Emile Dechaineux

Infobox Military Person
name=Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux
born= birth date|1902|10|3
died= death date and age|1944|10|21|1902|10|3


caption=Captain Emile Dechaineux, c. 1943.
placeofbirth = Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
placeofdeath = at sea, in the Leyte Gulf, Pacific Ocean
placeofburial= at sea, in the Leyte Gulf, Pacific Ocean
nickname=
residence = Australia
nationality = Australian
allegiance=Australia
serviceyears=1919-1944
rank=Captain
branch=Royal Australian Navy
commands=HMAS "Warramunga"; HMAS "Australia"
unit=
battles=
awards=Distinguished Service Cross Legion of Merit (United States)
relations= Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux DSC (3 October 1902 - 21 October 1944) was an Australian mariner who achieved the rank of Captain in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. He was killed by a Japanese aircraft in what is believed to be the first ever "kamikaze" attack, in the lead-up to the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Biography

Dechaineux was born in Launceston, Tasmania. He entered the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay at the age of 14, graduated three years later, and was promoted to Midshipman in 1920. In the first half of the 20th century, the RAN worked very closely with the British Royal Navy (RN), frequently exchanging personnel. Dechaineux spent much of the 1920s training with the RN as a torpedo officer and naval air observer.

In September 1932 Dechaineux achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1935 he was appointed Squadron Torpedo Officer, on board HMAS "Canberra". The following year he married Mary Harbottle. In 1937, Dechaineux returned to the UK to attend the Royal Naval College and in June he was promoted to Commander.

At the outbreak of World War II, Dechaineux was attached to the RN Tactical and Minesweeping divisions until April 1940. Then, as the commander of the destroyer HMS "Vivacious", he made five trips to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Dechaineux was then given command of HMS "Eglinton", which patrolled in the North Sea. In 1941, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. [London Gazette: [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=35204&geotype=London&gpn=3745&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=&exact=&atleast=&similar= (Supplement) no. 35204, page 3745,] 27 June1941]

Dechaineux returned to Australia later in 1941, as Director of Operations at the Navy Office in Melbourne. In June 1943, following the outbreak of war with Japan, he was given command of the tactical (destroyer) component of RAN-US Navy Task Force 74. From his immediate command, HMAS "Warramunga", Dechaineux commanded operations in waters around Australia and New Guinea, including support for amphibious landings, such as those in the Admiralty Islands. He was promoted to Captain on 31 December 1943. [London Gazette: [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=36326&geotype=London&gpn=229&type=ArchivedIssuePage&all=&exact=&atleast=&similar= (Supplement) no. 36326, page 229,] 11 January 1944]

On 9 March 1944, Dechaineux was given command of the heavy cruiser HMAS "Australia", the flagship of both the RAN and Task Force 74, under the overall force commander Commodore John Collins. The "Australia" supported Allied landings at Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea and on the islands of Biak, Noemfoor and Morotai.

On 21 October 1944, HMAS "Australia" was supporting the landings in Leyte Gulf. Off Leyte Island, gunners from HMAS "Australia" and HMAS "Shropshire" fired at and hit a Japanese aircraft. Initially, the plane flew away from the ships, but it subsequently turned and dived into "Australia". The plane struck the superstructure of the "Australia" above the bridge. Although the 200 kg (440 pound) bomb carried by the plane failed to explode, burning fuel and debris were spewed over a large area. Dechaineux was disembowelled by shrapnel and died a few hours later. He was buried at sea that night. Another 30 crew members died as a result of the attack; among the wounded was Commodore Collins.

The US government posthumously appointed Dechaineux an Officer of the Legion of Merit.

In 1990 the Australian government announced that a new Collins class submarine would be named HMAS "Dechaineux" in his memory. It was launched in 2002 in the presence of Dechaineux's widow, Mary Purbrick, and his son, former RAN Commodore Peter Dechaineux.

Honours & Awards

Captain Emile Dechaineux has been decorated with the following honours:

References

External links

[http://www.awm.gov.au/people/157.asp Australian War Memorial, "Captain Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux, DSC"]