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War story laid to rest
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 53,00.html
THE families of two Japanese sailors who died when their midget sub was lost off Sydney during World War II have achieved a sense of closure over their deaths.
The submarine disappeared after an attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942 and was found late last year by a group of amateur divers about 5km off Bungan Head on Sydney's northern beaches.
Nineteen relatives of the two submariners, and dignitaries from Australia and Japan attended a day of commemoration yesterday which began with a service at the HMAS Kuttabul naval base at Garden Island.
The ceremony included a parade by 150 members of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Training Squadron and the laying of wreaths.
The service was followed by an at-sea ceremony aboard the HMAS Melbourne at the site of the largely intact wreck, which is believed to still contain the remains of Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban and Petty Officer Memoru Ashibe.
The niece of Petty Officer Ashibe, Hiromi Takemoto, said she was grateful for the opportunity to see her uncle's last resting place and take home sand from the wreck site to place on his empty grave in Japan.
"I realise how much the Australian government and the Australian people care about the commemoration of my uncle and his comrades," Ms Takemoto said through an interpreter.
"The fact the Australian government put so much time and effort into this commemoration, I was really impressed.
"The sense of closure is there because for a long time the midget submarine was not found and we wondered what happened to it."
Kazutomo Ban, 74, the younger brother of Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban, the commander and navigator of the midget sub, said he was similarly touched by the service.
"I am very honoured to know that the Australian people remember him even today," he said.
Japan's Ambassador to Australia, Hideaki Ueda, said World War II had been a "dark period" for both countries but that the improvements in the nations' relationship had been inspirational.
"This memorial is a solemn reminder not to repeat the mistakes of the past," Mr Ueda said.
Also at the ceremony was Neil Roberts, 83, the only living Australian survivor of the attack, who said he greatly admired the bravery of the fallen submariners.
"I admire what they've done," Mr Roberts said. "If you think about what they did, travelling in those midget submarines was an incredible feat."
During the attack, the M24 fired two torpedoes at USS Chicago in Sydney Harbour.
The torpedoes missed their target and detonated under the converted ferry Kuttabul, which was moored as sailors' quarters at Garden Island.
The ferry sank, killing 19 Royal Australian Navy and two Royal Navy sailors.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 53,00.html
THE families of two Japanese sailors who died when their midget sub was lost off Sydney during World War II have achieved a sense of closure over their deaths.
The submarine disappeared after an attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942 and was found late last year by a group of amateur divers about 5km off Bungan Head on Sydney's northern beaches.
Nineteen relatives of the two submariners, and dignitaries from Australia and Japan attended a day of commemoration yesterday which began with a service at the HMAS Kuttabul naval base at Garden Island.
The ceremony included a parade by 150 members of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Training Squadron and the laying of wreaths.
The service was followed by an at-sea ceremony aboard the HMAS Melbourne at the site of the largely intact wreck, which is believed to still contain the remains of Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban and Petty Officer Memoru Ashibe.
The niece of Petty Officer Ashibe, Hiromi Takemoto, said she was grateful for the opportunity to see her uncle's last resting place and take home sand from the wreck site to place on his empty grave in Japan.
"I realise how much the Australian government and the Australian people care about the commemoration of my uncle and his comrades," Ms Takemoto said through an interpreter.
"The fact the Australian government put so much time and effort into this commemoration, I was really impressed.
"The sense of closure is there because for a long time the midget submarine was not found and we wondered what happened to it."
Kazutomo Ban, 74, the younger brother of Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban, the commander and navigator of the midget sub, said he was similarly touched by the service.
"I am very honoured to know that the Australian people remember him even today," he said.
Japan's Ambassador to Australia, Hideaki Ueda, said World War II had been a "dark period" for both countries but that the improvements in the nations' relationship had been inspirational.
"This memorial is a solemn reminder not to repeat the mistakes of the past," Mr Ueda said.
Also at the ceremony was Neil Roberts, 83, the only living Australian survivor of the attack, who said he greatly admired the bravery of the fallen submariners.
"I admire what they've done," Mr Roberts said. "If you think about what they did, travelling in those midget submarines was an incredible feat."
During the attack, the M24 fired two torpedoes at USS Chicago in Sydney Harbour.
The torpedoes missed their target and detonated under the converted ferry Kuttabul, which was moored as sailors' quarters at Garden Island.
The ferry sank, killing 19 Royal Australian Navy and two Royal Navy sailors.