Joseph Burnett, RAN
| Birth details unknown | |||
| Died | 19 Nov 1941 | HMAS Sydney | |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Joseph Burnett, RAN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMAS Sydney (D 48) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 15 May 1941 | 19 Nov 1941 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Light cruiser HMAS Sydney (D 48)
17 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Fremantle for patrol. (1)
21 May 1941
Around 1400H/21, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) returned to Fremantle from patrol.
At 0100H/21, she had been informed that a suspicious vessel had been sighted north of Rottnest Island. HMAS Sydney therefore proceeded to make rendezvous with the troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) which was in the area. Rendezvous was affected at 0540H/21 and the troopship was then escorted to Fremantle. (1)
24 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral J.G. Crace, RN) and the transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910).
Rendezvous was affected around 1000H/26. HMAS Sydney then took over the escort from HMAS Hobart. (1)
29 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2130H/29, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) arrived at Fremantle. (1)
31 May 1941
Around 1615H/31, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) departed Fremantle. The troopships is to proceed to Singapore.
Early in the afternoon of 6 June, HMS Danae (A/Capt. F.J. Butler, MBE, RN) took over the escort duties from HMAS Sydney which then set course to return to Fremantle. (2)
10 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730H/10, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Fremantle after escort duty. (3)
14 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130H/14, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the light cruiser HMS Danae (A/Capt. F.J. Butler, MBE, RN) and the transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) coming from Singapore.
Around 0800H/17, rendezvous was affected and HMAS Sydney took over the escort duties from HMS Danae. (3)
21 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530H/21, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) parted company with the transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910). Both ships were then to proceed to Fremantle independently.
HMAS Sydney arrived at Fremantle around 2030H/21.
Zealandia arrived at Fremantle around 0100H/22.
Around 0800H/17, rendezvous was affected and HMAS Sydney took over the escort duties from HMS Danae. (3)
24 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530H/24, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the transports California Star (British, 8300 GRT, built 1938) and Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) departed Fremantle for Melbourne / Sydney.
Around noon on 29 June, the California Star was detached to Melbourne. (3)
2 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400K/2, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) parted company with the transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) to proceed ahead to Sydney where she arrived around 1645K/2.
The Zealandia arrived around 2000K/2. (4)
8 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) conducted 4" and close range AA gunnery exercises off Sydney. (4)
9 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0530K/9, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Sydney to escort the transports Gleniffer (British, 9559 GRT, built 1919) and Berwickshire (British, 7464 GRT, built 1912) towards the north New Zealand. The transports were to proceed towards the Panama Canal.
HMAS Sydney parted company with the transports around 1600L/15 and set course to return to Sydney. (4)
19 Jul 1941
Around 0700K/19, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) returned to Sydney from escort duty.
Around 1400K/19, she departed Sydney for Noumea with some troops, stores and material. (4)
21 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500K/21, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Noumea from Sydney. (4)
22 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0530K/22, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Noumea to return to Sydney. (4)
24 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2130K/24, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Sydney from Noumea. (4)
29 Jul 1941
Convoy US 11B.
This convoy departed Sydney on 29 July 1941.
It was made up of the troopships Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930) and Katoomba (Australian, 9424 GRT, built 1913).
The convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) which joined after having first conducted 4" and close range AA gunnery exercises.
Around 1550K/31, the convoy was joined HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN) which was escorting the troopship Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930) out from Melbourne.
HMAS Canberra then took over the escort the convoy towards Fremantle while HMAS Sydney proceeded to make rendezvous with the auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree (Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) which she did around 1700K/31 off the searched channel to Port Phillip. They then set course for Sydney.
The convoy arrived at Fremantle on 6 August 1941.
The convoy departed Fremantle for Singapore on 8 August 1941 still escorted by HMAS Canberra.
The convoy arrived at Singapore on 14 August 1941. (4)
3 Aug 1941
Around 0800K/3, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and HMAS Bungaree (Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) arrived at Sydney. (5)
4 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) is docked in the Sutherland Dry Dock at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard. (5)
8 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) is undocked.
