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Golden Princess Marks 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

A poignantremembrance service was held onboard Golden Princess yesterday as the shipsailed off far northern Queensland, 75 years to the day since the closingstages of the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea, regarded as the turning point ofthe war in the Pacific.

Guests and crew alikepaused for the service to remember those who died in the biggest naval battleever to take place near Australia and the first in naval history where twoopposing fleets at no stage came within sight of each other.

The battle raged forfour days from May 4-8 in 1942 and was the first clash to halt theadvance of Japanese forces reducing the immediate threat to Australia andsetting the scene for the Battle of Midway, a clear cut Allied victory, a monthlater.

"Golden Princess'current itinerary to Papua New Guinea and South Pacific destinations placed theship off the far north coast of Queensland between Australia, PNG and theSolomon Islands on the 75th anniversary of the climactic day of the Battle ofthe Coral Sea," Princess Cruises Vice President Australia and New ZealandStuart Allison said.

"The Battle of theCoral Sea was a pivotal moment in history and paved the way for the alliancebetween Australia and the United States, which endures to this day. For ourAustralian and American guests, the remembrance service was an opportunity topay tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice at a time of great perilfor Australia," Mr Allison said.

"But it is alsocomforting for our guests in knowing that with the passage of time theprotagonists in the battle are now firm friends and international allies."

Two Royal AustralianNavy ships, HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart, were part of the joint US andAustralian naval force involved in the series of naval engagements over thefour days of the battle.

At the time, theevents of May 1942 were being followed very closely by the AustralianGovernment with Prime Minister John Curtin making an historic statement to theParliament as the outcome of the battle hung in the balance.

"A great naval battleis proceeding in the south west Pacific area," Mr Curtin told Parliament."Nobody can tell what the result of the engagement may be. If it should go advantageously,we shall have cause for great gratitude and our position will then be a littleclearer. But if we should not have the advantages from this battle for which wehope, all that confronts is a sterner ordeal, a greater and graver responsibility."

During yesterday'sremembrance service on Golden Princess, war veterans and currently servingmembers of the armed services played a central role.

"It was a privilegefor Golden Princess to be in vicinity of the Battle of the Coral Sea for the 75thanniversary and an honour to pay tribute to brave sailors and airmen whosecured our freedom," Mr Allison said.

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