Captain Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux
Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux was born on 3 October 1902 at Launceston, Tasmania, son of Florent Vincent Emile Lucien Dechaineux, an artist from Belgium, and his native-born wife Isabella Jane, née Briant. The family moved to Hobart where Emile was educated at the Friends' High School. In 1916 he entered the RANC, Jervis Bay. An average scholar and sportsman who was popular with his peers, he graduated in 1919 and was promoted Midshipman in January 1920.
After cruises in HMA Ships Australia (I) and Anzac (I), Dechaineux was sent to Britain for sea and shore training with the RN. He returned to Australia in 1924, joined HMAS Brisbane (I) and was promoted Lieutenant before transferring to HMAS Melbourne (I) in 1925. Back in England in 1926-29, he qualified as a torpedo officer and a naval (air) observer, and was awarded the Ogilvy Medal (1929) for gaining first place in the Advanced Torpedo Course. In 1929-34 he served in turn in Anzac and Australia, and in HMS Kempenfelt. Promoted Lieutenant Commander (September 1932), in 1935-36 he was Squadron Torpedo Officer in HMAS Canberra (I). On 20 November 1936 he married Mary Grant Harbottle in St David's Anglican Cathedral, Hobart.
In 1937 Dechaineux traveled to England to attend the RN Staff College. His promotion to Commander on 30 June that year, ahead of all his contemporaries, marked him out for advancement to high rank. Between December 1937 and April 1940 he worked in the Admiralty's Tactical and Minesweeping divisions. During the evacuation of Dunkirk, France, from 29 May to 3 June 1940, he had temporary command of the destroyer, HMS Vivacious, and completed five trips. He subsequently commanded the destroyer flotilla-leader, HMS Eglinton, in which he patrolled the North Sea and conducted successful searches for German E-boats. For “outstanding zeal and devotion to duty”, he was awarded the DSC (1941).
Home again, in October 1941 Dechaineux became Director of Operations at Navy Office, Melbourne. He commissioned the Tribal Class destroyer, HMAS Warramunga (I) in November 1942. In June 1943 he was appointed Commander, Task Group 74.2, and had tactical control of a formation of destroyers which included ships of the United States Navy (USN). Warramunga operated in Australian and New Guinea waters. From November the vessel took part in bombardment and escort duties, supporting allied landings at Arawe and Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Saidor, New Guinea, and the Admiralty Islands. Again selected early, Dechaineux was promoted Captain on 31 December that year.
On 9 March 1944 he took command of the flagship of Task Force 74, the heavy cruiser, HMAS Australia. In adapting to the much larger vessel, he realised the need to rely on the expertise of specialist officers; he appreciated the merit of his staff, and endorsed proposals to improve the equipment and armament of the ship through unofficial American channels. Between April and September Australia supported landings at Hollandia, on the north coast of Netherlands New Guinea, and at the nearby islands of Biak, Noemfoor and Morotai; she also participated in the bombardments of Wakde Island and of Aitape, New Guinea. By October Australia was in the Philippines.
Tall, with a misleadingly remote bearing, Dechaineux was regarded by his officers as an approachable, generous and humane captain; his sailors found that he held high expectations of them and that he was fair quick to praise performances out of the ordinary, though hard on wrongdoers. He kept the ship's company informed of impending actions and their likely outcomes, and constantly tried to foster the men's welfare and to maintain their morale.
At dawn on 21 October 1944, while supporting the US landings at Leyte Gulf, Australia was attacked by a Japanese Navy dive-bomber. Her anti-aircraft guns engaged the plane, but it deliberately crashed into the ship's foremast, causing an explosion and an intense fire on the bridge. Dechaineux was mortally wounded and died some hours later. He was buried at sea that night, along with 29 officers and sailors who had also perished. The US Government posthumously appointed him an officer of the Legion of Merit for his seamanship, professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty. Dechaineux was survived by his wife, daughter, and son Peter who later joined the RAN and rose to the rank of Commodore.
In recognition of his service to the RAN the Collins Class submarine HMAS Dechaineux was named in his honour.
From left: Captain EFV Dechaineux, DSC, RAN; Commodore JA Collins, CB, RAN; and Commander GGO Gatacre, DSC*, RAN on the compass platform of HMAS Australia during naval operations in the Pacific. Dechaineux was killed and Collins badly injured on 21 October 1944 following an attack by a Japanese suicide aircraft.
