Ordinary Seaman Samuel Rouget (Wandin), HMAS Fantome: Having been transferred back to HMAS Fantome in October, the ship undertakes patrols around the Pacific while basing itself at Suva Bay, Fiji. It was while he was here on this day that he accidentally drowned. He was 24 years old and as he has no known grave is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon, England.
A report that appeared in the Argus newspaper stated the following –‘He apparently fell off the pier whilst waiting for a boat, only his cap being found. He was a very steady man, and exceedingly well liked, and appears to have had no worries. It is thought likely that he was suffering from a type of malaria and he apparently slipped on a pier which is used for copra and is very slippery, especially as it was a rainy night. His body has been dragged for, without success, but sharks are numerous in the locality’.
Pte Alex Pope (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from scabies.
Pte Louis Herry (Lilydale), No 14 Australian General Hospital: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on board the HMAT Wiltshire to be discharged as medically unfit due to deafness.