HMAS Perth 1939-42

[jammy2]

Though I'd share some shots of the memorial held at the cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place for the brave souls of HMAS Perth (1939-42). A most sombre memorial held in the mid-day sun.
http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/perth/loss.htm

Flower wreath as commemeration for the fallen.


Spud Murphy the cenotaph attendant at St Martin's place


Dignitaries standing in honour of those lost


C and C most welcome
cheers,
Ken

[Glen]

Ken love the 3rd with such a limited DOF. It may even benefit from a square crop?

[aussichef]

My father was on that ship during WW2
as a CPO, Chef Petty Officer
And lives in Lane Cove so would of been there today being member of the Perth Assoc
And was transfered off before it's ill fated last voyage to the Wangarattta
Its was because of all the brothers , father/ son combinations that dies on the Perth that the Defence Dept changed it's policy of relatives serving on the same ship
I could have the figure wrong but i think it was something live 9 sets of family members died when the Perth went down
There is a great oil painting hanging in the war memorial in Canberra of the Perth during that battle. I have a copy that hangs on my wall here @ home that I have had since a young boy
My father still @ 85 marches with the Perth every year
When my father passes away which i hope is a long way off I will march in his place in the Perth ranks wearing his medals with pride
Thanks for sharing I love the DOF in the last one by the way
warren aka aussichef

[sirhc55]

Well captured shots of an emotive scene.

Warren - the same thing happened in the US when the USS Juneau was sunk in WW2. All five Sullivan brothers were lost so the US instigated the same ruling whereby no ship could have siblings together as crew.

The US Navy named a destroyer The Sullivans and a movie came out in 1944 called The Fighting Sullivans.

Here is a photo of the five brothers:

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h52000/h52362.jpg

[jammy2]

Thanks Glen, I did struggle with the cropping for this one, was in two minds whether to crop to centralise the woman but in the end left it as is =)

Much appreciated warren, thanks for sharing your dad's experiences during the war and his intimate link to the HMAS Perth, and how the fate of those on the ship led to I'd imagine a much needed change in personal policy.
It certainly highlights the importance of commemorative ceromonies in remembering and honouring those who died and lived through the war. BTW the ceromony was actually held earlier this year on 23/2/2007 so apologies for any misunderstanding with the date. I may have a look through some of the wider shots and post some, your dad may have been in one of them.

Thanks sirhc55, it certainly was an emotional ceromony.

[dawesy]

#3 grabbed me, held my attention and made me feel something. I could bang on about why, but it's probably unimportant. It's emotive and it captures everthing about the occasion. Brought back the feelings of marching through there in a colour party as a school cadet on ANZAC day.

Well done.

[Killakoala]

It's a very emotional day for those involved. I think the first image of the wreath sets the scene, the second of 'Spud' shows that he is in deep thought no doubt thinking about the sinking of the ship and the last one showing the human element completes it.

It is a good trio of images that combine well.

[ozimax]

Great photos and a wonderful, emotive story. DOF in 3rd is excellent.

[jammy2]

Cheers dawesy,
What led me to take the shot was that she was the only woman among the dignitaries which made her stand out, hence highlighted her with dof.

Thanks killakoala and ozimax, the shots do complement each other to tell the story, though probably does still need a wide shot to set the scene =)