Bits O' Real Old History: HMAS Sydney-- Cape Fear Light-- USS South Dakota

Some Old News About Old Stuff.


1. HMAS SYDNEY-- Alaistair Templeton was on the HMAS Sydney for three months and shipped off Oct. 17, 1941, a few weeks before it sank. He said that one of the four turrets was damaged and jammed and probably not in service in the battle.


2. CAPE FEAR LIGHT-- Stood on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Built 1903 and demolished in 1958 to prevent confusion with the new one at Oak Island.


3. USS SOUTH DAKOTA-- I met a woman who said her grandfather served aboard the USS South Dakota. The former crew members recently had a reunion in St. Louis, but only eight showed up.

The Japanese surrender was originally supposed to be aboard the South Dakota, but Truman moved it to the Missouri because he was from that state. The South Dakota was there, though, one of eight US battleships at the ceremony. The British battleships Duke of York and King George V were also in the bay.

Just Some History. --Cooter