Hector Macdonald Laws Waller DSO, RAN
| Born | 4 Apr 1900 | Benalla, Victoria, Australia | |
| Died | 1 Mar 1942 | (41) | HMAS Perth (D 29) |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for Hector Macdonald Laws Waller, RAN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMAS Stuart (D 00) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 1 Sep 1939 | 26 Sep 1940 |
| HMAS Vampire (D 68) | Capt. | Destroyer | 26 Sep 1940 | 27 Dec 1940 |
| HMAS Voyager (D 31) | Capt. | Destroyer | 27 Dec 1940 | 9 Jan 1941 |
| HMAS Stuart (D 00) | Capt. | Destroyer | 11 Jan 1941 | 21 Aug 1941 |
| HMAS Perth (D 29) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 24 Oct 1941 | 1 Mar 1942 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMAS Stuart (D 00)
17 Aug 1940
In the early morning the British battleships
HMS Warspite (Capt. D.B. Fisher, CBE, RN), HMS Malaya (Capt. A.F.E. Palliser, DSC, RN), HMS Ramillies (Capt. H.T. Baillie-Grohman, OBE, DSO, RN) the British heavy cruiser
HMS Kent (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN) escorted by the British destroyers
HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN), Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Hostile (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN), HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC, RN), HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. W.E. Wilson, RN) and the Australian destroyers
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, RAN), HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RAN) and HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN) carried out a bombardment of Italian positions around the fortress of Bardia.
Destroyer HMAS Vampire (D 68)
8 Oct 1940
Operation MB-6;
A British convoy with the merchants Memnon (7506 GRT), Lanarkshire (11275 GRT), Clan Macauley (10492 GRT) and Clan Ferguson (7347 GRT) left Alexandria for Malta on 8 October 1940. This convoy was escorted by the British Anti-Aircraft cruisers HMS Calcutta (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN), HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and the Australian destroyers HMS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN), HMS Voyager (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN), HMS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RAN) and the British destroyer HMS Wryneck (Cdr. R.H.D. Lane, RN).
Cover was provided by the Mediterranean Fleet (Admiral Cunningham) with the British battleships HMS Warspite (Capt. D.B. Fisher, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Malaya (Capt. A.F.E. Palliser, DSC, RN), HMS Ramillies (Capt. H.T. Baillie-Grohman, OBE, DSO, RN), the British aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. D.W. Boyd, DSC, RN), HMS Eagle (Capt. A.R.M. Bridge, RN), the British heavy cruiser HMS York (Capt. R.H. Portal, DSC, RN), the British light cruisers HMS Gloucester (Capt. H.A. Rowley, RN), HMS Liverpool (Capt. P.A. Read, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D. McCarthy, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN), the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN)escorted by the British destroyers HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Havock (Cdr. R.E. Courage, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN), HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Hasty, (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC, RN), HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.deW. Kitcat, RN), HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. W.E. Wilson, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Dainty (Cdr. M.S. Thomas, DSO, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and the Australian destroyers HMAS Vampire (Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) and HMAS Vendetta (Cdr. R. Rhoades RAN).
The convoy was not spotted and arrived safe at Malta on 11 October. The only damage sustaned was to the destroyer HMS Imperial that was mined off Malta and was out of action for over 6 months.
While on the return trip the Mediterranean Fleet was sighted by an Italian aircraft. The Italian Navy tried to intercept them in the Ionian Sea. In the night of 11/12 October the first Italian torpedo boat flottilla with Airone, Alcione and Ariel attacked HMS Ajax. The attack failed and Ajax sank Airone and Ariel, Alcione escaped. A little while later the Italian 11th destroyer flottilla, with Artigliere, Aviere, Camicia Nera and Geniere arrived at the scene. They were suprised by the radar-directed gunfire from HMS Ajax. Artigliere was heavily damaged and Aviere was lightly damaged. Camicia Nere tried to tow Artigliere away but she was sighted by a British Sunderland aircraft that homed in 3 Swordfish aircraft from HMS Illustrious. However, the torpedoes they fired didn't hit the Italian ships. Later the Britsh heavy cruiser HMS York arrived at the scene. Camicia Nera quickly slipped the towing line and sped off. After her crew had left the ship Artiglire was sunk by York.
While the Mediterranean Fleet was still on the return trip aircraft from HMS Illustrious and HMS Eagle attacked Leros and in the evening of the 14th the British light cruiser HMS Liverpool while south-east off Crete was hit in the bow by a torpedo from an Italian aircraft. The cruiser was heavily damaged and was repaired at the Mare Island Navy Yard in the USA. HMS Liverpool was not operational again until January 1942.
Destroyer HMAS Stuart (D 00)
28 Mar 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) was attached to Adm Cunningham battleships during the Battle of Matapan. On the night of 29/3 she attempted scuttling the disabled Italian heavy cruiser Zara but all 4 of her torpedoes missed.
24 Apr 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) evacuated Greek & british troops from Navplion harbor, Crete, to Alexandria.
26 Apr 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) rescued 600 stranded troops from Tolon Bay, Crete, ferried them to Navplion and transferred them to light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN) then returned to Tolon and embarked more, taking them to Suda Bay.
In the evening of 27 April sailed from Suda escorting convoy GA.14, consisting of troopship Glenearn, evacuating troops, with light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. G. Grantham, RN) destroyer HMAS Voyager (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN) and corvette Hyacinth (A/Lt.Cdr. F.C. Hopkins, RNR).
21 May 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) sailed from Alexandria with the other Australian destroyers HMAS Voyager (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN) and Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN) to join the cruiser force of Adm Rawlings off Crete, but was diverted to search for survivors of cruisers Fiji (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, RN) and Gloucester (Capt. H.A. Rowley, DSO, RN) sunk by the Luftwaffe. Stuart was unable to locate any of them and returned to Alexandria.
25 May 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) sailed from Alexandria escorting the troopship Glenroy, heading for Tymbaki, Greece, but air attacks compelled the abandonment of the attempt and both ships were back in Alexandria in the evening of the 26th.
29 May 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) sailed from Alexandria in company of destroyers Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine RN) and Defender (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, RN) to cover the return of evacuation transport Glengyle.