The world is starting to fade. I try to climb onto the pieces of wood and metal from the shipwreck. Using it as a makeshift raft... but then I feel blinding pain and start to sink under. Deeper and deeper...
I got hit by one of those monstrous balls of fire. I'm drowning...
My dying thoughts are prayers to God: please save me, but if you can't, please just let my family know that I love them...
***
Robert didn't have time to write anything else, so I'll narrate the rest.
That Dutch Merchant ship wasn't their friend- or even a Dutch Merchant ship at all. It was a German Auxilary cruiser called the Kormoran. As they approached, a battle ensued, resulting in the Sydney being sunk, with the loss of all 645 men on board. The ships whereabouts was to remain a mystery until 2008: in the next century. The Kormoran was also sunk, however, there were 318 of 399 German sailors rescued.
YOU ARE READING
Diary of a HMAS (Sydney II) Sailor
Historical Fictionhi guys! this is my first story posted, before this i posted songs and slam poems. this non-fiction narrative i wrote is based off of Robert Sabey Colbey (real able seaman during WWII) who also happened to be, my great great great grandads brother...