The War Cabinet decided on 26 November that the next of kin should be informed merely that the Sydney’s men were ‘missing due to enemy action’ in order not to convey information of value to the enemy. This is reflected in the careful wording of this telegram, sent on the same day to the father of 27-year-old Leading Aircraftman Keith Homard, RAAF. Correspondence on Homard’s casualty file shows that nine months after the Sydney’s loss his family were still hopeful that one day he would be found alive.
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