Identity of 'unknown sailor' revealed as 21-year-old Thomas Welsby Clark - ABC News

Exactly 80 years to the day after HMAS Sydney sank in a World War II battle, the identity of the only crew member ever recovered has been revealed.

Today at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the identity of the so-called unknown sailor was revealed as 21-year-old Thomas Welsby Clark. 

The 'unknown sailor' has been named as Thomas Welsby Clark.(Supplied: Australian War Memorial)

The remains of Able Seaman (AB) Clark washed up on Christmas Island 11 weeks after the HMAS Sydney sank, following an ambush by German raider the Kormoran off the coast of Western Australia. 

Only one body was ever found, washed ashore on Christmas Island — and that body became known as the 'unknown sailor', until now.

"AB Clark was one of 645 crewmen who lost their lives following the engagement between HMAS Sydney and the German cruiser Kormoran off the coast of Western Australia," the Australian War Memorial said.

The then-Ordinary Seaman Clark enlisted on August 23, 1940 and trained at HMAS St Giles and HMAS Cerberus.

Then, on August 19, 1941, he became a crew member of HMAS Sydney, achieving the ranking of Able Seaman just a few days later.

Mr Gee said Thomas Welsby Clark is believed to have been the only person to have made it to a carley float, similar to the ones seen in this image.(Supplied: Australian War Memorial)

Veterans Affairs Minister Andrew Gee said Thomas Clark's was a remarkable Australian maritime story. 

"It was ferocious and it was brutal and Tom is believed to be the only person who made it to a life raft," he said this morning.

"Tom tragically died at sea and his body was found at Christmas Island some three months later.

"It's testament to modern science and technology that we have been able to identify Tom, after all of these decades.

"I think it says a lot about our nation that even after 80 years, we are still working so hard to identify and honour our servicemen and women."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTExLTE5L3Vua25vd24tc2FpbG9yLWlkZW50aWZpZWQtYXMtdGhvbWFzLXdlbHNieS1jbGFyay8xMDA2MzMzMDLSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAwNjMzMzAy?oc=5

2021-11-18 21:49:27Z
CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTExLTE5L3Vua25vd24tc2FpbG9yLWlkZW50aWZpZWQtYXMtdGhvbWFzLXdlbHNieS1jbGFyay8xMDA2MzMzMDLSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAwNjMzMzAy

Bagikan Berita Ini