Australian High Commission
Honiara
Solomon Islands

71st Anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Canberra

15 August 2013

71st Anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Canberra

Servicemen and women, Dignitaries and local and expatriate communities gathered on board RSIPV LATA on Friday, 09 August for the commemoration of the sinking of HMAS Canberra.

Guests, including Permanent Secretary for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Edmund Sikua, Acting Commissioner of Police, Juanita Matanga, Australian High Commissioner, Matt Anderson, United States of America Ambassador, Walter North, Great Britain High Commissioner, Dominic Mieklejohn, New Zealand High Commissioner, Mark Ramsden and Rear Admiral James Goldrick, AO, CSC paused to remember those who gave their lives on HMAS Canberra 71 years ago.

The service included readings, hymns, a moving one minute silence and a wreath laying ceremony during which honoured guests, diplomatic representatives, and members of the public paid tribute to the crew. A former crew member who was wounded in the Battle of Savo Island, AB Gunner Donald Leslie, had his last wish met this day by the interment of his ashes.

HMAS Canberra was struck by two torpedoes on her starboard side on the evening of 08 August 1942. When she eventually sunk on 09 August she was the largest ship ever lost at sea by the RAN. She had a crew of 819 with 193 to become casualties. Those confirmed killed in action were one officer (the Commanding Officer -Captain Getting) and nine ratings (including one Royal Australian Air Force); those missing believed killed were nine officers (including one Royal Australian Air Force and one United States Navy) and 65 ratings (including three Royal Australian Air Force and two Royal Navy) and those wounded include 10 officers (including one Royal Navy), 96 ratings (including AB Gunner Donald Leslie, two Royal Australian Air Force, one Royal Navy and two United States Navy) and three civilian Canteen Staff.

In his address to the Service, on behalf of the Australian Defence Force; Rear Admiral James Goldrick, paid tribute to our forebears who set standards that have inspired their countrymen for generations. “It is part of who and what we are, and what we strive to be as countries, and as individuals.”