Australian Consulate-General
Noumea
New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna

HMAS Adelaide (I)

 

The Australian Consul-General joined the Mayor and Honorary Mayor of Noumea, the Free France Foundation in New Caledonia and the representative of the FANC at the Gare Maritime in unveiling on Tuesday 19 September a plaque commemorating the role of HMAS Adelaide (I) during the ralliement of New Caledonia.

The 19 September marks the day that HMAS Adelaide (I) arrived in Noumea escorting Henry Sautot, French Resident Commissionner in New Hebrides. This led to the resignation of Governor Denis and the ‘ralliement’ of New Caledonia by the Free French under the leadership of Governor Sautot.

The plaque, which was designed and commissioned by the Free France Foundation in New Caledonia with support from the Mairie de Nouméa, the Australian Consulate General and the Royal Australian Navy, recognises an important historical moment in the shared history between Australia and New Caledonia.

 

 

 (Mayor and Honorary Mayor of Noumea, the Free France Foundation in New Caledonia and the representative of the FANC during the ceremony)