 In October 1944 , Quickmatch was transferred to Australian waters and underwent her annual refit at Sydney from November to December . Once the refit was completed she operated mainly off the Australian coast . During the early hours of 25 December 1944 , the Navy Office in Melbourne received an SOS from the SS Robert J. Walker , reporting that she had been torpedoed by a submarine while travelling from Fremantle , Western Australia , to Sydney . Aircraft were dispatched to provide aerial cover , and HMA Ships Quickmatch , Kiama and Yandra were directed to Robert J. Walker 's position . Quickmatch and Yandra were to operate against the submarine , while Kiama was to take the Robert J. Walker under tow . Arriving at the reported location at approximately 23 : 30 that evening , Quickmatch , under the command of Becher , and Kiama patrolled the vicinity in search of the submarine and Robert J. Walker 's crew . Sixty @-@ seven men were discovered in lifeboats at 05 : 45 the following morning and were taken aboard Quickmatch ; Robert J. Walker had sunk two hours earlier with the loss of two crew . 
