Official Press Releases

November 2007 - Posts

• Search For HMAS Sydney II (19th Nov 2007)

  An announcement will take place today at the Western Australian Maritime Museum about how, when and where the first federally funded search for HMAS Sydney II will occur. Today is the 66th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Sydney II which was sunk during a battle off the Western Australian coast with the German raider Kormoran. Chairman of not-for-profit group HMAS Sydney Search Foundation Director Ted Graham says HMAS Sydney Search intends to search for and locate the wreckage of HMAS Sydney to determine its final location and to bring closure to the families of those lost. HMAS Sydney Search will utilise the services of David Mearns whose record in locating deepwater wrecks is well known. David will coordinate and manage the offshore search on behalf of HMAS Sydney Search. Tenders are currently being evaluated for the search with an anticipated start date of January or February 2008 subject to finalisation of the tender processes. The Federal Government has provided a grant of $4.2 million towards the search while the Western Australian Government has contributed $500,000 and the NSW Government $250,000. Many smaller but equally important private donations have also been received. “An area off the WA coast, encompassing about 1500 square nautical miles in water depths between 2500 and 4500 metres will be searched,” Mr Graham said.“The scale and complexity involved in such a search is significant, however, advances in technology, exhaustive archival research and the recent increase in government funding for the search, provide our best chance yet of success in finding HMAS Sydney II. Media Contact: Ted Graham Chairman The Finding Sydney Foundation media@findingsydney.com (+)61-8-9261 7749   Posted Nov 20 2007, 09:29 AM by admin

• Public Appeal For Original Documents Relating To HMAS Sydney II (12th Nov 2007)

  HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd. is appealing today to anyone who may have important original documents relating to the missing vessel HMAS Sydney II. HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd. is a not for profit company conducting the in-water search for the wreck, sunk off the Western Australian coast following a gun battle with the German Raider Kormoran, on 19 November 1941. All 645 officers and crew were tragically killed and the precise nature of the battle and whereabouts of the HMAS Sydney II wreck remains Australia’s greatest maritime mystery. HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd Chairman Ted Graham said while there have been many searches of archives in Australia and overseas, the organisation is aware that some important original documents might still remain in private hands or lie un-recognised in official repositories. “If you have any original documents relating to the loss of HMAS Sydney II and its adversary HSK Kormoran or relating to the extensive air and sea search for survivors covering the period 19 - 29 November 1941 that are not yet in the public domain, please help us by sending a copy of this information to HMAS Sydney Search,” Mr Graham said. “We are seeking original documents (as opposed to transcripts created at a later date) including; Official logs, reports or records of war time radio communications Private diaries, journals or letters from people directly involved with the extensive air and sea search for survivors Logs, diaries, radio communications or photographs from the ships involved in the sea search for survivors (HMT Aquitania, HMAS Yandra, HMAS Heros, HMAS Wyrallah, Koolinda, Centaur, Olive Cam, Uco, Cape Otway, Evagoras, Tromp, Herstein, Hermion, Pan Europe, Wanganella, Saidja, Sunetta), Trocus, Ohio, Zaanland, Troja, Nordnes and Gunbar Logs, diaries, radio communications or photographs from the aircraft involved in the air search for survivors: (Catalinas from No. 11 Squadron; Hudsons from Darwin; Hudsons from No. 14 Squadron; Wirraways from No. 25 Squadron; and Ansons from No. 4 S.F.T.S). Media Contact: Ted Graham Chairman The Finding Sydney Foundation media@findingsydney.com (+)61-8-9261 7749   Posted Nov 13 2007, 09:33 AM by admin