HMAS SYDNEY
- A SURPRISE VISIT TO BUNBURY
by Graeme Olsen
In October 1941, just two weeks
before it went missing in action, the HMAS Sydney
made a surprise visit to Bunbury. Not only did it
give locals a rare treat, but it allowed a young crewmember
from Bunbury to catch up with his family and friends.
During the war, the saying "loose
lips sink ships" was taken literally. Unlike
today, warship movements were not advertised
or discussed for security reasons, and the general
public was certainly never given any warning
of the impending arrival of a ship.
And so it was an unexpected sight for some
residents and high school students one day
when, from the high school on top of the hill,
they spotted the imposing outline of the Sydney on the horizon, anchored off shore.
News spread quickly, for the Sydney was a high profile ship at the time. It had
recently been in the news for it's victory
against the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo
Colleoni - an encounter in the Mediterranean
Sea which left the Sydney with shell
damage and the Bartolomeo Colleoni at the bottom of the sea. To now have this
glamour ship of the Australian Navy turn up
unexpectedly in Bunbury was a source of great
excitement for many people.
After a while the Sydney entered
the Bunbury harbour and moored at the jetty.
Word got out in the school grounds that the Sydney had docked, and as soon as the school
bell rang at the end of the day, kids raced
down to the harbour to join the public for a
closer look.
Amazingly, despite all the security surrounding it's
visit, some of the general public were in fact allowed
onto the Sydney to have a look around. School
children in particular were treated to a memorable
visit, being allowed to crawl all over it and check
out all the guns, torpedoes, and even an onboard reconnaissance
aircraft. It's reported that there was a line of kids
queuing to get onboard for a look.
Meanwhile, the Sydney's crew were let loose
on Bunbury.
Among them was a local lad by the name of Ernie Greenmount
(also known as Ernest Gronberg), the only Bunbury
crewmember on the ship. The stopover allowed him to
catch up with his parents (Carl and Emily), and his
brother and sisters. Ernie was the youngest of 8 children
in the family, and it was no doubt a very happy moment
to have him back in the household, even if only for
a brief time.
The Sydney only stayed 2 days. She left
early in the morning on 29 October, taking young Ernie
Greenmount with her. Two weeks later she was lost
at sea during a battle with the Kormoran.
All 645 crewmembers were lost.
January 2004
Photos provided by www.hmassydney.com.au
Comments:
"To all concerned thankyou for all your efforts in finding the Sydney I think all Australians are gratefull that the mystery of HMAS Sydney has now been resolved at least we know now what happened that day I look forward for the 3D image that will come now from the depth where she finally now is at peace well done all involved."
Les
