A 67 year maritime mystery was solved n March 15 2008 when the
sunken remains of HMAS Sydney was discovered in 2500 meter
deep water 150 klms off the West Australian coast.
After a naval engagement with the German Cruiser Kormoron
which was disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel, as the Sydney
approached to within 1000 metres the Kormoron attacked with
artillery and torpedoes, in the following battle the Kormoron
was sunk, survivors from the Kormoron were the last to see the
Sydney which sank with all crew on board.
There were 645 Australian naval personnel lost with the Sydney
and the location of the wreck has been a mystery all these years since.
Click on photos to enbiggen
There is a magnificent memorial to the Sydney in the WA coastal city of
Geraldton, it has a memorial wall with the names and ratings of all
who were lost from her, there is a domed structure with 645
stainless steel seagulls in flight adorning the roof, this represents
the 645 men lost on the Sydney.
The final resting places of both the Kormoron and the Sydney have been declared "War Graves"
and as such are forever protected from looters and souvenir hunters.
11 comments:
Peter, it is just fascinating to me that they could discover a boat that has been down that long! (as long as I have been alive)
All gave some,
Some gave all.
War is such a sad thing.... my heart goes out to all th sailors lost, and their families.
What a beautiful memorial for them... only goes to show, a great loss like that is the same all over the world Peter.
Thank you for sharing this with me/us.
Finding them is like bringing them finally home to those who love them.
So many lost lives....
It's a lovely memorial to all...thanks Peter.
Peter ~ It seems like a very nice tribute. Have you ever seen the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii? It is a floating memorial over where the ship is laying on the bottom of the harbor. It is almost a surreal feeling taking a boat out to it and then standing there over those lost sailors entombed there. ~ jb///
What a find of a sad loss. I 'll have to read more on it!!
Funny i googled it you come on first!!
I'm glad to read the mystery is solved.
God bless the Aussies, our staunchest allies!
hardly anyone left who remembers that day, I'm sure.
The seagull dome is absolutely breathtaking. What a great tribute.
We have a distant relative who lies in the Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Have yet to go pay our respects.
How wonderful that they finally were able to find this, but so sad the loss of lives. The memorial looks really nice.
Thanks Peter!
Peter,
How was she found? A team like those led by Bob Ballard who found the Titanic and many others?
This will probably show up soon on cable, I'll keep an eye out for it and check the listings weekly.
I hope you had a good Easter.
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