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Image Not Available for Commemorative medal for the crew of HMAS SYDNEY for the sinking of BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI
Commemorative medal for the crew of HMAS SYDNEY for the sinking of BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI
Image Not Available for Commemorative medal for the crew of HMAS SYDNEY for the sinking of BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI

Commemorative medal for the crew of HMAS SYDNEY for the sinking of BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI

Date1941
Object number00019150
NameMedallion
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall: 4 x 56 mm, 0.07 kg
Display Dimensions: 4 x 56 mm
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA commemorative medal presented to Captain, officers and crew of HMAS SYDNEY upon sinking of Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI, July nineteen, 1940. Inscribed on one side is "Presented by the citizens of Sydney to Captain J A Collins CB, RAN, the officers and ships company HMAS SYDNEY in commemoration of their gallant fight, against superior speed and weight of armament, which resulted in the sinking of the Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI in the Mediterranean sea July nineteen 1940". The medal is round with laurels above and below inscription. At the top is a motif of Sydney city. The verso features the image of HMAS SYDNEY in centre at the rear is a sinking vessel. Around the edge is an inscription reading "F R Evans. Petty Officer. O.N. 17853" HistoryHMAS SYDNEY (II) was built for the Royal Australian Navy by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. at Wallsend on Tyne in 1933 and launched in 1934. At the outbreak of World War II, HMAS SYDNEY undertook local patrol duties until April 1940 when it joined the 7th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Sea. Action soon followed with the bombardment of Bardia (Libya) and the Battles of Calabria (Italy) and Cape Spada (Crete). On 19 July, off Cape Spada in Crete, HMAS SYDNEY and five British Royal Navy destroyers fought against the Italian cruisers BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI and GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE. The resulting sea battle saw Sydney's accurate gunfire cripple the COLLEONI and damage the BANDE NERE. During the battle, SYDNEY fired an estimated 956 shells and her actions earned wide acclaim throughout the Royal Navy and at home in Australia where her actions were covered in rthe media. The Melbourne Herald of 20 July 1940 reported in its evening edition that: ‘Once again the Australian Navy has shown the splendid fighting quality and efficiency of the last war. “Sydney” outfought and destroyed the famous EMDEN and now her younger sister writes another page of naval history that will thrill the civilized world’ Returning after long and hard service in the Mediterranean, HMAS SYDNEY was welcomed into Sydney Harbour on 10 February 1941 by thousands lining the foreshores. Vantage points along Farm Cove offered the perfect view of the cruiser with its geometric, dazzle painted scheme (camouflage). The grey colours were painted on immediately after the Cape Spada action of July 1940. The ship then underwent a refit and was posted to convoy duties in the Indian Ocean. There, on 19 November 1941, SYDNEY went into battle with the German raider KORMORAN. Unbelievably, SYDNEY was completely lost - the ship plus all 645 crew. The loss of HMAS SYDNEY was devastating for the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian public. Theories about the disappearance abounded until the discovery of the two wrecks off the western Australian coast in March 2008.SignificanceFrancis Richard Evans was a Petty Officer aboard HMAS SYDNEY when sunk on 19 November, 1941. The loss of the famous and much loved SYDNEY and all her crew, was a devastating blow to Australia - both to the navy and the public. The crew's bravery and her reputation of being a 'lucky' ship had made it seem that the SYDNEY was virtually untouchable. The loss in Australian waters and not knowing her final resting place until 2008, only added to the tragedy.