As I write this, remembrance ceremonies are being held across Australia marking 67 years since the HMAS Sydney was sunk off the Western Australia coast killing 645 sailors. The ship disappeared on November 19, 1941, when it engaged in a fierce battle with the German World War II raider HSK Kormoran, which was disguised as a Dutch freighter. Today relatives of the crew get their first chance to mourn their love ones knowing where they rest, after the wreck was found in April this year, sitting upright 2500 metres below the surface.

At about 4pm on 19 November, somewhere west of Shark Bay, Western Australia, Sydney sighted what she believed to be a merchant ship about 20 kilometres (11 nautical miles) away and challenged her. The other ship identified herself as the Dutch ship Straat Malakka. She was, in fact, the German merchant raider Kormoran, disguised and sailing under a false flag. According to survivors from Kormoran, the ill-prepared Sydney closed to within 1,000 metres (1,100 yd), and was surprised and overwhelmed when the crew of the heavily armed raider opened fire at nearly point-blank range with concealed artillery and torpedoes.

Kormoran was also badly damaged in the ensuing battle and had to be abandoned and scuttled due to engine failure and a fire that was burning out of control. Survivors from Kormoran were rescued by the ships Koolinda, Aquitania, Trocas and HMAS Yandra, while a further 103 reached Carnarvon by lifeboat. The Germans reported that Sydney was last seen down by the bow and on fire as she disappeared over the horizon. The ship and her 645 crew members were never seen again. It was not until 25 November (six days later) that the fears of the Royal Australian Navy about likely loss of Sydney were heightened to the point that the Secretary to the War Cabinet was informed and he, in turn, informed the Prime Minister John Curtin in writing.