85 years ago, a squadron of Allied vessels led by HMAS Sydney (II) won the Battle of Cape Spada off Crete.
On 19 July 1940, the light cruiser Sydney was conducting a patrol in the eastern Mediterranean near the Antikythera Strait off the Greek island of Crete when the squadron encountered 2 Italian light cruisers, Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere.
Sydney inflicted significant damage on the Bartolomeo Colleoni. Weakened and struggling to remain afloat, the Italian cruiser’s fate was sealed when 2 of the British destroyers accompanying Sydney sank the Italian vessel with torpedoes. Meanwhile, the severely battered Giovanni delle Bande Nere was forced to retreat. The Sydney only sustained minor damage with just one crew member wounded by shrapnel.
While the Sydney began the difficult task of picking up the more than 500 Italian sailors who survived the Bartolomeo Colleoni’s sinking, Italian planes bombed and strafed the Allied ships. Kenneth Henry Rowe, a civilian who was on board Sydney as a member of the ship’s canteen, later recounted the events in a letter to his parents back home in the Sydney suburb of Granville. He described the height of the battle saying, ‘it was very exciting whilst the shooting and chasing lasted and to see a ship sink and burn at sea’. Kenneth also reflected on the reality of the situation by further noting, ‘it was terrible to see men wounded and dead in the water’.
HMAS Sydney’s victory was broadcast around the world. When the cruiser returned to Alexandria, Egypt the next day, she was met with jubilant celebrations. Master-at-Arms Robert 'Mick’ Triggs recounted the welcome they received:
‘We were given pride and position and came into harbour first. There was a marvelous [sic] reception waiting for us. All the Battle Fleet lined up and manned ship as we slowly steamed down the long line. Every ship cheered us from the biggest battleship to the smallest craft. Those to make the most noise were our own destroyers who could hardly be seen for Australian Flags flying at the masthead.‘
The Battle of Cape Spada remains a testament to the skill and strength of the Royal Australian Navy and, on this 85th anniversary, we remember the professionalism and bravery of those who served aboard Sydney. Their legacy endures not just in history, but in the dedication to service that lives on in the Navy today.
Tragically, in November 1941, the Sydney was sunk off the Western Australian coast by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. All 645 members of the ship’s crew perished.
Related article:
A crowd watches the triumphant return of HMAS Sydney to Alexandria Harbour.
Aboard HMAS Sydney, the only Australian casualty in the successful action against the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni, Able Seaman D. Thompson (left), with leading sick bay attendant C.J. Wilson and sick bay attendant D.E. Shelley.
Images courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.