The story of the sinking of the HMAS Sydney II is well known.
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The Sydney was returning from convoy duty in Java along the south north-west coast of Western Australia when she sighted what appeared to be a merchant ship at 1600 on November 19, 1941 about 130 miles west of Shark Bay.
The Sydney challenged the vessel using its search light and, while doing so, moving closer to the vessel.
It exploited the knowledge that merchant vessels were less efficient at visual signalling.
The HMAS Sydney came too close to the point where she no longer had the advantage with its superior armament.
It ordered the vessels crew to give them the secret code of the Straat Malakka, which it had earlier identified itself as. They could not, so knew their cover was no longer viable.
They hoisted the German flag and fired, disabling the Sydney's bridge.
Sydney fired, missing the Kormoran. Again, the Kormoran fired hitting the bridge and midship, destroying A & B turrets of HMAS Sydney.
The Sydney's X & Y turrets were still operable and the Y turret fired, hitting the Kormoran in the funnel and engine room, severely damaging her. The Kormoran managed to get two hits again under the HMAS Sydney's A & B turrets.
The Kormoran managed to avoid an attempt by the Sydney to ram it. It too was on fire.
The Kormoran continued to encounter the HMAS Sydney.
The seriously damaged HMAS Sydney managed to fire a torpedo as the captain of the Kormoran tried to broadside it.
Its engines stopped. The sea battle dealt mortal blows to both vessels.
The HMAS Sydney, after several hits at close quarters, disappeared from view. It was last seen by the Germans about 10 miles off with an occasional flicker, until midnight when it disappeared.
Only two items were ever recovered from the HMAS Sydney II.
When the Sydney did not arrive on time at her destination, it did not immediately concern the Naval Board as it had been advised that Zealandia, which it was to escort, had arrived later than anticipated. It was assumed that the Sydney too was delayed.
There was also a possibility that HMAS Sydney might have diverted for another purpose and had not broken radio silence.
But when it did not return by November 23, 1941, she was instructed by the Naval Board to report by signal.
There was no reply. On board the HMAS Sydney was Leading Seaman Stanley Roy Davis Service number 20732.
Stanley enlisted on April 2, 1935 at Kensington, South Australia. His home port division was in Melbourne.
He appears on the honour roll in Adelaide. His memorial location is panel 56, column 3.
Stanley was born April 3, 1918 at Horsham. His next of kin were Thomas and Ena Davis.
He was the husband of Dorothy May Davis of Hobart, Tasmania. Stanley and Dorothy had been living at 209 Collins Street, Hobart when he enlisted and was assigned to HMAS Sydney.
Stanley died when the HMAS Sydney was sunk by the Kormoran. He was 23 years old.
His name is also commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial at Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery Memorial in the United Kingdom, alongside the total complement of HMAS Sydney.
There were 645 crew members, six airmen of the Royal Australian Airforce and four civilian canteen staff when the ship was sunk by the Kormoran.
The sinking was the greatest number ever loss of life in an Australian warship.
In the Commonwealth Government Records held at the National Archives is a classified outward signal (confidential) 1939-1964 sent by Leading Seaman Stanley Roy Davis on November 14, 1941 from the HMAS Sydney.
The Canberra Times of Monday, December 1, 1941 had a list of presumed personnel lost on the HMAS Sydney. Stanley's name was on this list. He died on November 20, 1941.
The Australian War Memorial houses the only trace of the Sydney that was ever found - one of the its life rafts was damaged by gunfire.
One of all the saddest stories ever told about the sinking of the Sydney was that one of the last signals transmitted to the HMAS Sydney was for Stanley Roy Davis.
It simply read: "A son born, both well. Cheers Rob."
We can only hope he received the message before the HMAS Sydney went down.