LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Sidney MARLEY
Service No: 3967
Born: Tamworth NSW, 18 June 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 4 January 1939
Unit: No. 9 Squadron, HMAS Sydney Detachment
Died: Naval Battle: Indian Ocean (off the WA Coast), 20 November 1941, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Henry and Annie Martha Marley; husband of Georgina Maud Marley, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: HMAS Sydney Memorial, Geraldton WA
Remembered: Panel 6, Sydney Memorial Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Memorial Grove, Newcastle NSW
Remembered: Catalina Base Memorial, Rathmines NSW
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
Remembered: Returned and Services League HMAS SYDNEY II Virtual Memorial
The Seagull V (or alternatively Walrus) aircraft flown from the larger of HMA Ships during WWII were crewed and operated by Members of No. 9 Squadron RAAF. The compliment of HMAS Sydney included Walrus aircraft L 2177 and a detachment of 6 RAAF members at the time of the naval battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran on the evening of 19 November 1941. Along with their 636 RAN, RN and civilian comrades, all 6 RAAF Members were killed. Walrus L 2177 was also lost.
The members of the No. 9 Squadron detachment were:
Flying Officer Raymond Barker Barrey (407000) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Arthur John Clarke (7143)
Leading Aircraftman Richard Dodds (15452)
Corporal Roy Ebenezer Foster (9347)
Leading Aircraftman Keith Homard (35338)
Sergeant Sidney Marley (3967)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A703, 660/7/3967
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line