Medal entitlements for service on HMAS Sydney vary significantly depending on which of the five ships (HMAS Sydney I, II, III, IV, or V) you are inquiring about, and the specific dates of service. Standard Australian Defence Force (ADF) policy does not award medals to a specific ship, but rather to the individuals who served on them during eligible operational periods. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Because crew members from HMAS Sydney II tragically did not survive its 1941 sinking, the medals were never claimed by the crew. Entitlements for this WWII crew historically include: []
For later iterations, such as HMAS Sydney III (Vietnam War era), entitlements for eligible personnel include:[1]
- Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 (with clasp 'Vietnam')
- Vietnam Medal
- Australian Defence Medal [1, 2]
To confirm a specific veteran’s full medallic entitlement or to request the issuance of uncollected medals for a family member, records must be verified by the Department of Defence. [1]
If you would like to proceed, please tell me:
- Which specific HMAS Sydney (I, II, III, IV, or V) you are researching?
- The years or exact dates of service?
- Is the inquiry for a family member or historical research?
I can provide instructions on how to submit an application through the Defence Honours and Awards directorate.