Comments on: HMAS Sydney http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/ Blog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:01:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Dianne Rutherford http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-7133 Dianne Rutherford Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:19:19 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-7133 Hi Helen, it sounds like you have one of the souvenirs made from wood from HMAS Sydney I. HMAS Sydney was paid off in 1928 and broken up in 1929 and sunk off Sydney Heads. Numerous souvenirs - from fruit and nut bowls, ash trays, match holders, tobacco jars and paperweights to specially framed prints of the Sydney - were fashioned from teak and other wood fittings salvaged from the Sydney before she was sunk. I am not sure how common the smoker's stand was. The Memorial bought the bulk of the teak from the Sydney to make these souvenirs, which were sold to the public in the 1930s. The money raised would have contributed to the building of the Memorial here in Canberra. Hi Helen, it sounds like you have one of the souvenirs made from wood from HMAS Sydney I. HMAS Sydney was paid off in 1928 and broken up in 1929 and sunk off Sydney Heads. Numerous souvenirs – from fruit and nut bowls, ash trays, match holders, tobacco jars and paperweights to specially framed prints of the Sydney – were fashioned from teak and other wood fittings salvaged from the Sydney before she was sunk. I am not sure how common the smoker’s stand was. The Memorial bought the bulk of the teak from the Sydney to make these souvenirs, which were sold to the public in the 1930s. The money raised would have contributed to the building of the Memorial here in Canberra.

]]> By: Helen T http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-7012 Helen T Mon, 30 May 2011 06:53:16 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-7012 I have a smokers stand - hardwood stand about a metre high, with a circular top holding a heavy bronze ashstray. It has a bronze tag on the wooden edge around the ashtray, on which is embossed 'HMAS Sydney Destroyed Emden 1914'. How does an artefact like this come into existence? Would they have been made to commemorate this first win for the RAN and to allow others Australians to share in the glory? Therefore, is it likely that such a piece of furniture is fairly common? I can't imagine it would have come off the ship itself. Its been in my family for over 50 years at the very least, and I am curious about its provenance. I have a smokers stand – hardwood stand about a metre high, with a circular top holding a heavy bronze ashstray. It has a bronze tag on the wooden edge around the ashtray, on which is embossed ‘HMAS Sydney Destroyed Emden 1914′. How does an artefact like this come into existence? Would they have been made to commemorate this first win for the RAN and to allow others Australians to share in the glory? Therefore, is it likely that such a piece of furniture is fairly common? I can’t imagine it would have come off the ship itself. Its been in my family for over 50 years at the very least, and I am curious about its provenance.

]]> By: jim roche http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-5628 jim roche Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:27:01 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-5628 Hi I would like to contact Louise Genge Re. Lieut. Commander Genge I have written an article on him and the HMAS Sydney His older brother married my mothers first cousin I have a photo from Sydney Morning Herald Dec 1941 Regards Jim Roche jbroche@optusnet.com.au Hi
I would like to contact Louise Genge
Re. Lieut. Commander Genge
I have written an article on him and the HMAS Sydney
His older brother married my mothers first cousin
I have a photo from Sydney Morning Herald Dec 1941
Regards
Jim Roche
jbroche@optusnet.com.au

]]> By: Lyn Parkinson (nee Melandri) http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-4175 Lyn Parkinson (nee Melandri) Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:46:15 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-4175 My grandfather, Percy Ernest Vincent Melandri, was a Bandsman on the HMAS Sydney II at the time of her sinking. Does anyone know what the duties of a Bandsman were on a day-to-day basis and what the role of the band would have been generally ie I assume they would have played on ceremonial occasions but as this wouldn't be an everyday event I am interested to know what other duties bandsmen would have performed, including what duties they would have had during battle/action stations and where they would have been located at this time. I have a photo of seven band members, including my grandfather, posing with Captain Collins. Five band members are holding guitars, one a ukelele and one a cello. My grandfather is holding a guitar. Would these have been the usual instruments played by band members or would these have just been used for a particular occasion? I am also interested to know whether the AWM has any other photos of band members or any single photos of my grandfather as the above photo is one of only two that I have of him. Finally, I note that in several publications on the Sydney he is listed as 'Perty' Ernest Vincent Melandri. I am not sure where this spelling came from but it is incorrect. Hopeful of a response... Lyn Parkinson My grandfather, Percy Ernest Vincent Melandri, was a Bandsman on the HMAS Sydney II at the time of her sinking. Does anyone know what the duties of a Bandsman were on a day-to-day basis and what the role of the band would have been generally ie I assume they would have played on ceremonial occasions but as this wouldn’t be an everyday event I am interested to know what other duties bandsmen would have performed, including what duties they would have had during battle/action stations and where they would have been located at this time.

I have a photo of seven band members, including my grandfather, posing with Captain Collins. Five band members are holding guitars, one a ukelele and one a cello. My grandfather is holding a guitar. Would these have been the usual instruments played by band members or would these have just been used for a particular occasion?

I am also interested to know whether the AWM has any other photos of band members or any single photos of my grandfather as the above photo is one of only two that I have of him.

Finally, I note that in several publications on the Sydney he is listed as ‘Perty’ Ernest Vincent Melandri. I am not sure where this spelling came from but it is incorrect.

Hopeful of a response…

Lyn Parkinson

]]> By: Nina Craske http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-4123 Nina Craske Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:34:34 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-4123 Hello, I am related by marriage to one of the crew of the Sydney lost so many years ago. His name was Benjamin "Jack" Craske. He was my father-in-law's brother. I remember visiting Nan Craske and seeing a photo of Jack on her wall and being told about him and what happened. I'm sad to say that Nan passed away years ago and that she never got to know what happened, it was a sadness for her as for all the boys of the Sydney. I got to visit Geraldton and also Carnarvon during my touring time around Australia and it was just at the time that there was the beginning again of interest in the location of both the Raider and the Sydney. I'm glad for all the families that the answer has finally come. My children know a bit of their family history. We have the bood The search for the Sydney and it has sparked an interest in the rest of the family. Nina Craske. Hello,
I am related by marriage to one of the crew of the Sydney lost so many years ago. His name was Benjamin “Jack” Craske. He was my father-in-law’s brother.
I remember visiting Nan Craske and seeing a photo of Jack on her wall and being told about him and what happened. I’m sad to say that Nan passed away years ago and that she never
got to know what happened, it was a sadness for her as for all the boys of the Sydney.
I got to visit Geraldton and also Carnarvon during my touring time around Australia and it was
just at the time that there was the beginning again of interest in the location of both the Raider and the Sydney. I’m glad for all the families that the answer has finally come.
My children know a bit of their family history. We have the bood The search for the Sydney and it has sparked an interest in the rest of the family.
Nina Craske.

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