HMAS

Beryl (II)

HMAS Beryl (II) was requisitioned for naval service on 7 September 1939. On 12 September, she departed Sydney for Melbourne to be fitted out for minesweeping duties, arriving at Melbourne on 15 September.

HMAS Beryl (II) was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on 9 October 1939. She was to serve with Minesweeping Group 54 in Port Phillip Bay.

On 9 October 1939 Beryl (II) commissioned at Melbourne under the command of Commissioned Warrant Officer David Smith, RANR(S), and served in the Port Phillip Bay approaches as a unit of Minesweeping Group 54 until the beginning of February 1943.

The vessel then transferred to Minesweeping Group 63 based at Port Adelaide where she served until early December 1943, following which she proceeded to Sydney for conversion for boom defence duties. She arrived at Sydney on 15 December 1943 and on 30 December departed for Port Moresby to take up her new duties. She arrived at Port Moresby on 18 January 1944.

Beryl (II) served as boom gate vessel at Port Moresby until 20 April 1945 when she sailed, via east coast ports, to begin a refit at Melbourne where she arrived on 30 May 1945.

On 1 November 1945 Beryl (II) departed Melbourne for Sydney, arriving on 5 November, and she paid off to Reserve at Sydney on 13 December 1945.

Beryl (II) was returned to her owners, Cam and Sons Pty Ltd, Pyrmont, Sydney on 24 May 1946.

Part of the crew on board HMAS Beryl (II).