Qantas flying-boat air service between Australia, French New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Fiji stopped according to the Australia Station Intelligence Summary dated 1 July 1955

An item reported that the Qantas flying-boat air service between Sydney, Australia and Noumea (French New Caledonia), New Hebrides (nowdays Republic of Vanatua) and Fiji was stopped on 1 June 1955. The service was taken over by two separate services. One while using Skymaster land-based aircraft started on 8 June with a fortnightly line to Noumea and another line every four weeks with as destination Nandi, Fiji. Within some months were airstrips at Vila and Espiritu Santo completed and the present service would be extended.(1)

Note

1. Qantas operated flying boats since the late 1930s first with Empire flying boats later Catalinas until the Second World War and after the war again.

Source

Website Royal Australian Navy, Sea Power Centre.

French patrol vessel FS Auguste Bénébig P779 2020-

Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review at Sydney, Australia March 2026

Clinton J Down Photography, Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia

Thanks for us allowing to republish

IMO 4765622A so-called Patrouilleur Outre-mer to be translated as Overseas Patrol Ship. She was stationed in French New Caledonia. Laid down by Socarenam, Saint-Malo, France on 8 October 2020, launched on 15 October 2021, completed on 17 January 2023 and in service on 5 May 2023. 

Japanese aircraft attacked US naval force near Solomon Islands according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 27 February 1942

An item reported that Japanese heavy bombers attacked on 20 February without success an US Naval force north of the Solomon Islands even loosing 16-17 aircraft. The American ships keep undamaged although 2 planes and a pilot were lost. According to the J.I.C. was this the attack reported from New Caledonia on 24 February No. 76.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 79 dated 27 February 1942

Heavy losses for Japanese during the Battle of the Coral Sea according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee Daily summary dated 9 May 1942

An item referred to the naval engagement with the Japanese fleet reported in the summary No. 149 dated 8 May. The Japanese suffered heavily evidently in the Coral Sea losing 1 aircraft carrier, 1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 2 destroyers, 4 gunboats and 2 transport or supply vessels. Damaged were 1 aircraft carrier,1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 1 seaplane tender and 2 transports or supply vessels. The Allied losses were still unknown although on 7 May was an American naval tanker bombed and sunk 140 miles north west of the north end of New Caledonia.(1)

Note

1. Battle of the Coral Sea between USA and Australia against Japan between 4-8 May 1942.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 150 dated 9 May 1942

French aviso Vaucluse visited the Dutch East Indies in 1907

The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1907-1908 reported that the French cruiser Vaucluse (1) visited the Dutch East Indies harbour Tandjong Priok between 12-19 November 1907. The Dutch newspaper De locomotief dated 16 November 1907 reported her arrival at Tandjong Priok on 13 November. Described as an advice yacht annex transport commanding officer [François Marie Louis] De la Croix de Castries. Lacking salute guns she was not able to make the common salute. She entered the harbour just to bunker coal. Next Monday she would continue her voyage coming from Noumea, French New Caledonia and Port Kennedy, Australia bound for Colombo, Ceylon. Made of wool in 1901, measurement 1,613 tons, horsepower 900 hp, armament of 6 guns and a crew of 132 men including 9 officers.

Note

1. Meurthe type. Building ordered in October 1885, laid down at Rochefort, France in May 1886, launched on 17 April 1901, sunk after an English air attack in February 1943 and broken up in 1948.

Source

Stephen S. Roberts, French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859-1914.  

Headquarters of the French Naval Forces in the Pacific transferred to New Caledonia according to the Australia Station Intelligence Summary dated 1 October 1956

An item reported that from 19 September on the headquarters of the French Naval Forces in the Pacific and positioned in Indo-China was transferred to Noumea, New Caledonia. Rear admiral Douguet was replaced by rear admiral Toulouse-Lautrec as Commander-in-Chief. On 14 September was the naval arsenal at Saigon handed over to the Vietnamese. The French Naval Commando in the Indo-China area existed no longer although a small naval party remained.

Source

Website Royal Australian Navy, Sea Power Centre.

