Overview
- Features: Memorial featuring artistic symbolisation of the lost heroes of HMAS Sydney II
- Opening Times: Any time; tour at 10am, daily
- Best Time to Visit: September to November
- Duration: 1 hour
- Travelled By: Rental car
- Cost: Free; optional donation
- Address: Geraldton, Western Australia
- Type: Memorial
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Summary
The HMAS Sydney II Memorial is a poignant reminder of the 645 Australian sailors that lost their lives on 19 November, 1941 when the HMAS Sydney was destroyed in battle with the HSK Kormoran. A tour is well worth the time to learn about the history of Australia’s greatest naval tragedy.
HMAS Sydney II Memorial Geraldton
The magnificent HMAS Sydney II Memorial was built to remember the 645 Australian crew members that drowned at sea in 1941.
The loss of HMAS Sydney II is Australia’s greatest naval tragedy. Its disappearance in 1941 without a trace left a legacy of uncertainty for decades. In March 2008, renewed efforts to find the Sydney came to fruition, confirming her fate and bringing closure to the mystery.
She is celebrated for her successful battles in the Mediterranean, where she famously sank the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. However, on 19 November, 1941, due to an error in judgement on her part, she was overpowered and sunk by the German Raider, HSK Kormoran, disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel.
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A free tour conducted by a knowledgeable local volunteer allows us to understand the history of this heroic ship. His narration is so detailed and vivid that we are taken back to 1941 to relive the tragedy that befell HMAS Sydney II and to emphatise with the families left behind.
The statue of a lady looking out to sea (see photo on left) embodies the suffering that the families of the lost sailors had to endure while they waited for their loved ones to return home.
While the tour is free, a gold coin donation is justified as the local volunteer not only has dedicated him time to sharing the history of his town but also tells the story so well that it makes the Memorial so much more meaningful.
