Comments on: HMAS Sydney http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:53:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 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.

]]> By: Leeanne http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-4028 Leeanne Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:28:02 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-4028 My Husband was a nephew of Lindsay Thomas Rowe Stokr Second Class W1813 and we are trying to locate a photo of him in his uniform if any can assist please contact us on leheny1@aapt.net.au Regards Leeanne My Husband was a nephew of Lindsay Thomas Rowe Stokr Second Class W1813 and we are trying to locate a photo of him in his uniform if any can assist please contact us on leheny1@aapt.net.au

Regards Leeanne

]]> By: Jennie Norberry http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-3315 Jennie Norberry Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:46:17 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-3315 For Gillian: The Memorial does hold a photograph of your uncle, Bernard Albert Diews, which can be viewed on our website at <a href="http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02008.001" rel="nofollow">http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02008.001</a>. The items you kindly donated are not currently on display. However, The diary and Christmas Day menu can be viewed by visitors to the Research Centre of the Memorial. It typically takes about 30 minutes for Research Centre collection items to be retrieved. The group portrait of the ships company of HMAS <em>Sydney </em>after the successful action against the Italian Cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni was taken circa July 1940. The photograph can be viewed at <a href="http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00795.001" rel="nofollow">http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00795.001</a>. For Gillian: The Memorial does hold a photograph of your uncle, Bernard Albert Diews, which can be viewed on our website at http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02008.001. The items you kindly donated are not currently on display. However, The diary and Christmas Day menu can be viewed by visitors to the Research Centre of the Memorial. It typically takes about 30 minutes for Research Centre collection items to be retrieved.

The group portrait of the ships company of HMAS Sydney after the successful action against the Italian Cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni was taken circa July 1940. The photograph can be viewed at http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00795.001.

]]> By: Gillian Lewis nee Diews http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/comment-page-2/#comment-3275 Gillian Lewis nee Diews Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:10:26 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/2008/03/19/hmas-sydney/#comment-3275 My Uncle Bernard Albert Diews was lost on HMAS Sydney. Does the memorial have a photograph of him? I also donated some HMAS Sydney items to the AWM in December 1994.The receipt no. was FR1803 file 93/0295. Items of particular interest were the HMAS Sydney 1940 Christmas Day menu and an original diary recording HMAS Sydney's daily activities from April 1940 to January 1941. Do you know if those items are on display at the museum? Also can you tell me what date the famous crew photo was taken? My Uncle Bernard Albert Diews was lost on HMAS Sydney. Does the memorial have a photograph of him? I also donated some HMAS Sydney items to the AWM in December 1994.The receipt no. was FR1803 file 93/0295. Items of particular interest were the HMAS Sydney 1940 Christmas Day menu and an original diary recording HMAS Sydney’s daily activities from April 1940 to January 1941. Do you know if those items are on display at the museum?
Also can you tell me what date the famous crew photo was taken?

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