Sailors remember HMAS Perth and hope World War II wreck site can be protected

By Jewel Topsfield
Updated June 17 2016 - 4:10pm, first published June 15 2016 - 6:48pm
Red Lead, the ship's cat, on board HMAS Perth. She perished with the vessel. Photo: Supplied
Red Lead, the ship's cat, on board HMAS Perth. She perished with the vessel. Photo: Supplied
Ivan Ingham, captain of the present-day HMAS Perth, casts a wreath into the waters of the Sunda Strait to remember those who died while fighting the Imperial Japanese Navy on the first HMAS Perth in World War II. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
Ivan Ingham, captain of the present-day HMAS Perth, casts a wreath into the waters of the Sunda Strait to remember those who died while fighting the Imperial Japanese Navy on the first HMAS Perth in World War II. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
A map shows the journey of HMAS Perth and USS Houston from the Battle of the Java Sea to the Sunda Strait, where both were sunk by a Japanese naval force on the night of February 28/March 1, 1942. Photo: Royal Australian Navy
A map shows the journey of HMAS Perth and USS Houston from the Battle of the Java Sea to the Sunda Strait, where both were sunk by a Japanese naval force on the night of February 28/March 1, 1942. Photo: Royal Australian Navy
HMAS Perth's ship's company in Fremantle, August 1941. Photo: Royal Australian Navy
HMAS Perth's ship's company in Fremantle, August 1941. Photo: Royal Australian Navy
The crew of HMAS Perth III remember those who died on board HMAS Perth (I) and the USS Houston at Tuesday's event. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
The crew of HMAS Perth III remember those who died on board HMAS Perth (I) and the USS Houston at Tuesday's event. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
Commanding officer Ivan Ingham says HMAS Perth (I) and today's ship are closely linked via a shared sense of identity. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
Commanding officer Ivan Ingham says HMAS Perth (I) and today's ship are closely linked via a shared sense of identity. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
HMAS Perth arriving in Port Jackson, Sydney, for the first time in 1940. Photo: Royal Australian Navy
HMAS Perth arriving in Port Jackson, Sydney, for the first time in 1940. Photo: Royal Australian Navy

On board HMAS Perth, Sunda Strait: Cats may have nine lives but Red Lead, the ship's cat on HMAS Perth, seemed to know that hers had come to an end 74 years ago.

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