She left Sydney for Auckland later the same day escorting the troop transport Awatea (British, 13482 GRT, built 1936). (5)
11 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the troop transport Awatea (British, 13482 GRT, built 1936) arrived at Auckland from Sydney. (5)
14 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the troop transport Awatea (British, 13482 GRT, built 1936) departed Auckland for Suva. (5)
16 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the troop transport Awatea (British, 13482 GRT, built 1936) arrived at Suva from Auckland. (5)
18 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the troop transport Awatea (British, 13482 GRT, built 1936) departed Suva for Sydney.
Around 1700M/21, HMAS Sydney parted company with the Awatea in position 05°40'S, 161°30'W which then set course to proceed to Vancouver unescorted while HMAS Sydney set course to return to Suva. (5)
24 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800M/24, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Suva after escort duty.
Around 1400M/24, she departed for Sydney. (5)
28 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Sydney from Suva. (5)
1 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Sydney. These included night gunnery exercises in the evening. (6)
2 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Sydney. (6)
8 Sep 1941
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Williamstown. On completion of fuelling, she proceeded to Port Melbourne. (6)
12 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises in Port Phillip. (6)
15 Sep 1941
Convoy US 12B.
On 15 September 1941, the troopships Aquitania (British, 44786 GRT, built 1914), Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930) and Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930) departed Wellington for Fremantle. She is escorted by the light cruiser HMS Achilles (New Zealand Division) (Capt. H.M. Barnes, RN).
On 17 September 1941 the troopship Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927) departed Sydney for Fremantle. She is escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN).
At 0830K/18, the two sections joined, HMS Achilles then parting company.
At 1300K/19, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) took over the escort, HMAS Adelaide then parting company proceeding to Williamstown where she arrived later the same day.
The convoy arrived at Fremantle on 25 September 1941.
The convoy departed Fremantle for Singapore on 28 September 1941 still escorted by HMAS Sydney.
Around 0700G/3, to the south-east of the Sunda Strait, in approximate position 07°30'S, 103°50'E, rendezvous was made with the light cruisers HMS Glasgow (Capt. H. Hickling, DSO, RN) and HMS Danae (A/Capt. F.J. Butler, MBE, RN). HMAS Sydney then parted company to return to Fremantle.
HMS Danae took over the escort of the Sibajak and escorted her to Singapore arriving there on 5 October.
The remainder of Convoy US 12B proceeded to Colombo escorted by HMS Glasgow. They arrived at Colombo on 8 October 1941.
The convoy departed Colombo on 10 October for Aden still escorted by HMS Glasgow.
The convoy was dispersed on the morning of 16 October 1941 in the Gulf of Aden in approximate position 12°37'N, 47°00'E.
7 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Fremantle. Shortly before arriving she had joined the troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) and escorted her into the harbour. (7)
13 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) conducted exercises, including gunnery, off Fremantle. (7)
17 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Fremantle for a short patrol and passage to Geraldton. (7)
18 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Geraldton. (7)
20 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Geraldton to return to Fremantle. (7)
21 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) arrived at Fremantle from Geraldton. (7)
27 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) proceeded from Fremantle to Bunbury. (7)
29 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) returned to Fremantle from Bunbury. (7)
31 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Fremantle.
[As, due to her loss, no war diary is availiable for HMAS Sydney for the month of November 1941, some details for this month might be missing.] (7)
1 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the troopship Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) coming from Melbourne escorted by HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN). (8)
5 Nov 1941
Around 1715K/5, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) made rendezvous with the troopship Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) and her escort, HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN). HMAS Sydney then took over the escort of the troopship to Fremantle with HMAS Adelaide returning to Melbourne. (9)
8 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and the troopship Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) arrived at Fremantle. (8)
11 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The troopship Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) departed Fremantle for Singapore. She was escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN).
17 Nov 1941 (position -7.50, 104.40)
Around 1115GH/17, south-west of the Sunda Strait, in approximate position 07°50'S, 104°40'E, HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) took over the escort of the troopship Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) from HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN).
HMS Durban and the Zealandia arrived at Singapore on 20 November 1941.
