Survivors Remember HMAS Perth and USS Houston

From March 1, 2012.

More than 200 people gathered at St. John's Anglican Church in Freemantle, Western Australia to mark the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the two ships.

Three survivors: Arthur Bancroft, Norm Fuller and Fred Skeels were on the Perth.  Families of other crew members joined with them.  Members of the current HMAS Perth were also on hand.

Anthems of both Australia and the United States were played.

Of the Perth's crew, 350 lost their lives when it sank and another 106 died while they were POWs of the Japanese.  The Houston lost 638 when it sank and another 104 as POWs.

The wreck of the USS Houston has recently been found and identified.

--GreGen