Walk Of Remembrance for the HMAS Sydney, Carnarvon

On November 19, 1941, just before 4pm, the crew of HMAS Sydney II spotted what looked like a merchant ship off the coast of Carnarvon. The mystery boat did not identify itself despite requests from the Australian battleship’s captain. Something wasn’t right; ostensibly this was a Dutch merchant ship, but it was actually a German auxiliary cruiser, the HSK Kormoran. Sailing under disguise, its mission was to lay mines in the shipping lane and disrupt merchant ships.

The ensuing battle was brutal and catastrophic for HMAS Sydney II. Just two hours after the Kormoran had been spotted, the Sydney was fatally damaged by sustained firing from Kormoran’s torpedoes and guns and, despite the fact the Australian cruiser far-outflanked the German boat in terms of fire power, HMAS Sydney II sank, taking all 645 men on board later that same night.

The Kormoran, however, was damaged too. Captain Theodore Detmas ordered abandon ship of the 580-strong crew, 318 of whom survived, washed ashore near Quobba Station. Many of the survivors were captured and held in the Carnarvon Jail. The location of the remains of both ships were finally found in 2008.

The names of the Australian crew are etched on a wall along the Fascine, looking seawards near a memorial to HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran.

The Carnarvon Heritage Precinct is also worth visiting to learn about the early history of the HMAS Sydney. There is a video documentary which plays every hour as well.