Roland Perry - Red Lead: The Naval Cat With Nine Lives

The Red Lead story had been relayed, superficially through the decades, by sailors, and she had appeared in many books and articles. I had known of this cat saga for more than 65 years. It was first told to me by a Melbourne sailor and dentist, Bill Chalmers.

In 1979 and 1980, I carried out research for a fiction work set in Indonesia, Blood is a Stranger, and doubled up with Red Lead in mind, visiting certain locations, including the Sunda Strait and the Javanese coast. More recently I did reconnaissance and research in Indonesia again, as well as Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Australia, the UK and France.

I was delighted when Allen & Unwin publisher Tom Gilliatt asked if I had a story on a cat. Two previous books by me on animals at war, Bill the Bastard and Horrie the War Dog, had been successful, and I wasnt surprised by the request.

I had three other books on animals in mind: one was on an elephant in north Thailand.

Another publisher several years earlier asked if I had any more animal stories. I mentioned the elephant.

Is it an Australian elephant? I was asked.

No.

The publisher lost interest.

The other two true narratives were on cats at war. One was about Ooboo who had a cameo in Horrie. The other story was of Red Lead, which was set in Southeast Asia. I was a fraction more intrigued with the latter.

My thanks to the families of the key charactersthe sailors of HMAS Perth and other prisoners of the Japanese in World War II. They were guarded because of the experiences of their relatives, but still more than helpful in explaining the sailors circumstances. Some told anecdotes; others provided solid information, including private unpublished diaries.

Many thanks to Tom Gilliatt for backing the book and copyeditor Deonie Fiford.

Roland Perry

March 2020

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Hector Waller, the newly appointed captain of the cruiser HMAS Perth, could hardly believe his eyes. It was October 1941 and he was about to dine in a restaurant on the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales when a small dark cat splashed by.

Did you see that? Waller, 41, said to his companion, Petty Officer Dan Bolt. I thought I saw something that looked like a cat bobbing about in the water. Ive never seen a swimming cat before.

Nor have I, Bolt said. But I read once that the pharaohs had them, if they could swim. Noah had one on his ark, as a ratter.

Thered have to be two, wouldnt there? Waller said with a grin.

Good point, Captain.

The 35-year-old Bolt excused himself, stripped to his swimming trunks, climbed down the steps from the outside dining deck area and jumped into the river. He came up next to the cat, who dived under when Bolt hovered near it. Bolt swam on for about 100 yards and returned, his perfect over-arm style evident, with elbows high and fingers skimming the water. He stroked his way back with barely a ripple, except for his pounding feet.

The cat reached the steps before him and climbed up onto the restaurant deck, shook itself off and waddled over to Waller.

The young waitress, Anna, hurried over with a towel, and rubbed the cat.

Sorry about this, she said.

Dont be sorry, Waller said, I like cats. Whats his name?

She has no name. Just Puss Three. She has three siblings. Theyre nearly two months old.

The cat rubbed herself against Wallers legs. She meowed loudly and looked up at him. Her eyes were gold and large. She settled and sat, staring up. Waller put some meat close to her paws. She sniffed it and nudged it with a paw. It seemed she was more interested in Wallers attention than the food. She meowed when he looked away.

A real communicator, Bolt commented as he finished towelling off and took his seat opposite the captain.

Waller leaned down to pat the cat. She sat on her back legs and flicked a paw, claws retracted, at the captains prominent nose. Everyone laughed.

Look at that, Waller said, she has an extra thumb on each front paw.

Shes the most intelligent of the litter, Anna said. Keeps making a noise until you notice.

What breed? Waller asked.

Were not sure. They were born in Mae Sot, a town on the BurmaThai border. Dad met a woman there. Her name was Usa, and she was known as the cat woman of Mae Sot. She had a house full of them, apparently. The woman was happy to give the kittens to me. I love cats!

What was your dad doing there?

Collecting teak logs from Burma. His business is was, transporting the teak for builders here. The war has stopped that.

Wonderful eyes, Waller observed as he blinked at the cat. So bright! They really bore into you. Probing rather than intimidating.