The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (22114) Able Seaman Michael Henry Joseph Walsh, HMAS Sydney, Royal Australian Navy, Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (22114) Able Seaman Michael Henry Joseph Walsh, HMAS Sydney, Royal Australian Navy, Second World War.

22114 Able Seaman Michael Henry Joseph Walsh, HMAS Sydney (II)
KIA 20 November 1941
Photograph: P09115.001

Story delivered 6 October 2013

Today, we remember Able Seaman Michael Henry Joseph "Joey" Walsh and the ship's company of HMAS Sydney (II), lost after engaging the German surface raider Kormoran in 1941.

A modified Leander-class light cruiser, Sydney was armed with eight 6-inch guns and was the pride of the Royal Australian Navy. Built in England, Sydney was commissioned into the RAN in 1935. There was a mixture of ages and experience on board. Born in East Melbourne, "Joey" Walsh had been a labourer before joining the Royal Australian Navy in May 1938.

Walsh joined Sydney's company at the end of January 1940, and a few months later the cruiser was one of several Australian warships sent to the Mediterranean. Here Sydney demonstrated its fighting prowess, sinking the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni in the battle of Cape Spada in July. In December, Walsh was promoted to Able Seaman. Two months later, in February 1941, Sydney returned home to Australia, where it received a hero's welcome.

Sydney briefly visited Singapore in April, and also went to Noumea, Auckland, and Suva later in the year. The cruiser also carried out escort duties in Western Australian waters, berthing at Geraldton in October. Walsh spent his leave with a cousin serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, and the two swapped their headgear.

On 19 November 1941, Sydney was steaming back to Fremantle, having escorted a troopship part of the way to Singapore. At about 4 pm the cruiser spotted a suspicious merchant vessel set off to investigate. By 5.30 pm, Sydney had nearly pulled alongside the vessel when it revealed its true identity as a German raider.

Hoisting its German naval ensign, Kormoran opened fire with its guns and torpedoes. Kormoran's first salvo slammed into Sydney's bridge. Sydney returned fire, but Kormoran's second and third salvos again hit Sydney's bridge and amidships. Sydney's three main turrets were soon out of action, but "X" turret kept up fast and accurate fire that hit Kormoran's funnel and engine room. Sydney, in turn, was hit by a torpedo between turrets. Mortally damaged and ablaze, Sydney turned away from the raider but continued to fight, using its secondary armament and torpedoes.

The crippled Kormoran was also burning. At 6.25 pm its captain gave the order to abandon ship. As the German sailors evacuated their stricken vessel, they watched Sydney, now only a distant glow on the dark horizon, disappear into the night. By midnight Sydney was gone, lost with all 645 hands - including Walsh. He was 20 years old.

The loss of HMAS Sydney was one of the enduring Australian mysteries of the war. Countless rumours, speculations, and conspiracy theories have swirled around the ship's fate. It was not until 2008, after more than six decades and many searches, that the wrecks of Sydney and Kormoran were finally located.

Walsh's HMAS Sydney cap is on display in the Memorial's permanent Second World War Galleries. His name is also listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with around more than 40,000 others from the Second World War. His photograph is displayed beside the Pool of Reflection.

His is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Able Seaman Joey Walsh, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.