On coming alongside in Maryborough, the personnel of "Pirie" found that only some of their expected mail had arrived, and there was no sign of their pay. A small number of sailors were allowed home on leave, but Mills ordered the rest to remain aboard the corvette while the foredeck was stripped off and replaced, which made living conditions in the already poor messdecks much worse: those aboard were exposed to the noise of repair work, tropical heat, and ankle-deep water in the living areas. The commander himself moved ashore to a hotel, but visited the ship daily to take local dignitaries on tours and spoke of the attack. Mills' wife had travelled to Maryborough, and the ship's men were expected to salute her as if she was a naval officer. A complaint about the living conditions was made to the Coxswain to pass on to Mills, but the commander was uncompassionate. Repairs were completed on 18 May, and "Pirie" sailed to Townsville to await reassignment. An expected leave period before resuming duties did not eventuate. The corvette was instructed to commence patrol and escort duties along Australia's east coast, to which Mills responded with . The signalman informed his shipmates of the response: some sailors later wrote that this was "the last straw".