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(3) the desirability and practicability of conducting a search for the H. M.A. S. "Sydney" and the extent to which the Commonwealth Government should participate in such a search should one be deemed desirable and practicable;

(4) the practicability of accurately locating the grave of an alleged body from HMA.S. "Sydney" which was allegedly buried on Christmas Lsiand;

(5) the identfication of any scientific procedures now available which could verify the identity of human remains alleged to be those of a crew member of H.MA.S 'Sydney" buried on Christmas Island if and when such remains were located;

(6) means which should be taken to protect and honour the final resting places, if and when located of H.MA.S "Sydney" and KSN "Kormoran."

Losses and Survivors.

Survivors from the "Kormoran" in one of the ship's lifeboats.

The total company of 645 were lost from "Sydney, "whilst 318 survived from "Konnoran."

Over the intervening years many have posed the question "how could this be?" In the course of the War at Sea over 1939-1945, "Sydney" was the only warship to be sunk by an Armed Merchant Raider. It was unusual for a Naval ship ( other than a Submarine) to be sunk with a total loss of her Company.

To quote Winston Churchill from his "Second World War" " At six o'clock, after the "Bismarck" had fired her fifth salvo, the "Hood" was rent in twain by a mighty explosion. A few minutes later she had vanished beneath the waves amidst a vast pall of smoke. But from a crew of 1,500 - there were 3 survivors.

When 'Repulse," and "Prince of Wales," were both sunk by Japanese aircraft off Singapore, 2,000 were rescued from a total of 3,000 on board these two ships.

In the Pacific war, at the Coral Sea and Midway actions, the Japanese Navy lost 5 Carriers, "Shoho," "Akagi," 'Kaga," "Soryu," and "Hiryu," and the U.S.S."Yorktown," was sunk, but from all these ships many survivors were rescued.

I had the personal experience of being sunk in a Naval night action, at the Battle of Savo Island, on the 9th. of August 1942. The Japanese Navy, on this night, achieved a major victory, sinking 4 heavy Cruisers, H.M.A.S. "Canberra," and US ships, "Quincy," "Astoria," and "Vincennes." But, from each of these ships, crewmen survived, to be rescued, and for the majority of them, to fight again.

I reiterate, it was very unusual for a Naval warship to be lost with every soul on board!!

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