Sadly, the tragic loss of HMAS Sydney and her 645 man crew on the 19th Nov 1941 was more than matched by the loss of the cruiser HMS Neptune (sister ship to Ajax and Achillies of River Plate fame and "half" sister to the Sydney) exactly one month later on the 19th December 1941. She ran into a mine field off Tripoli and 766 were lost with just one survivor by accounts. The navy took a hammering in those months with the loss of the Ark Royal (14 Nov) and battleships Barham (25 Nov with 862 crew killed), Repulse and Prince of Wales (10 Dec).
Any opportunity to pay our respects to their memory should be taken. God rest the crew of HMAS Sydney, no longer lost and never forgotten.