Cadets will honour the survivors and the dead of the HMAS Armidale this weekend with a parade at Central Park on Saturday at 10am.

Australian Navy Cadets petty officer Talitha Holzhauser said it was tough time, as many cadets are almost the same age as some of the men who died on the HMAS Armidale.

“One of our cadets in particular, she’s 18 and for her to realise that these young men her age was a big wake up call,” she said.

HMAS Armidale was sunk by Japanese aircraft on December 1, 1942. 

Teddy Sheehan, one of the sailors onboard, has become a popular figure among cadets.

While the ship was sinking Japanese fighters strafed the water, so Mr Sheehan strapped himself into one of the ship’s guns and tried to fight them off. 

While the ship was sinking Japanese fighters strafed the water, so Mr Sheehan strapped himself into one of the ship’s guns and treid to fight them off.

Survivors of the day say they saw tracer rounds being fired from underneath the water.

After the parade on Saturday there will be a memorial dinner which will also serve as an awards ceremony for cadets.

On Sunday there will be a HMAS Armidale Memorial Service at St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral from 9.30am.

Training Ship Armidale will host an open day at 12pm on Sunday.

Anyone wishing to RSVP to the open day or dinner should call 0421 821 138.