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DISCOVERY OF HMAS SYDNEY II AND HKS KORMORAN - VISIT TO HMAS SYDNEY II MEMORIAL - GERALDTON - 15 APRIL 2008.

RAN COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS AT SEA OVER WRECK SITES IN HMAS ANZAC - 16 APRIL 2008

AND THE NATIONAL SERVICE FOR HMAS SYDNEY II HELD AT SYDNEY'S ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL SERVICE ON 24 APRIL 2008

On the morning of Sunday, 16 March 2008 at 1003 the first sonar image of HMAS SYDNEY II appeared on a computer screen in the search vessel SV Geosounder, the vessel chartered by the Finding Sydney

Foundation. Details of the search and other historical information regarding the Finding Sydney Foundation is available on their website at www.findingsydney.com

This significant event in the history of the Royal Australian Navy brought to an end the 66 year mystery surrounding the whereabouts of HMAS SYDNEY and solved the question of where she rested after her

catasrophic battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran which was found several days before HMAS SYDNEY on 14 March 2008, not far away.

The purpose of this article is to record the commemorative activities that took place after HMAS SYDNEY II was found and the swift action taken by the RAN to assist the relatives and families of those lost to

achieve closure some 66 years after the event.

A small service was held on SV Geosounder following the finding of HMAS SYDNEY II. Details can be found on www.findingsydney.com

The first significant service was held onboard HMAS ANZAC (CAPT Stuart MAYER, RAN) on Wednesday, 16 April 2008. This Service of thanksgiving and remembrance was conducted over the

wreck sites of both HMAS SYDNEY II and later over the wreck site of HKS Kormoran.

Both services were solemn and moving with Officiating Chaplains being the Principal Chaplain - Eric Burton CSC, RAN and Chaplain Duncan Becsi, RAN. Although both services were extremely moving it was ironic

that the music usually played at these ceremonies refused to play through the sound system that was set up on the quarterdeck of HMAS ANZAC when it came time for this to occur during the Service for

HKS Kormoran.

To honour the loss of the Ship's companies of HMAS SYDNEY II and HSK Kormoran on 19 November 1941, HMAS ANZAC also embarked dignitaries and family members of the lost personnel for several days

during which the ship steamed from Geraldton (Port), WA to the wreck sites several hundred kilometres from the WA coast.

Those who embarked in HMAS ANZAC were:-

Mr Warren Snowdon - Minister for Defence Science and Personnel

Mr Martin Lutz - German Ambassador to Australia

Mr Bob Baldwin - Representing the Leader of the Opposition

VADM Russ Shalders - Chief of Navy

Family Representatives:-

CDRE (Ret'd) Rory Burnett - son of CAPT Joseph Burnett (CO of HMAS SYDNEY II)

Mrs Margaret Morse - daughter of PO John Davey

Mrs Robyn Leach - daughter of PO Edgar Morris

Mr John Bournes - nephew of AB John McDonald

Mr Ted McGowan - brother of AB Thomas McGowan

Association Representatives:-

Mr Bob Austin - President SYDNEY Association (NSW)

Mr Les Dwyer - National President, Naval Association of Australia

WgCdr (Ret'd) Graeme Chalmers - 9 SQN RAAF Assoc.

Mr Ted Graham, Chairman Finding Sydney Foundation

CDRE (Ret'd) Bob Trotter - Finding Sydney Foundation

Mr Don Pridmore - Finding Sydney Foundation

Mr Keith Rowe - Finding Sydney Foundation

Mrs Glenys McDonald - Finding Sydney Foundation

CMDR Graham Harris RANR Rtd - President Navy League

Defence Personnel:-

CHAP Eric Burton

LCDR Jillian Brownlee - Events Manager

Ms Kate Sieper - Media Adviser to MINDEF

LEUT Brooke Olds - Flag Lieutenant to CN

LEUT Peter Bounty - 1JPAU

FSGT Brent Tero - 1JPAU

AB Jo Dilorenzo - 1JPAU

The Program for the Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance is below (click on thumbnail photos to display) :-

A PDF Version of the Service held in HMAS ANZAC on 16 April 2008 is available here

The group gathered from many places around Australia and travelled to Geraldton from Perth compliments of the RAAF and a very comfortable C130 out of RAAF Pearce. Prior to embarking in HMAS ANZAC for the sea voyage

to the wreck site, the group visited the HMAS SYDNEY II Memorial at Geraldton. Click on the photos to enlarge them. Photographs are of the trip and the Service conducted at sea on 16 April 2008 onboard HMAS ANZAC

over the wreck site:-