Japanese cargo screw steamship (ex-Hermelin 1918-1928, St. Francois 1928-1929, Gia Long 1929-1930, Dumont d’Urville 1930-1936) Joan Moller 1936-1942 (Gyoyu Maru 1942-1944)

Built by Hong Kong&Whampoa Dock Co., Hong Kong in January 1918 as Hermelin for Bruusgaard Kiøsteurd D/SA/S, Norway, since 1928 as St. Francis Xavier of Compagnie Navale de l’Oceanie, Noumea, French New Caledonia, as Gia Long since 1929 of same company, as Dumont d’Urville of Societe des S. Contractuels des Messageries Maritimes, Noumea, purchased by Moller Line Ltd, Shanghai, China in 1936, scuttled at Hong Kong in 1941, salvaged by Japanese in 1942, renamed Gyoyu Maru and torpedoed by the American submarine USS Seahorse on 3 July 1944. In 1939 United Kingdom-flagged, homeport Hong Kong and call sign GZDT. Grosss tonnage 2,232 tons, under deck 1,786 tons, net tonnage 1,377 tons, deadweight 2,990 tons and as dimensions 270.0 x 40.1 x 19.4 x 19 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, single screw, coal fuelled, 215 nhp and 9.5 (normal cruising)-10.5 (maximum) knots speed. 

Enemy submarines active in the vicinity of Noumea according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 8 August 1942

An item reported that in the vicinity of Noumea, [French] New Caledonia several contacts indicated that enemy submarines were patrolling in that area.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No.241 dated 8 August 1942.

Japanese tuna fishery at Noumea, French New Caledonia ended according to the Commercial Fisheries Review dated October 1964 No. 10

An item reported that the Japanese fishing company ended her activities her tuna fishery activities at Noumea, French New Caledonia and asked the Fishery Agency for permission to retain the 7,500 una quota now allowed to her base at Noumea. At the same time tried the company to establish a base in the Caribbean for the tuna fishery for exporting tuna to the USA, Canada and Cuba.

Enemy submarine on the Pacific Ocean sighted according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 30 April 1942

An item reported that an enemy submarine was sighted 540 miles east of Noumea, New Caledonia.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 141 dated 30 April 1942.

Japanese forces just invading islands northeast of Australia according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 21 March 1942

An item reported that during a Japanese air attack on 19 March the naval headquarters at Darwin, Australia were heavily damaged, fortunately with just a few casualties. It was believed that the Japanese force wanted to conqueror strategic points on islands northeast of Australia. Lacking a sufficient force it was not to be expected that wanted to invade the Fijis, New Caledonia or even Northeastern Australia.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 101 dated 21 March 1942

Enemy submarine successful active in New Caledonia according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee Daily summary dated 8 May 1942

An item reported that on 5 May an American merchant ship was abandoned by her crew on a distance of 120 miles south west of Noumea. New Caledonia. The ship was last seen on fire. Two days later was a second American merchant ship by an enemy submarine on a distance of 30 miles south of Noumea. The U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee stated that this was the first time that an enemy submarine was successful active in New Caledonia.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 149 dated 8 May 1942

French exiles transport Picardie returning from New Caledonia according to the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 28 August 1879

An item reported that daily the first exiles from New Caledonia were expected to return to France. The French cabinet pointed out the small Mediterranean port town Port Vendres as the place where the first transport Picardie with 650 passengers on board was to arrive. The transport had already passed the Suez canal and her arrival was ultimo to be on the 30th.

The French naval strength and tasks in 1873 according to the magazine Mitteilungen aus dem Gebiete des Seewesens 1873 no. 1-2

An item reported that the French fleet should number in 1873 94 ships with a total crew of 20.000 men, an totally 28.431 men in service. Of the 27 available armoured ships were 7 to be fitted out, the remaining 19 stayed in reserve. The ships in active service were to be divided over:
Mediterranean squadron numbering 11 ships (2 armoured frigates, 4 armoured corvettes, 1 armoured battery, 2 avisos and 2 training ships)
36 ships for cruising purposes in the West Indies, South Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, East Indies water, China, Japan, Danube and so on
24 ships for service along the coastlines and in the harbours of Algeria, Egypt, New Caledonia and Reunion
15 ships for special purposes including 2 for maintaining a continue line between New Caledonia and France. 

French screw steam aviso-transport Durance visited the Dutch East Indies according to the Dutch newspaper De Preanger-bode dated 25 October 1904

An item reported that the French destroyer Durance (1) arrived at Tandjong-Priok, Dutch East Indies underway from Tahiti/French Polynesia via Noumea, French New Caledonia and Port Kennedy, Australia towards Colombo, Ceylon.(2) Commanded by Collas and with a crew of 9 officers and 136 men. She was built in 1897, an armament of 4 guns and a displacement of 309 tons.

