RATING'S STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 201, 19 August 1940, Page 3

RATING'S STORY

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY SINKS ITALIAN DESTROYER The sinking of the Italian cruiser Bartomoleo Colleoni by H.M.A.S. Sydney was not the Australian cruiser's first success against Italian naval units, according to letters received in Perth by relatives of members o/ the crew, reports the Melbourne Argus. At the end of June, they say, the Sydney sank one of three Italian destroyers. A communique issued in Cairo on June 29 reported that British Naval forces had sunk an enemy destroyer. In Melbourne'it is stated that the Navy Office has been informed of the action, but there has been no indication that the Sydney took part. v W. Cookesley, a stoker," writing to bis brother in Fremantle, said: "The last time we, went to sea we had a hectic time. We were on our way to do a pretty important job after we received news of three Italian destroyers heading in the direction of this base. We sighted them at G o'clock that night, and Were ordered to fire on the starboard destroyer. "At first we were firing under orders from our squad von leader, but after about an hour of this kind of firing we weren't any closer to hitting our target than -when we began. At last we received orders to carry on independently, so we closed .to 14,000 yards and opened fire. "Our first salvo landed just off their stern. The next landed on the quarter deck. Then the bridge was blown away, and the fourth blew half the forecastle away, "We started to chase the other two, but, Ave re ordered to return and pick up survivors and finish off the destroyer. By the time we got back the ship was a mass of flames and was beginning to settle down, so we put a couple of more salvoes into her and .she slowly keeled over and sank bow first. A "The water seemed to be ali\e with men crying and moaning. We picked up as! many as we could, but were unable to stay too long, because we were not very far from Italy, where main air and naval bases are. Besides that, the Mediterranean is literally alive with submarines. We picked up 47 Italians. Three died on board."