I think that it probably is the first visit by RAN vessels to St Johns. During WWII, the RAN Ships served mainly in the Mediterannean, Red Sea before being recalled to Australia to face the Japanese. From there on, Australian ships served mainly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and SE Asia, mainly with the USN including Leyte Gulf, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and northwards through the islands to Japan. There were some Australian Navy personnel involved in the Battle of the Atlantic, but they served on British not Australian Ships.