$5 uncirculated coin - bi-metallic - Commemorating the Battle of the Sunda Straight 28 February - 1 March 1942 where both USS Houston and HMAS Perth were sunk. The bell is from USS Houston and carries the date 1930 the year in which USS Houston was commissioned Sleeve comprises coin in card with cover USS HoustonObverse - Elizabeth II Australia 2002 Reverse - Battle of Sunda Strait 1942 USS Houston HMAS Perth 2002

$5 uncirculated coin commemorating the Battle of Sunda Strait 28th February - 1st March, 1942 where both HMAS Perth and USS Houston were sunk. The bell is from USS Houston and carries the date 1930 the year in which USS Houston was commissioned. USS Houston sleeve comprises of coin with cover. Obverse - Elizabeth II Australia 2002 Reverse - Battle of Sunda Strait 1942 USS Houston, HMAS Perth 2002, Five dollars

$5 uncirculated coin bi-metallic - HMAS Perth - Commemorating the Battle of the Sunda Strait 28 February - 1 March 1942 where both HMAS Perth and USS Houston were sunk. The bell is from USS Houston and carries the date 1930 the year in which USS Houston was commissioned - HMAS Perth sleeve comprises coin in card with cover HMAS PerthObverse - Elizabeth II Australia 2002 Reverse - Battle of Sunda Strait 1942 USS Houston HMAS Perth 2002 5 Dollars

BookHMAS Perth and the Battle of Sunda Straithmas perth, uss houston, java sea, sunda strait

The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java, and Sumatra. On the night of 28 February – 1 March 1942, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth and the American heavy cruiser USS Houston faced a major Imperial Japanese Navy task force. After a fierce battle of several hours duration, both Allied ships were sunk. The sinking of HMAS Perth at the Battle of Sunda Strait 28 February -1 March 1942 cost 357 Australian lives. A further 324 crewmen fell into enemy hands. Two and a half years of brutal captivity claimed the lives of 106 of these men - 53 on the Thai Burma Railway alone.Framed cuttings of newspaper articles,13 photographs and 7 flags As Portrayed to the Australian Public 1942-1945 BATTLE OF JAVA SEA & SUNDA STRAIT 27 FEB - 1 MAR 1942 The first and only battle fought by a combined American Australian British and Dutch Naval Force against the Japanesesunda strait, hmas perth

The Age newspaper dated Monday January 15, 2024, page 30 - Obituaries - Frank McGovern October1,1919-May 24,2023 WW2 great survivor lived to be 103 - In 1939 McGovern aged 19 enlisted in the RAN and served on HMAS Westralia for 18 months prior to being deployed to HMAS Perth. On February 28 1942, two weeks after the fall of Singapore and having survived the Battle of Java HMAS Perth together with USS Houston entered the Sunda Strait coming into contact with the Japanese invasion convoy. HMAS Perth was vastly outnumbered and with no ammunition remaining the order came to abandon ship. Frank survived the sinking but 347 sailors including his older brother, ultimately perished. Frank became a prisoner of war and put to work on the Burma Railway for 12 months prior to being transported along with over 1000 Australian and British prisoners aboard the Rakuyo Maru to Japan. On September 12 1944 Rakuyo Maru and another prisoner transport ship were struck by American torpedos. As a result 1559 POW’s perished of which 543 were Australian. For the second time Frank survived a torpedo attack only to become a prisoner of war. Frank was a prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years and in 2019 was awarded the Order of Australia for services to veterans and their families, HMAS Perth Association and HMAS Perth Prisoner of War Association.Black frame containing newspaper article of obituary with three imagesfrank mcgovern, ran, ww2, pow, hmas perth, battle of sunda strait, hmas westralia, rakuyo maru