HMAS Sydney mystery.

[corsair67]

This is not aviation related, but I thought this media release may still be of interest to some members of the forum.

The wreck of HMAS Sydney has so far not been found.



The Hon. Bruce Billson, MP
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence


Media Release



08 Sep 2006
NAVY EXPEDITION ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE ‘UNKNOWN SAILOR’ MYSTERY



On 23 September 2006, a Navy team will arrive at Christmas Island in an attempt to locate the remains of an unknown sailor thought to be a crew member from HMAS Sydney that sank with all hands on 19 November 1941, announced the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Bruce Billson.

Announcing this archaeological expedition, Mr Billson said that since an earlier expedition in 2001, additional evidence has come to light warranting a further investigation of the possible site of the grave in the Old European Cemetery on Christmas Island thought to contain the unknown sailor.

A Navy team composed of experienced and well-respected experts including an archaeologist, a physical anthropologist and two forensic odontologists will visit Christmas Island in an attempt to identify the grave site. If evidence of the grave is found it will be further investigated and an attempt made to exhume any remains. If remains are found, they will be brought to Sydney where a forensic pathologist will join the team to assist with identification.

“As with any undertaking of this type, the likelihood of positive identification of the remains, if in fact any are found, are low,” Mr Billson said.

The Royal Australian Navy’s cruiser HMAS Sydney was lost, with its crew of 645 men aboard, following an action with the German raider Kormoran. Early in February 1942, a carley float life-raft containing a body was recovered close inshore at Christmas Island. There were no personal effects or identifying items on the body although the clothing was consistent with that worn by Naval sailors. The body was examined by a medical practitioner and formally buried with military honours, in the old European Cemetery on Christmas Island.

“For over 60 years people have speculated over who occupies this unmarked grave and indeed, where the grave is precisely located,” Mr Billson said.

A Senate Committee report to Parliament in 1999 on the loss of HMAS Sydney concluded “…on the balance of probability, that the body and the carley float found off the shore of Christmas Island in February 1942 were most likely from HMAS Sydney.”

In 2001, a Navy team assisted by an anthropologist and other forensic experts excavated a site identified by a resident of the Island in the post-war period. However, despite a large excavation, this search was unsuccessful.

“Evidence in the form of a photograph taken by Mr Brian O’Shannassy in 1950 that may pinpoint the grave site location provides sufficient reason for the search to be resumed,” Mr Billson said.

As one of only two witnesses remaining who have seen the actual grave site, Mr O’Shannassy will accompany the Navy team to Christmas Island to undertake this expedition.

“Mr O’Shannassy’s ability to identify the grave location at the Ceremony may prove invaluable,” Mr Billson said.

[Stormbird262]

I have an old mate,

Dave Gedde's in his 90's now, who was a Gunner's mate on the Sister ship of Sydney, Canberra, which was wrecked first by the Nip's at Guad, then sunk by the Yank's.

He had lost a lot of friend's on the Sydney, With the Can gone, He was going to join and sail with the sydney her on that last voyage, but had come down with a flu like virus, and had to stay in navy hospital back in Perth, so he missed the boat.

He alway's say's just leave it be with the Sydney, but that said he was rapt to see, under water shot's of the Canberra, and even pointed out about where his cabin was.

He Joked, as he said I wonder if all me gear is still in me locker, He never forgot what he had to leave behind after the attack!, and had to borrow clothe's off the Navy Yank's before getting back to Oz.

Also never forgot that stuff up that cost so many Allied and Yank live's.

We thought the Nip's could not see well in the DARK!! and had no radar.

Please read about Guad's Battle's, and Iron Bottom, if you can!

The Nip's did plenty fine without radar!!

Ciao! Phil in Oz

[corsair67]

From today's The Australian.

Sydney 'survivor' exhumed on island
Tony Barrass
4th October, 2006.

THE remains of the unknown sailor believed to be the sole survivor of Australia's most enduring wartime mystery - the sinking of HMAS Sydney off Western Australia - have been unearthed on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
The Defence Department last night confirmed that bones had been discovered in the island's Old European Cemetery by a navy-led team of experts and, once removed, would be taken to Sydney for further forensic tests in an attempt to establish identity.

The discovery is yet another piece to a puzzle that has fascinated and frustrated historians for more than half a century. The find is the only known link to the Sydney, last seen off Shark Bay, before it was believed to have been sunk on November 19, 1941, by the German raider Kormoran.

All 645 men on board perished, making it the biggest maritime disaster in the nation's history.

But it now seems that at least one sailor may have managed to escape the disaster, only to die on a life raft that eventually washed up on Christmas Island, 2600km northwest of Perth, three months later.

The Royal Australian Navy at the time denied that the mystery man was from the Sydney, despite clothing consistent with navy uniform being found on the body.

A doctor examined the remains and the sailor was buried with full military honours.

But many relatives of those who perished on the light cruiser, desperate for the mystery to be solved, refused to accept the initial denial.

A parliamentary inquiry in 1999 - nearly 60 years after the event - found it was highly probable the unknown sailor was a Sydney crewman.

A navy expedition team found the remains very close to the position identified by witnesses to the original burial.

That position was corroborated by separate photographs taken in 1950.

"We are excavating remains in an unmarked grave that may be those of the unknown sailor from the HMAS Sydney," expedition leader Captain Jim Parsons said last night.

"Further work will need to be done to establish the characteristics of the skeleton before we can be fully confident."

The team - which includes an archeologist, a forensic anthropologist and two forensic odontologists - have still to remove the remains from the grave.

"The process is long and painstaking, as the complete skeleton has to be exposed and recorded, and all the dirt removed before any bones are removed," Captain Parsons said.

"Even then, each bone must be carefully lifted to avoid breakages.

"Subsequent skeletal and dental analysis will be taken to Sydney to possibly identify the remains."

The remains are expected to be taken to the University of Sydney where forensic pathologists will attempt to establish an identity with dental records and an attempt will be made to recover DNA.

But Captain Parsons said the likelihood of a positive identification was low; only half of the crew's medical and dental records were available.

"All records current at the time were lost with the ship," he said.