Cemetary grave No. N.A.13. Further information on his life has yet to be discovered.,

History

The Neptuna had a Hong Kong registration, and had been doing the Hong Kong - Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) run, which explains her predominantly Chinese crew. She arrived in Darwin Harbour loaded with two hundred depth charges and a very large quantity of anti-aircraft shells for the Navy and Army. When the Japanese air attack began the Neptuna was berthed alongside the main wharf awaiting maintenance. The first bomb hit the ship below the waterline and she began taking on water; she then received a direct hit causing her to catch on fire. When the fire entered No. 3 and No. 4 hatches, the Neptuna blew apart, creating a huge mushroom cloud caused by the explosion of the ammunition she was carrying. Most of the surviving ship's company were rescued from the wharf and the harbour and taken aboard HMAS Platypus, a depot ship being used as a casualty clearing station. Thirty-six of the ship's crew were killed, including the Master, Captain William Michie.,

Notes

Metadata: Attribution International 4.0 (CC-BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0,

Language

English,

Subject

Second World War, 1939-1945, Bombing of Darwin, Roll of Honour, Northern Territory history, MV Neptuna,

File type

image/tiff,

Use

No known copyright,

Copyright owner

Library & Archives NT, Library & Archives NT,