The 19th November marks the 67th anniversary of Australia's greatest maritime disaster, the sinking of HMAS Sydney, with a loss of 645 crew.

The wreck was discovered 207km northwest of Geraldton off WA’s Midwest coast in March this year. HMAS Sydney sunk after a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran, which was disguised as a Dutch freighter.

Almost 300 relatives of those killed on the Sydney are being taken out on HMAS Manora for an overnight trip above the shipwreck.

Memorial services will be held back on land in WA, and another on at the War Memorial in Canberra involving Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Air Force Chief Marshal Angus Houston.

War historian Mat McLachlan joined Sunrise to discuss the event.

More info

HMAS Sydney sailors remembered (AAP)

Mat McLachlan's website