HMAS Sydney set course for Fremantle where she was due to arrive on 20 November 1941. This was the last time HMAS Sydney had been seen by Allied ships before she was sunk. (10)
19 Nov 1941
Battle between HMAS Sydney and the Kormoran.
Around 1555G/19, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN), which was returning to Fremantle from escorting a troopship to the area of the Sunda Strait, and the German armed merchant cruiser Kormoran sighted each other.
The armed merchant cruiser immediately turned away into the sun so that it would be more difficult to observe her from the cruiser which meanwhile had increased speed and altered course to close.
While closing HMAS Sydney started signalling the merchant vessel to identify herself, first by signal lamp and later, when no reply had been received, by signal lamp and signal flags.
Eventually the 'merchant vessel' then hoisted her callsign but made sure the flags were obscured by the funnel so as to buy some more time. The cruiser then ordered the merchant vessel to clear her signal flags which was done, off course with the usual delay while the cruiser continued to close. The German armed merchant cruiser identified herself as being the Dutch merchant vessel Straat Malakka which was not on the list, that was on board the Sydney, of ships that were supposed to be in the area. Actually the real Straat Malakka had departed Beira, Mozambique on this day for Dar-es-Salaam.
Around 1700G/19, the merchant vessel made a raider report. Meanwhile Sydney had continued to close and now was proceeding on a parallel course to the merchant vessel approaching from astern.
By 1730G/19, with Sydney now besides the unidentified merchant vessel at a range of around 1300 meters (approx. 1420 yards), she ordered the 'Straat Malakka' to show her secret callsign. No response followed.
The German commanding officer of the Kormoran, Captain Detmers, then knew the game was up and ordered the disguise to be dropped and fire to be opened. HMAS Sydney also opened fire but her salvo apparently passed overhead.
Kormorans fire was much more accurate, almost immediately the bridge, gun control tower were heavily hit and there must have been a lot of casualties amongst the ships senior officers. Also the Australian cruiser aircraft, which was on the catapult ready to be launched, fully fuelled and with the propeller turning, caught fire resulting in a large fire amidships. Besides this fire there was also a fire in the bridge area.
Besides opening fire with her guns the Kormoran had also fired a torpedo which hit the cruiser in the bow just forward of 'A' turret. Gunfire from the German raider meanwhile had also hit 'B' turret so both forward turrets and the gunnery control tower of the Australian cruiser were now out of action, which was also down by the bow and a large fire was visible amidships.
After Kormoran had fired about six salvoes, Sydney's aft turrets opened fire in local control with the fire from 'X' turret being very accurate and the German raider was also heavily damaged with a large oil fire breaking out amidships which eventually spread to the engine room.
Meanwhile HMAS Sydney had swung hard to port and passed behind the German raider which continued to engage the damaged cruiser.
By 1735G/19, Sydney was proceeding southwards and the range gradually increased. On board the Sydney multiple fires were observed. Both her aft turrets apparently could not be turned and her whole main armament was thus disabled.
Around 1745G/19, it was seen that HMAS Sydney fired her starboard torpedo tubes but none hit the Kormoran which lost all propulsion around the same time.
The Kormoran fired her last shot around 1825G/19. The still buring HMAS Sydney was last seen around 2200G/19 and around midnight the distant glare was lost from sight. All crew (645 men) of the Sydney lost their lives, there were no survivors. One one heavily damaged Carley float was recovered from the sea on 27 November. Besides the Carley float an Australian naval pattern lifebelt was found. On 6 February 1942 another heavily damaged Carley float was discovered close inshore at Christmas Island carrying the body of a naval rating though to be from HMAS Sydney. This rating was finally identified through DNA as being Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark. This was announced on the 80th anniversary of HMAS Sydney's last action (19 November 2021).
The Kormoran was also beyond salvage and was scuttled by her crew around midnight. Out of her crew of 399 there were 317 survivors which all ended up in captivity.
Media links
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Sources
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for May 1941
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for May 1941 + War diary of HMAS Sydney for June 1941
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for June 1941
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for July 1941
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for August 1941
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for September 1941
- War diary of HMAS Sydney for October 1941
- ADM 199/2571
- War diary of HMAS Adelaide for November 1941
- ADM 53/114184
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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