HMAS Sydney

Today marks eighty years since the sinking of HMAS Sydney on 19 November 1941. Men from the St George area who died in the battle included:

Able Seaman Graham Russell Bennie of Hurstville, S3505, aged 20.

Artificer Henry George Welfare Bonham of Penshurst, 23395.

Able Seaman Leonard Denis York of Arncliffe, S5117, aged 24.

Henry (known as Harry) Bonham was born at Oatley, son of Walter and Amy Bonham; he was married to Edith May (nee O’Connor) in 1936, and they had daughters Jacqueline and Carolyn[1].  He enlisted on 17 July 1939.

Graham Bennie was born at Hurstville on 4 July 1921, son of George and Elsie Bennie.  He enlisted on 2 September 1939.  After the war, the St George Amateur Cycling Club instituted the Graham Bennie Memorial race, to Springwood and back; Graham had been a member of the club before the war. The Australian War Memorial has an informal photo of him in his uniform.

Also lost in the battle was Leonard York, the son of William and Leah York of Arncliffe.  He was born on 22 October 1917, and enlisted on 8 April 1935.

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[1] Sydney Morning Herald 19 November 1942, p8.