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The first HMAS Sydney was a ''Chatham'' class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy. Its crew made history in 1914, during World War I, when Sydney took part in the RAN's first ship against ship battle, the Battle of Cocos.
History Sydney was laid down by the London and Glasgow Engineering Company at Govan, Scotland, in February 1911, launched on 29 August 1912 by Lady Henderson, wife of Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson and commissioned on 26 June 1913 at Portsmouth, England. On November 9 1914, Sydney was detached from escort duties with the ANZAC convoy, near the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean, to investigate reports of the German light cruiser SMS ''Emden'' approaching the Cocos Islands WT Station. Sydney engaged the Emden and the action lasted over an hour (possibly over five or six hours), during which time the German vessel was wrecked and run aground on North Keeling Island reef. Four crewmwmbers were killed in this action, the first Australian military contribution to World War I During the remainder of World War I, Sydney served in British waters. In 1918 she operated a Sopwith Pup plane, launched from a platform fitted over a gun mounting. After the war Sydney continued to serve on the Australian station, including a period spent as flagship. Sydney paid off at Sydney on 8 May 1928 and arrived at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, on 10 January 1929 where she was broken up. The foremast was moved to Bradley's Head, where it was installed as a monument to the engagement against the Emden, and later became a monument for all Australian sailors killed at war. The bow was set into the seawall at Milsons Point, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Both pieces of the ship are still in place as of 2006. | ||||||||
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