Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

On 19 November 1941, 645 sailors lost their lives on HMAS Sydney (II) while it was defending Australia. The ship was sunk by the Kormoran, a German merchant raider. On the weekend, I was able to join commemorations with the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, and the acting administrator for the territories. I'd like to express my thanks to the Christmas Island residents, and especially to the Shire of Christmas Island, for coming together.

In 1941, when the ship sank, three months later a life raft turned up on Christmas Island with a body inside. That person was unknown, but the Christmas Islanders were able to bury him there knowing that perhaps he was the unknown sailor from HMAS Sydney. His body lay buried on Christmas Island for many decades, until it was exhumed in 2006 and taken to Western Australia. Only last year, in November, were we able to identify who that sailor was. I would just like to say that Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark will always be remembered. (Time expired)