Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA095
Thursday, 19 November 2009
AUSTRALIAN NAVAL TRAGEDY REMEMBERED TODAY
On the 68th anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Sydney during the Second World War,
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin encouraged Australians to pay tribute to the 645 men
who lost their lives in the tragedy.
“The sinking of Sydney and the death of her crew was one of Australia’s greatest naval
tragedies. I hope that, now the wreck has been located and the commission of inquiry into the
loss of the Sydney has handed down its findings, the families of those lost have some certainty
as to the fate of their loved ones,” Mr Griffin said.
HMAS Sydney sailed from Fremantle on 11 November 1941 on a routine escort mission. On her
way home, Sydney crossed paths with the German raider Kormoran 130 miles off the West
Australian coastline.
After failing to identify itself Kormoran, masquerading as an unarmed Dutch merchant ship,
opened fire on Sydney. Despite fierce attempts to defend herself, Sydney sank killing the 645
Australian crew onboard. Although Sydney’s return fire forced Kormoran to abandon ship, some
317 of her German crew survived and were later interred in Australia.
“For more than 60 years, the location of the Sydney and Kormoran has remained a mystery until
both wrecks were located on 17 March 2008 around 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western
Australia,” Mr Griffin said.
“Today we commemorate the 645 Australians who died onboard and pay tribute to their service,
sacrifice and bravery. We also acknowledge the suffering and grief of the families left behind.
“To ensure the memory of those lost endures, in May this year the Australian Government
declared the HMAS Sydney II memorial in Geraldton, Western Australia, a memorial of national
significance.
“My Department also honoured the memory of the Sydney crew last year, producing a poster
featuring her crew, which was sent to schools, ex-service organisations, aged care facilities and
government agencies across the country.”
Photographs and video footage of the Kormoran and the Sydney’s final resting place on the sea
bed are now part of the Australian War Memorial collection and are available to media at
available on the DVA website.
Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046. To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at
minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
NEWS 
