The Japanese forces south of Java were the cruisers and destroyers under Admiral Kondō. "Bendigo" had narrowly avoided that force which had already accounted for and not long after being sighted by "Bendigo", . On 8 March 1942 "Bendigo" and "Burnie" both arrived at Fremantle to join other ships, including "Ashville"s luckier companions and the last of the United States Asiatic Fleet surface units , and , escaping Java and Kondō's blocking force. The remainder of the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla's corvettes arrived safely on 9 March after having been among the rearguard of Allied naval forces all the way from Singapore.