Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

The story of HMAS Sydney 11 Exhibition, will be mounted by The Naval Historical Society of Australia ( Victorian Chapter ) and HMAS Sydney Association. It will be mounted in the new Undercroft of the Shrine, where up to 1,000 visitors a day visit this memorial for all Servicemen and Women from the State of Victoria who have served their Country, and died from such service.

I am part of the small Committee organising this major exhibition of 139 photographs of HMAS Sydney. This is quite a big deal, and indeed a coup for the Historical Society to get the Shrine to give us the space for this Exhibition, and then to advertise it in their Brochure.

Front of Shrine of Remembrance brochure featuring HMAS Sydney

The text from the back of the Shrine brochure:

28 October - 26 November

Western Gallery,

Shrine Of Remembrance

Visitor Centre

Part of Navy Week Celebrations

An Exhibition By the Naval Historical Society and HMAS Sydney Association.

HMAS Sydney 11, being the former HMS Phaeton light cruiser, was launched in England in 1934 and commissioned  in 1935 under CAPT J.U.P. Fitzgerald. Her considerable service included attachment to the 7th Cruiser Squadron RN in 1940, transporting troops & supplies to Crete and engaging the Italian fleet in the Battle of Calabria. In 1941 she challenged the Kormoran off the WA coast.

She was lost with all 645 crew members.

This fascinating exhibition will consist of 139 photographs of the ship and its crew and forms a unique part of Australia's service history.

The 645 crosses in the Shrine lawn, one for each Sailor lost in HMAS Sydney in fight with Kormoran on the 19th. of  November 1941.
They will be collected 22nd of November 2004, burned, and the ashes scattered from HMAS Sydney IV in Indian Ocean,
near where we believe the wreck of the ship lays.

Four posters about not giving away important information to a possible enemy agent

Painting of HMAS Sydney

The back wall with the Kormoran pieces including a picture of her Captain Detmers

A fine model of HMAS Sydney

Photo of the Perpetual Trophy awarded by Captain Bob Richards RAN CO HMAS Cerberus to the Victorian Chapter of the Naval Historical Society, for giving the best support to Navy Week in October 2004. We mounted the HMAS Sydney11 Exhibition at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance

over a month.