This is an example of the medal awarded to the Captain and crew of HMAS Sydney on 11 February 1941 when the ship returned to Australia after war service in the Mediterranean. Sailing off Western Australia later the same year the Sydney was sunk by a German raider with the loss of all 645 aboard.

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Obverse – The legend PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF SYDNEY TO CAPTAIN J.A.COLLINS CB.,R.A.N. THE OFFICERS AND SHIP'S COMPANY IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR GALLANT FIGHT AGAINST SUPERIOR SPEED AND WEIGHT OF ARMAMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SINKING OF THE ITALIAN CRUISER BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA JULY NINETEEN 1940.		Reverse – HMAS Sydney under full steam with guns smoking.

Transferred from National Gallery of Victoria, 1976

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Photographers' medal, 1934

Mining and Metallurgy award, 1935

Vacuum Oil medal, 1935

Scouting Jamboree medal, 1935

Royal Australian Military College medal, 1936

Kingsford-Smith medal, 1935

Coronation medal Edward VIII, 1936

Australian crown, 1937

Coronation medal George VI, 1937

Australia's anniversary medal, 1938

Catholic centenary medal, 1939

HMAS Sydney medal, 1940

Fund raising medals, 1941

John Medley medal, 1942

Melbourne medal, 1942

Nunawading medal, 1945

Australian florin, 1942

World War Two medal group, 1945

Mothers and Widows badge, 1945

School's Peace medal, 1945

Debased coins, 1946

HMAS Sydney medal, 1940

Click to enlarge. (98kb)

Click to enlarge. (70kb)


Obverse – The legend PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF SYDNEY TO CAPTAIN J.A.COLLINS CB.,R.A.N. THE OFFICERS AND SHIP'S COMPANY IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR GALLANT FIGHT AGAINST SUPERIOR SPEED AND WEIGHT OF ARMAMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SINKING OF THE ITALIAN CRUISER BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA JULY NINETEEN 1940.		Reverse – HMAS Sydney under full steam with guns smoking.

Transferred from National Gallery of Victoria, 1976