Notes
1. Screw steam aviso-transport, laid down at Rochefort, France on 1 March 1882, launched on 10 January 1887 and sold to be broken up on 30 December 1910.
2. The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1904-1905.reported that she visited Tandjong-Priok, Dutch East Indies between 23-27 October 1904. 

Boiler exploded on board of the French screw steam aviso-transport Durance according to the Dutch newspaper Rotterdamsch nieuwsblad dated 30 June 1904

An item reported that on board of the French advice yacht Durance (1) underway from Papeete, Tahiti/French Polynesia towards Noumea, French New Caledonia a boiler exploded in which accident 15 sailors were killed. Another Dutch newspaper De grondwet dated 5 July calls her a cruiser and that the accident found place in San Francisco, USA.

Note
1. Screw steam aviso-transport, laid down at Rochefort, France on 1 March 1882, launched on 10 January 1887 and sold to be broken up on 30 December 1910.

Japanese firm exploiting iron mines on French New Caledonia according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1937 no. 6

An item referred to the magazine Jap.Chr. dated 19 August 1937 reported that the Japan Steel Pipe Company was allowed by the government of French New Caledonia to establish a firm to exploit the ore mines eat that moment French property. The estimated capacity was 20 million tons of ore of 50-60% purity. 

Japanese Trocal shells fishery along coasts of French New Caledonia according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1937 no. 6

An item referred to the le Yacht dated 10 July 1937 reporting that Japanese fishermen now were involved in the Troca shells fishery along the coasts of French New Caledonia. Already was one32 tons  motor boat seized after breaking the fishery rules. 

French transports transporting convicts of the Paris Commune to New Caledonia according to Dutch newspapers in 1872-1873

The newspaper Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated Saturday 20 April 1872 published an item reporting that last Monday the first ships on which the communists were embarked departed towards Caledonia namely the Danae and the Guerrière.(1) They were to be followed on the 20^th by the transports Orne and Finistèrre. The French cabinet is taken the affaire seriously. The former editor of the Lanterne Rochefort (2) would not depart with one of these ship due to his worse health. He seemed to have written a letter to Thiers requesting that he was allowed to go to the Hijerische eilanden. Probably this would be allowed.

The newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 13 May reported that Rochefort was nursed in the hospital of the fortress Bayard. Both his children were permitted by the cabinet to visit due to his worse condition. The transport le Rhin departed towards New Caledonia with around 100 convicts on baord including thRoux, Pélissier, Etienne, Lombard, Urbain, Trinquet and Taverier all members of the commune.

In the Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated 30 May was described that many of the men involved in the Parisian revolt fled to England. One of them described to a correspondent of the Daily News how they worse and inhuman were treated after being taken prisoner. Together with other prisoners he was brought in the morning of 6 August to the station and from there to la Rochelle in nailed wagons for 36 hours causing the death of three men in his wagon. They were around midnight transferred to the transport le Cométe and brought to the l’Ile d’Aix.

The newspaper Goessche Courant dated 15 June reported that last Monday the steam transport la Gierrièrre embarked 260 convicts on board at the island Aix all banned to New Caledonia. According the newspapers were among them Paschal Grousset, Jourde, Verdure and Mourot, the latter being the former secretary of Henri Rochefort. The former editor of the la Lanterne was still prisoner in the Boyard fortress. The newspaper le Siècle said that it could not be proven that he would not banned but instead imprisoned in the fortress Lamalgue.

The newspaper Goessche Courant dated 1 May 1873 reported that the French transport l’Orne underway with 800 convicts to New Caledonia had to visit Melbourne for fresh victuals while 300 men on board suffered from scurvy.

Notes

1. The Paris Commune was a working class government which ruled Paris between 18/28 March and 28 May 1871 and was bloodily ended by the French federal government. The founding of the Commune must be placed with as background the Franco-Prussian war which was lost by the France empire and during which Paris was besieged and after the armistice German troops marching triumphal into Paris.

2. Victor Henri Rochefort, Marquis de Rochefort-Luçay (30 January 1830 Paris-30 June 1913 Aix-les-Bains). He published his own newspaper called La Lanterne of which the 11^th edition was seized and Rochefort in August 1868 condemned to a payment 10,000 francs and a year in the prison. He was finally transported to New Caledonia escaping there in 1874 towards San Francisco, USA.