Historical information

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.

Significance

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.

Physical description

Framed cuttings of newspaper articles,13 photographs and 7 flags

Inscriptions & markings

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 Japanese