HMAS Sydney found!!!!

Discussion in 'World War 2' started by Antipodean Andy, Mar 16, 2008.

  1. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

    This is very exciting. At last the families know where their fathers, sons, brother and uncles rest. At last...

    Wreck of HMAS Sydney found | NEWS.com.au

    THE wreckage of HMAS Sydney, sunk off the West Australian coast during World War II, has been found, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced today.

    The Sydney's entire crew of 645 went down with the ship in the Indian Ocean and its location has been a mystery for 66 years.

    The wreckage of a German ship - the merchant raider Kormoran - believed to have sunk the Australian warship was found at the weekend in waters about 800 kilometres north of Perth.

    It's believed both sites will be protected as war graves.

    More to follow shortly
     
  2. John

    John Active Member

    Hello Andy,

    That is great news about the SYDNEY. May her crew now Rest in Peace

    John
     
  3. Hugh

    Hugh New Member

    Good news, Andy. I hope this find now gives comfort to the relations of the 645 who were lost. I do hope that both wreck sites will be respected as war graves.
    Regards
    Hugh
     
  4. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

    That's the plan, Hugh. Everyone is now looking forward to first pictures of the wreck. If she's as deep as Kormoran, there's the chance of submersibles going down and filming a la Titanic. Now she's found, I imagine some more money to do a comprehensive survey wil be forthcoming.

    All the naysayers and consipracy theorists have been proved wrong as well.
     
  5. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

  6. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

  7. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

  8. Nostalgair

    Nostalgair New Member

    Great news!

    A mystery solved and finally some answers for those left behind.

    RIP
     
  9. John

    John Active Member

    Hello Andy,

    HMAS Sydney death toll shows 4 Canteen Staff. Would they be non navel personel.

    John
     
  10. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

  11. Kitty

    Kitty New Member

    Oh i am so pleased about this.
     
  12. Andy M

    Andy M New Member

    It is ALWAYS great news to hear that the missing have been found! Hopefully it brings closer to the families.

    Regards,

    Andy
     
  13. John

    John Active Member

    I am wondering if the 4 civilians that went down with the Sydney would have been awarded the same medal as the sailors. Would the families of the 4 be entitled to war pensions and legacy.

    John
     
  14. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

    I imagine so, John, but who knows what the red tape back then was like.

    Welcome to the forum Andy M! Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introductions thread if you haven't already. Hope you enjoy it here. The grave site of effectively 645 Australians is a fair chunk out of our MIA ranks. A happy day.
     
  15. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

  16. John

    John Active Member

    The 4 canteen staff who died on the HMAS Sydney are not listed on the Roll of Honor at the AWM. There is also no records of their names in NAA that I could find.

    John
     
  17. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    They are on the CWGC:

    Name: McCALLUM, DUNCAN
    Initials: D
    Nationality: Australian
    Rank: Canteen Assistant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Navy
    Unit Text: H.M.A.S. Sydney
    Age: 18
    Date of Death: 20/11/1941
    Additional information: Son of Neil McCallum, and of Janet McCallum, of Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 62, Column 1.
    Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

    Name: PSAILA, SAMUEL
    Initials: S
    Nationality: Australian
    Rank: Canteen Assistant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Navy
    Unit Text: H.M.A.S. Sydney
    Date of Death: 20/11/1941
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 62, Column 1.
    Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

    Name: OPAS, MAURICE
    Initials: M
    Nationality: Australian
    Rank: Canteen Manager
    Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Navy
    Unit Text: H.M.A.S. Sydney
    Age: 38
    Date of Death: 20/11/1941
    Additional information: Son of Abraham Louis and Lottie Opas; husband of Bessie Opas, of Bondi, New South Wales, Australia.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 62, Column 1.
    Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

    Name: ZAMMITT, SALVATORE MICHAEL
    Initials: S M
    Nationality: Australian
    Rank: Canteen Manager
    Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Navy
    Unit Text: H.M.A.S. Sydney
    Date of Death: 20/11/1941
    Additional information: Son of Laurence and Josephine Zammitt; husband of Caterina Zammitt, of Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 62, Column 1.
    Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
     
  18. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    The only name I could find on the NAA were OPAS and PSAILA, but no digitised copies
     
  19. John

    John Active Member

    Hello Kyt,

    Thank you very much for the info re 4 canteen staff. I must need my glasses updated as I missed all that info when I went looking for it.

    John
     
  20. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

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