Allan a Murray

HMAS Nepal Allan a Murray

This book is a description of the service in early World War II of the Australian-crewed destroyer HMAS Nepal when Allan's great uncle, Bobby Forbes, was a crew member.

A chameleon, ever changing in form and identity, the destroyer started life intended for the British Royal Navy as the Norseman, she was then earmarked briefly for service with the Royal Netherlands Navy before ultimately being commissioned into the Australian Navy as HMAS Nepal. Soon after commissioning, she played the role of the fictional HMS Torrin in the 1942 film 'In Which We Serve'.

In addition to the identity changes there were a number of changes of form. Originally intended as a torpedo destroyer, for a brief period after commissioning her anti-aircraft capabilities were bolstered before then having her torpedo capability restored. Similarly, she was originally intended as a mine sweeping destroyer but after commissioning her anti-mine capabilities were replaced with depth charges to fight submarines.

HMAS Nepal was the last of the N Sub-class destroyers to commission into the Australian Navy. She was laid down in the first week of the War and after working up with the Home Fleet and time in the north Atlantic ocean, HMAS Nepal transferred to the Indian Ocean, spending most of the War there. Her story in the period covered by this book is the most interesting and varied of Australia's five N Sub-class destroyers.

This book also looks at the question of why HMAS Nepal was not awarded the battle honour 'ATLANTIC 1939-43'.

The Foreword to this book is by Cameron Forbes, a grandson of Bobby Forbes.