Born in Kalgoorlie in 1946, Greg had a career in Western Australia as a civil engineering designer for nearly forty years and is a long-time researcher in maritime history. Since retirement he has had more opportunity to methodically investigate and research, as well as pursuing his travel and fishing interests.
His main challenge has been to solve Australia’s most famous wartime mystery – the truth surrounding the battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran. He has written two books on the subject – The Analysis and Oversight.
Despite recent status quo findings, the problem has always been that officialdom has determined the story so far, but it does not ring true. And even though there is much contrary evidence by the German witnesses and there are no Sydney survivors, the victors have, in this instance, written the history – this, based on the evidence of a few and with the full consent of the Navy.
However, fact-finding is a process of finding the truth and thus, the conduct of the battle. The information is there in the records available. His next book, Masterly Misled, will reveal the falsities of the action that many now take for granted.
Book by Greg Bathgate
