NSW: Ceremony to be held for Japanese submariners

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2007
NSW: Ceremony to be held for Japanese submariners

A memorial ceremony for two Japanese sailors .. who died when their M24 midget submarine
was lost off Sydney during World War II .. will be held today.

The submarine disappeared after an attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942 .. and was found
late last year by a group of amateur divers .. about five km off Sydney's northern beaches.

Relatives of the two submariners and dignitaries from Australia and Japan will attend
the service .. at the HMAS Kuttabul naval base at Garden Island.

An at-sea ceremony will then be held at the site of the largely-intact wreck .. believed
to still contain the remains of the commander and navigator .. Sub-Lieutenant KATSUHISA
BAN .. and Petty Officer MEMORU ASHIBE.

AAP RTV kd/hn/af

KEYWORD: SUB (SYDNEY)

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