Tasmanian War Casualties

World War 11 Casualties

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Thank you from Gravesites of Tasmania.

Close, Rex Wilkinson

Born 17^th April 1904 Queenstown Tasmania to James Ayrton and Alice Richmond Close, Rex was a 37 year old married Draughtsman living at Cambridge Road Bellerive. He was a Lieutenant of the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Force serving with H.M.S. Hermes when he met his death.

H.M.S. Hermes had been recalled to the Home Fleet just prior to World War 2 and was in the Atlantic when the Japanese began their push through South East Asia . Based at Ceylon she was damaged at Colombo on 5^th April 1942 during a naval air attack launched from Japanese carriers.

Two days later she was at sea when dive bombers from Akagi Hiryu Shokaku and Zuikaku found her off Batticaloa where she was sunk with the loss of 307 lives.

Rex Wilkinson Close was the only Tasmanian lost in this incident.

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Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.