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
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
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.
Well spotted, John. Looks like they were civilians. Learnt something new today, thanks, mate! The Sinking of HMAS Sydney: 7. The Casualties
It is ALWAYS great news to hear that the missing have been found! Hopefully it brings closer to the families. Regards, Andy
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
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.
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
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
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