Sunset Service for Sydney
19 November 2007
On Monday, November 19 at 7pm, approximately the same time as HMAS Sydney is
believed to have sunk 66 years before, the City of Geraldton-Greenough and
Geraldton RSL Club joined forces to hold their annual memorial service.
The service to remember the 645-crew, who tragically lost their lives when
they went down with their ship, was held at the HMAS Sydney Memorial on
Mount Scott.
The hour long service included a wreath laying and the firing of flares
on the ocean by Geraldton Sea Rescue. TS Morrow Navel Cadets undertook
the ceremonial duties who were ably assisted by the Air Cadets.
Mystery and controversy continues to surround the sinking of the Sydney by
the German raider, HSK Kormoran. While most people accept it went down
somewhere between Geraldton and Carnarvon, the ship's wreck has never been
found *.
BACKGROUND
HMAS Sydney was built at Newcastle-on-Tyne, the keel being laid down in
1933 on HMS Phaeton. She was one of three light cruisers of the British
Modified Leander class, but was subsequently purchased by the Commonwealth
of Australia and renamed HMAS Sydney. She was launched on 22nd September
1934 and taken over from the builders on 24th September 1935.
HMAS Sydney was ordered to the Mediterranean when the Second World War broke
out. Her first action was to bombard the Libyan port of Bardia on the 21st
June 1940.
On the 27th June 1940 she went to sea in company with a cruiser squadron to
provide convoy cover. On the 28th June 1940 HMAS Sydney sank the Italian
destroyer Espero.
HMAS Sydney again cam under fire on the 9th July 1940, but it was the events
of the 19th July 1940, which added to her fame. In a tactical battle HMAS
Sydney engaged and disabled the extremely fast Italian Cruiser, Bartolomeo
Colleoni. Following this HMAS Sydney set off in pursuit of another Italian
Cruiser Giovanni Delle Bande Nere, but was forced to give up the chase when
the faster ship was out of range and HMAS Sydney was nearly out of
ammunition.
HMAS Sydney returned home to Australia in triumph. She saw further action
escorting convoys overseas, and also participated in convoy escort duties in
Western Australia. Geraldton was privileged to host three visits of HMAS
Sydney, the last being for the 18th to the 20th October 1941.
On the 19th November 1941, HMAS Sydney was returning from the Sunda Straits
after escorting the Hired Transport Zealandia to a handover with HMS Durban.
That evening HMAS Sydney encountered the German Raider HSK Kormoran and
became involved in an engagement that would eventually lead to the loss of
both ships.
No trace was found of HMAS Sydney or her valiant crew of 645 men. This
memorial is dedicated to their memory and to the great sacrifice they and
their families made to ensure the security of Australia.
Dated 19th November 2001.
Ode to the Fallen
They have no grave but the cruel sea
No flowers at their head,
A rusting hulk is their tombstone
Afast on the Ocean Bed
They went with songs to battle
They were young
Straight of limb, true of eye
Steady and aglow
They were staunch to the end
Against odds encountered,
They fell with their faces to the foe;
They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning,
We will remember them.
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