A 60th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea took place at the Martin Place Cenotaph in Sydney on May 6. Some 500 people gathered to remember those Australian and American sailors who died during this WW II sea encounter to the north of Australia.

Included were survivors from the light cruisers HMAS Australia and Hobart. Together with USS Chicago and the destroyers USS Perkins and Walke, they formed the support group.

It was this group under the command of RADM John Crace, the Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Squadron which was successful in preventing the Japanese fleet from attacking Port Moresby.

The Battle of the Coral Sea, 4-8 May 1941, saw the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington although there were numerous loss of aircraft on both sides.

" This was the first naval encounter where the ships did not sight each other and aircraft carriers became the capital ship of the future," said CMDR Dick Bourke of the HMAS Australia Association.

The Maritime Commander RADM Geoff Smith and the Commander Australia Theatre RADM Chris Ritchie attended the service where CHAP Murray Lund from HMAS Waterhen gave the commemoration prayer.

The RAN Band-Sydney lead by Bandmaster LEUT Paul Cottier and Drum Major POMUSN Mathew Morrissey accompanied the vocal talent of ABMUSN Tracy Burke who sang both the national anthems of Australia and the USA.

CPOB Brett Jasper from Command Ceremonial led the catafalque party from HMA Ships Kuttabul, Waterhen and Watson. Also in attendance were members of the American Legion, ADML David Leech (retired) and Mrs Ruth Bull, president of the Ex-WRANS Association.

The RAN's contribution to the success of the Battle of the Coral Sea also included our coast watchers, intelligence staff and the US/RAN unit known as Fleet Radio Unit Melbourne (FRUMEL).

By LCDR Mick Gallagher