FHACT Monthly Meeting (Register)

The FHACT July Monthly Meeting is a hybrid meeting. Members and guests interested in attending should register for this event via Zoom or in person. After registering to attend via Zoom, you will receive an email with a link to the external Zoom website to complete the registration.

Topic "DNA identification of the HMAS Sydney unknown sailor - an 80-year mystery solved"

Following a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran in November 1941, the Australian warship HMAS Sydney (II) was sunk, claiming the lives of all 645 crew on board. Only one sailor was recovered deceased in a life raft three months later and buried in an unmarked grave on Christmas Island in February 1942. In October 2006, an archaeological team recovered the 'Unknown Sailor's' remains in order to forensically examine and identify them. This quest finally came to an end on the 80th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney. Assoc. Prof. Jeremy Austin will discuss his 14-year search and use of ancient DNA technologies, including the multidisciplinary and multiagency approach to identify the sailor in Australia's biggest maritime mystery, and then outline some of the new approaches for using genetic genealogy in forensic and historical research.

.