From Mystery to Memory: The Loss of HMAS Sydney

Abstract

This paper examines the mystery surrounding the sinking of HMAS Sydney in the Indian Ocean on November 19, 1941, by the German raider SV Kormoran. All hands on HMAS Sydney were lost—645 men; these men’s deaths constituted about one-third of Australia’s naval losses in World War II. This cost was unbelievable and unbearable, and in reaction, Australia’s government initially covered up the ship’s fate, only releasing the news when information about it began to leak from other sources. Further, despite numerous attempts, investigators failed to trace the wreckage of either of the combatant ships until 2008, when the crew of SV Geosounder located first the remains of SV Kormoran and then those of HMAS Sydney, using data derived from decoded records left by the German ship’s captain. The outsized role this episode played in the consciousness of a nation led to creative memorials, both to those who were lost, and to the anguish that the incident caused so many Australians. Initially, memorials followed a traditional pattern of plaques and religious services. In 1991, as the 60th anniversary of Sydney’s loss approached, Australia saw both renewed interest in solving the mystery of its location and in memorializing its loss. This occasion and advances in technologies available meant new types of memorials, often reflecting a sensibility that emphasized the individual dimension. For example, an online Honour Roll supports a display of photographs of those lost and vignettes of the sailors’ lives submitted by family members. As well, the Geraldton HMAS Sydney II Memorial, dedicated in 1998, a complex comprised of structures and artworks that imbue a more personal meaning of the tragedy to visitors. Its design is such that those suffering a loss may find solace in this resource, giving it both public and private appeal.