REMEMBERING AUSTRALIA’S HEROIC

GALLIPOLI SUBMARINE HMAS AE2

What:             A commemorative plaque will be unveiled for HMAS AE2, the Australian WW1 submarine, which penetrated the Dardanelles in 1915 on the morning that ANZAC soldiers landed at Anzac Cove. 

When:           Wednesday 22nd April.   Event to commence at 11am.  Media should arrive to HMAS Kuttabul gate no later than 10.30am.

Where:           Navy Heritage Centre, Sydney. Media wanting to attend should enter via the main gate HMAS Kuttabul, intersection of Cowper Wharf Road and Wylde Street, Woolloomooloo.  Photographic identification will be required.

Who:              The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, together with the Sydney Consul General for Turkey, Mr Renan Sekeroglü will jointly unveil the AE2 commemorative plaque. 

AE2 was the Royal Australian Navy’s second ever submarine. After five days operations in and around the Dardanelles she fell to Turkish gunfire on 30 April, 1915.

The plaque unveiling at the RAN Heritage Centre will create a permanent memorial for the AE2.   The Plaque at Garden Island is funded by the AE2 Commemorative Foundation with sponsorship from ASC and THALES.  It is fitting that the memorial is at Fleet Base East, Sydney as this was the site where she left Sydney for deployment, just over 94 years ago.

The RAN Band will begin playing at approx 10.50am.

The unveiling also coincides with the Official Opening of the art exhibition, ‘ART from the MEAO’, by Bob McRae.  Works depicting troops deployed in Iraq are among the displays. This exhibition will be opened at noon by Rear Admiral Allan du Toit RAN.

Media contacts:

Martin Callinan (Minister Snowdon)                                             0400 646 985

Defence Media Liaison:                         02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664