On Sunday June 1^st Legacy bid farewell the Operation Pilgrimage crew, undertaking an epic “Pilgrimage for Peace” to Singapore. 

Retracing the historic WWll route of Operation Jaywick, the voyage of the Krait departed the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney.  Along it’s journey Operation Pilgrimage will fundraise for Legacy as it carries with it messages of peace and good will to the Governments of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia from the Australian Government, WWll military associations and POW survivors.

Operation Jaywick is known as one of the most daring and celebrated special operations undertaken during World War II after eleven Australian and four British Army and Navy personnel succeeded in raiding Singapore Harbour, sinking seven Japanese transport vessels.

Today the Krait is one of Australia’s most famous and historically significant vessels, preserved as a floating maritime military museum on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

Operation Pilgrimage will follow the original route from WWll proceeding up the East Coast of Australia to Exmouth Gulf.  Along the way crew members will meet with community groups and 47 high schools to share the history of Operation Jaywick during WWll, and Australia’s message of peace and good will in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Operation Jaywick is one of the finest examples of the efforts of Australian service men and women in the darkest hours of our nation’s history.  Legacy continues to support families such as those involved in Operation Jaywick, and we are very pleased that donations to Operation Pilgrimage can go towards Legacy beneficiaries,” said Allan Miles, Operation Pilgrimage Coordinator.

The Operation Pilgrimage crew will voyage to Bali, through the Lombok Strait, and along the northern coastline of Java and Sumatra, before arriving in Singapore Harbour to meet Government officials 65 years to the day after the attack was launched.

They will also call at Jakarta to present a similar “Pilgrimage for Peace” greeting to the Indonesian Government and visit Bali to meet local authorities and place a plaque in remembrance of victims of the 2001 Bali bombings.

Legacy wishes the crew a safe journey and return, Operation Pilgrimage is expected to take 9 months and will return to Sydney after covering some 40,000kms and circumnavigating Australia.

Click here to view the press release from the Operation Pilgrimage Group.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation in tribute to the Voyage of the Krait.

To keep informed of the crews progress and read daily log enteries visit www.followthekrait.com.au