Old allies join forces to remember those lost on HMAS Canberra

A PERFECT sunny day and barely a ripple on Lake Burley Griffin belied the reason for the memorial service yesterday the loss of HMAS Canberra during World War II.

On August 9, 1942, HMAS Canberra lost 84 men in the battle of Savo Island when three Japanese cruisers fired a barrage of shells at close range. The damaged Australian heavy cruiser was later deliberately sunk after the crew was transferred to US warships.

Peter Cooke-Russell, retired Royal Australian Navy commander, began the service.

''We honour the 84 men of the Royal Australian, Royal and United States navies, and the Royal Australian Air Force who were killed in action or subsequently died of the their wounds,'' he said.

''In addition, we remember the more than 1200 American casualties in US Navy ships also engaged in the Battle of Savo Island.''