Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
HMAS Sydney Sinking the Bartolomeo Colleoni 1940 (AD)
Mint: Amor
Other Details: This is an example of the medal awarded to the captain and crew of HMAS Sydney on 11 February 1941 when the ship returned to Australia after war service in the Mediterranean. It had recently sunk the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. When sailing off the coast of Western Australia later the same year the Sydney was sunk by a German raider with the loss of all 645 aboard. Most of the medals were lost also.

Physical Description

Silver medal View of H.M.A.S. Sydney in battle steaming fast toright with guns firing, in the background the Bartolomeo Colleoni is burning and sinking on the horizon Between two laurel wreaths, the top joined by an anchor with crown and star, the legend: PRESENTED BY / THE CITIZENS OF SYDNEY / TO CAPTAIN J.A. COLLINS C.B.,R.A.N. / THE OFFICERS AND SHIP'S COMPANY / H.M.A.S. SYDNEY / IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR GALLANT FIGHT / AGAINST SUPERIOR SPEED AND WEIGHT OF / ARMAMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SINKING / OF THE ITALIAN CRUISER / BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI / IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA / JULY NINETEEN / 1940 Edge inscribed THE CAPTAIN EACH OFFICER AND EACH MEMBER OF SHIP'S COMPANY RECEIVED ONE OF THESE 11:2:41

Obverse Description

Between two laurel wreaths, the top joined by an anchor with crown and star, the legend: PRESENTED BY / THE CITIZENS OF SYDNEY / TO CAPTAIN J.A. COLLINS C.B.,R.A.N. / THE OFFICERS AND SHIP'S COMPANY / H.M.A.S. SYDNEY / IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR GALLANT FIGHT / AGAINST SUPERIOR SPEED AND WEIGHT OF / ARMAMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SINKING / OF THE ITALIAN CRUISER / BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI / IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA / JULY NINETEEN / 1940

Reverse Description

View of H.M.A.S. Sydney in battle steaming fast toright with guns firing, in the background the Bartolomeo Colleoni is burning and sinking on the horizon

Edge Description

Inscribed THE CAPTAIN EACH OFFICER AND EACH MEMBER OF SHIP'S COMPANY RECEIVED ONE OF THESE 11:2:41

Significance

HMAS Sydney (II), previously HMS Phaeton, was launched under its new name in 1934 and commissioned the following year. From 1939 it was based at Fremantle. After war was declared with Italy on 10 June 1940, the Sydney sank the destroyer Espero on 27 June, and received praise for saving 47 of its crew. Three weeks later, the Sydney was again engaged in battle, this time with the cruIser Bartolomeo Colleoni.

Early on the morning of 19 July, Sydney and its attendant destroyer reached a point some 40 miles north of Cape Spada. Sydney received a report from the destroyers indicating the presence of two enemy cruisers some 10 miles to the south west of their position, heading north. Sydney and Havock headed towards the enemy, and soon two Italian cruisers, Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni Delle Bande Nere, were sighted. Sydney opened fire on the leading cruiser, Giovanni Delle Bande Nere. Both cruisers returned fire. Giovanni Delle Bande Nere appeared to have been hit, and the Italian cruisers attempted to escape. Sydney began a pursuit. Soon Giovanni Delle Bande Nere was obscured by smoke, and Sydney shifted her fire to Bartolomeo Colleoni. By 0919, Sydney's fire on Bartolomeo Colleoni appeared to be taking effect and it was slowing. Sydney was hit in the foremost funnel, with only one minor casualty reported. Bartolomeo Colleoni was finally put out of action, some eight kilometres off Cape Spada. The surviving cruiser attempted to escape, and Sydney again pursued. At 0933 Captain Collins ordered the destroyers to finish off Bartolomeo Colleoni with torpedoes. The destroyers Hyperion and Ilex then fired torpedoes at Bartolomeo Colleoni and the destroyer Havock stood by to rescue survivors. Bartolomeo Colleoni finally sank at 0959.

Mussolini was apparently 'depressed on the account of the loss of the Colleoni not so much because of the sinking itself as because he feels the Italians did not fight brilliantly', according to his son-in-law Count Ciano. Sydney continued its successful mission and was then recalled to Australia, arriving on 9 January 1941. On 11 January the Lord Mayor of Sydney and aldermen presented a plaque recording the victory over the Bartolomeo, and a crowd at the Town Hall witnessed the presentation of the medals, similar to the plaque, to Captain Collins and all the crew. The medal was struck by Amor, Sydney.

On 11 November the Sydney sailed from Fremantle on escort duty. It was sunk on 19 November 1941 by the German raider Kormoran which was masquerading as a Dutch ship. The entire crew of 645 was lost, together with most of the Bartolomeo medals. -Allen, David L. Medal was Struck for Ship's Victory. 1980. Australian Coin Review. Vol. 17 [5], Nov; HMAS Sydney (Royal Australian Navy) web site http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/history/ships/sydney2.htm -D. Tout-Smith 15/10/2003.

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