Thursday, April 17, 2008

Final Fairwell for HMAS Sydney

Rory Burnett, Margaret Morse, Ted McGowan and Vice Admiral Russ Shalders hold the commemorative shell with 645 names. Picture: Deaprtment of Defence


Final farewell to the men lost on the Sydney

Elizabeth Gosch | April 17, 2008

SHORTLY after sunrise yesterday, five relatives of HMAS Sydney sailors lost in 1941 gathered on the foredeck of HMAS Anzac, off the coast of Western Australia, to lay wreaths over the wreck of the warship in a final farewell to fathers, a brother and uncles.

The five family members, randomly selected from more than 787 registered relatives of the 645 Sydney sailors, hugged and held hands as the half-hour service was conducted. They laid wreaths on the Indian Ocean, 2.5km above the wreck of the Sydney, which sank after a brutal battle with German raider HSK Kormoran.

A 4.5-inch brass shell inscribed with the names of all 645 men lost was thrown into the water.

Retired Commodore Rory Burnett, the son of HMAS Sydney's commanding officer, Captain Joseph Burnett, said the service was solemn and emotional. "It felt special to me. My father was the captain of the Sydney and I was honoured to represent him and the rest of our family at this ceremony. I certainly would not have missed it," Commander Burnett said. "We felt tremendously emotional. I don't know if you'd say there was closure but just the occasion pretty much overwhelmed us."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23552269-31477,00.html


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posted by 10 men at 10:00 AM

1 Comments:

Blogger Nemesis said...

I have always believed it, now I am saying it, watch out for a very assertive China in future.

And where does the Chinese Government, which by the way is still very oppressive to those who feel they no longer can tow the Communist line, get the arrogance from to muscle in on other's perceived territory? From all those Western businesses of course that have abandoned their own countries manufacturing abilities to have their products made in China.

Nearly every Western country is now dependant on the Chinese manufacturing ability to supply their own domestic markets.

Here in Oz we are so dependant on the Chinese that we now don't even make a standard light bulb!

What will happen if ever the West goes to War against the Chinese? How will we all survive when nearly every consumer item used in the West is made in China?

In future, and mark my words, if this trend continues the Chinese will use their manufactuing base the same way that the Arabs have used their oil, to shaft us all! Terry

11:06 AM  

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