HMAS Perth survivors, from left, Fred Lasslett, David Manning and Ern Noble meet with Heather Perigo, the sister of Robert Sims, who died when the ship was sunk during World War II.By Shaun Inguanzo
HEATHER Perigo was about to enter the world when her brother Robert Sims died serving aboard the HMAS Perth light cruiser in 1942.
But this month Ms Perigo, with help from the Dandenong RSL, was able to learn more about her brother when she met with survivors from the HMAS Perth.
The light cruiser was sunk by Japanese forces during World War II and claimed 350 lives – about half its personnel.
Dandenong RSL welfare committee chairman John Filmer said the club had arranged for Ms Perigo to meet with the survivors on the 66th anniversary of that fateful day.
Ms Perigo met Fred Lasslett, an electrician, David Manning, a gunner, and Ern Noble, a leading hand.
She also met with Frank McGovern, who served on Perth with Robert, who was aged just 18 at the time.
“(Heather) was born shortly after Robert’s death,” Mr Filmer said.
“And for many years she sought to meet someone who had served with him.
“She showed Frank photos of Robert, they both shed a tear, but felt a great moment of relief and indeed closure after so many years.”
HMAS Perth had been travelling the Sunda Strait when it encountered Japanese destroyers protecting an invasion fleet of 50 ships.
Surrounded by the enemy ships, it was impossible for HMAS Perth to fire at all, and eventually the Japanese ships advanced within close range to sink the vessel.
A total of 350 sailors died while another 330 survived.
They were captured by the Japanese, and 106 died as prisoners of war.
The surviving 214 men were released when the war ended.
