Rain forces change of venue, but 83rd HMAS Sydney II commemoration in Geraldton remains powerful, reflective

Rain may have forced a change in venue, but it did not dampen the resolve of those commemorating the 83rd anniversary of HMAS Sydney II’s sinking on Tuesday. The city of Greater Geraldton switched the sunset service from the HMAS Sydney II Memorial to the QEII Centre at the last minute. Moving indoors removed the striking location of the memorial, but the sombre, powerful and reflective atmosphere remained. Community members and political and armed forces leaders, veterans and descendants of the Sydney’s perished sailors gathered to mark 83 years since the ship sank during a battle with German raider HSK Kormoran on November 19, 1941. All the Sydney’s 645 hands were lost, and it remains Australia’s worst maritime disaster. HMAS Stirling commanding officer Captain Ken Burleigh and Finding Sydney Foundation director Glenys McDonald gave speeches, wreaths were laid to honour the dead, the city band performed, and the ceremony ended with simulated gunfire and flares outside. Ms McDonald was part of the team that finally discovered the Sydney’s wreck lying 2468m below the surface about 207km off the coast of Dirk Hartog Island in 2008. “(The Cole inquiry) estimated that 70 per cent of Sydney’s crew would have been killed or incapacitated in the first 10 minutes of the battle. Those remaining alive worked hard for four hours to extinguish fires, shore up their ship, attempt to jury rig signals and attend to the wounded as she attempted to reach Geraldton,” she said. “After the waves overwhelmed Sydney 11.5 nautical miles from Kormoran, there was little hope for the men who entered the water. Unfortunately, we did not search for them for nearly five days. “Our great ship and men now rest in peace and our families finally know what took place that fateful night. It was the greatest honour of my life to be involved.” Of the Kormoran’s 399-strong crew, 318 survived. In his address, Capt. Burleigh said some questions remained to this day, including those surrounding the decisions of the Sydney’s captain Joseph Burnett — a “man of great skill and professionalism”. “Why did he allow Sydney to approach Kormoran so closely? Was he misled by Kormoran’s disguise? These questions will never be answered, but what remains clear is Burnett’s commitment to his ship and his men,” he said. “He shared their fate, embodying the highest traditions of naval service.” Capt. Burleigh said Australians should never forget the Sydney’s legacy and the sacrifice of her crew in striving for a more peaceful world amid existing “strategic challenges”. “To quote the Sydney’s motto, ‘we must be thorough and ready’,” he said