HMAS Perth (I) MemorialPrint Page

The HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation Incorporated was formed in 2019 to establish a permanent memorial to commemorate the life and loss of HMAS Perth. The memorial will acknowledge and honour the members of the ship’s company who:

• Perished in the Battle of Sunda Strait
• Survived the battle and attempted to avoid capture
• Were captured, imprisoned and enslaved
• Died as prisoners of war
• Finally returned to Australia or the United Kingdom

The memorial will also acknowledge the families whose lives were forever changed by the loss of HMAS Perth on 1 March 1942.

A key requirement is that the memorial be suitable for ceremonial occasions, commemorative events, flag-raising, and wreath-laying, in order to facilitate both public and private remembrance. To this end, a Wall of Honour will bear the names of the entire ship’s company, which came from all corners of Australia as well as the United Kingdom. Each man’s name will be engraved into highly polished black granite to emphasize the solemn purpose of this place of remembrance. Removable flagpoles will be provided for ceremonial and wreath-laying occasions. The memorial will complement and enhance the existing HMAS Perth Memorial Hall and the TS Perth training establishment located on Riverside Road, East Fremantle, in Western Australia.

Funding of $87, 673 was received in 2020/21 through the Saluting Their Service Grant Program for the construction of the memorial. 

His Majesty’s Australian Ship Perth was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on 29 June 1939 and served with distinction during the early years of the Second World War. The Modified Leander Class light cruiser was sunk on 1 March 1942 in company with the American heavy cruiser USS Houston while fighting numerically superior Japanese naval forces at Sunda Strait. At the time of her loss, Perth carried a complement of 681 officers, ratings and civilian canteen staff. 353 were killed in action or perished as a result of the ship’s sinking, and four died after reaching shore. Of the 324 who became prisoners of war of the Japanese, 106 died. 218 survived to return home.

Location

Address:	Lot 7773 Riverside Road, HMAS Perth Memorial, East Fremantle, 6158
State:	WA
Area:	AUS
GPS Coordinates:	Lat: -32.027111 Long: 115.763537 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.

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Details

Monument Type:	Monument
Monument Theme:	Conflict
Sub-Theme:	WW2
Artist:	Charles Smith and Joan Walsh-Smith (sculptors)

Source: MA