In July, 1940, HMAS Sydney sank the Italian Cruiser Bartoelomeo Collioni and severely damaged her sister ship, the Giovanni Delle Bonde Nere, in the Battle of Cape Spada (Crete).
After returning to her namesake city for repairs, she sailed to patrol off Western Australia.
On Wednesday, November 19, 1940, she encountered a nondescript freighter near Shark Bay. Within hours Australia's naval pride was gone with all 645 hands lost.
The freighter was a disguised German HSK Merchant Raider and a 67-year mystery began.
Most of the German crew made it to the mainland as their ship also sank. News then leaked out but the site was unknown.
The remains of both ships were found two years ago and the mystery solved – both ships had mutually destroyed each other.
Moves are in hand now to declare this a Burial Site.
DIARY DATES: Today: Royal Marines Association meets in the Dovesdale Club at 19.30 hours. Parachute Regiment meets in Thornbury barracks at 20.00 hours.
British Korean Veterans meet in the North Bridge leisure centre, Halifax, at 19.30 hours.
Tomorrow: RAF Association meets in Unit 16, Listerhills Science Park, at 13.00 hours. Bingley branch of the Royal British Legion meets at 20 Heath Street, Bingley, at 19.00 hours.
Thursday: Guiseley branch of the Royal British Legion meets in the Scout Hut on The Green at 14.00 hours.
Monday: REME Association meets in Slackside WMC, Wibsey, at 19.30 hours.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article