Shellharbour City Council, in partnership with the 6th Machine Gun Battalion Association, will once again host its annual commemorative service at Bass Point Reserve to honour the bravery and sacrifice of four Australian soldiers who lost their lives during a World War II rescue mission off the Shellharbour coast.
On 16 May 1943, the United States tanker Cities Service Boston attempted to navigate closer to shore to avoid Japanese submarine activity when it encountered violent seas and inaccurate compass readings, ultimately running aground at Bass Point.
Soldiers from the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion were dispatched from nearby Kembla Grange to rescue the 62 American crew members.
Caption: Cities Service Boston (pictured) ran aground at Bass Point on 16 May, 1943. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Museum.
Despite the treacherous conditions, the entire American crew was saved. Tragically, four Australian soldiers were swept from the rocks by a powerful wave and lost their lives during the final stages of the rescue.
The Cities Service Boston itself was declared a total loss and later salvaged over a period of ten years, with many artefacts remaining part of Shellharbour's recorded history.
This annual service has been held for more than two decades and continues to draw community members who wish to acknowledge the soldiers' courage and selfless actions.
"This service is an important moment for our community to honour four Australian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving others," Shellharbour City mayor Chris Homer said.
"Their courage at Bass Point continues to inspire us more than eight decades on. We remain deeply grateful for their service, and we honour their families and the legacy they leave with us."
This year's service will be held at 11am on Sunday, 17 May 2026 at Bass Point Reserve and community members are warmly encouraged to attend and pay their respects.
