
The Avoch Image Library
No: 330 Contributor: John McLennan (McLeman) Year: 2013
The Amelia J, the ship John Mcleman went down withThis Is the Amelia J, that sent sail from Newcastle, NSW, Australia on the 21 Aug 1920 and never arrived at it destination of Hobart. John lived at 22 Dock
Picture added on 09 September 2013 at 09:03
Links to on-line archives:
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16867083
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23515272
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1764754?searchTerm=&searchLimits=l-publictag=message+in+a+bottle
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16867083
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23515272
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1764754?searchTerm=&searchLimits=l-publictag=message+in+a+bottle
Added by Andy Hickie on 13 September 2013
The Government initially refused to send a warship in search of the Amelia J., but the public outcry was so great that HMAS Platypus was sent to investigate the Furneaux Group, considered to be the most likely spot the vessel may have come to gr ief. On 23 September 1920, two De Havilland 9A biplanes took off to fly over the Furneaux Group. One of these, flown by Major Stutt, was last seen flying into heavy cloud on the north-western coast of Cape Barren Island before it too disappeared, and the search for the missing schooner had to be extended to cover it as well. The Platypus was later withdrawn to search for survivors of the ill-fated Southern Cross (q.v.) and replaced by the destroyer Swordsman.
Other searches centred on the Furneaux Group were also carried out by the SS Dolphin, the motor launch Toroa, and the SS Melbourne. No trace of either schooner or aircraft was ever found.