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International Naval Reunion- Melbourne, Australia.

In 1986, the International Naval Reunion took place in Melbourne, some 800 delegates flocked to this city from around Australia and from across the world.

Whilst assisting the Organising Committee, I was given the task of arranging the seating for the formal Luncheon held in the main ballroom of the Southern Cross Hotel.

In organising each table I tried to equate the number of guests from overseas with Australians, but,on one particular table, I arranged a total group of very interesting overseas guests, and just myself as the only Australian present.

One of my group was Engineering Professor H. Ahl, from Berlin. As a Sub Lieutenant, he had been the Pilot Officer of the Arado aircraft carried by "Kormoran" at the time of her action with "Sydney." He survived the fight with her, and became a Prisoner of War in Australia. I wanted to talk to him about the action, and what he thought had happened to "Sydney."

I was only able to extract from him the Party line as to what happened on that fateful day so long ago, on the 19th. of November, 1941. He told me that he last sighted "Sydney," still heavily on fire, on the distant horizon, some time before midnight, and she just disappeared.

Ballard's Book "The Lost Ships of Guadaleanal."

Starboard deck, looking forward onboard HMAS Canberra.

As indicated, I was sunk in H.M.A.S. "Canberra," and thus was most interested in Robert Ballard's book, "The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal," where he reports finding "Canberra" sitting upright on the bottom off Savo Island. I met Robert when his book was launched in Australia at Melbourne on the 30th. of September, 1993, I wanted to know the answer to two questions;

(1) At what depth did he find my old ship?

(2 ) Could you find the 'Sydney?"

To my first question, I received the response, at 2,500 feet. Robert also gave me the actual position where "Canberra" finally rests.

To my second question, the response was "Perhaps, if we could really narrow down her final resting place, the Indian Ocean is a very large body of water.

" I can only ask " Will we ever find out the truth about "Sydney's" loss?

Australian Parliament dissolved for Elections to be held on Saturday, the 3rd. of October, 1998.

With the Australian Parliament being dissolved and elections called for the 3rd. of October, 1998, the Defence Sub-Committee appointed to enquire into the loss of H.M.A.S. "Sydney," ceased to exist, although 18 volumes of submissions heard to date, have been published, further submissions will not be taken by this Committee.

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