Families, mates salute (HMAS) Sydney's 645 [We will remember them]

The Australian ^ | 25th April 2008 | Ashleigh Wilson

[naturalman1975]

SIXTY-SIX years ago, a month after HMAS Sydney disappeared off the coast of Western Australia, it was standing room only at St Andrew's Cathedral in the city that shares its name. Widows stood in the aisles, praying for lost loved ones, amid hopes the war would end some day soon.

Yesterday, at that same cathedral, families of the 645 crew who died when the Sydney was sunk by the German raider Kormoran spilled out on to the street as hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects.

"I don't mind being outside," said Brian Doyle, whose 19-year-old uncle Thomas Glackin went down with HMAS Sydney. "It's just significant to me that they're celebrating his life."

The wreckage of HMAS Sydney was found off the West Australian central coast last month, ending the nation's most enduring maritime mystery. But questions remain about exactly what happened between the vessel and the Kormoran on November 19, 1941.

The bells of St Andrew's Cathedral tolled 645 times yesterday, once for each man lost, as more than 1000 people gathered for the memorial service in honour of the crew.

Kevin Rudd, Brendan Nelson and Defence Force chief Angus Houston paid tribute to the "gallant sailors" who perished. "We now live in a better world because of their sacrifice," the Prime Minister said.

Governor-General Michael Jeffery also extended his sympathies to families of sailors who died on the Kormoran.

He said last month's discovery of both vessels brought to a close a "very sad chapter" in Australia's proud naval history. "As a nation, we have yearned to know the final resting place of the Sydney's crew so that we could honour their memories as they deserved," Mr Jeffery said in a message read out by NSW Governor Marie Bashir.

[naturalman1975]

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

[buccaneer81]

Bless those heroes.

[PAR35]

But questions remain about exactly what happened between the vessel and the Kormoran on November 19, 1941.

Not many questions left at this point.