The grave of the man referred to as "the unknown sailor" from HMAS Sydney II has been rededicated with a headstone bearing his name.
HMAS Sydney II sank with all 645 hands on board north of Geraldton in 1941 after an ambush by a German raider.
The only body to be recovered washed up on Christmas Island 11 weeks after the vessel was torpedoed.
It was buried but the site was forgotten until research into HMAS Sydney was carried out after the construction of a memorial in Geraldton.
The unknown sailor's burial site was finally discovered in 2006 and in 2008 it was moved to the war section of the Geraldton Cemetery.
DNA technology and years of dedicated research led to the identification of 21-year-old Thomas Welsby Clark late last year.
'We got there in the end'
Historian Glenys McDonald has spent more than 20 years researching the Sydney II.
She was instrumental in the search for the vessel, which was finally found in deep water off the WA coast in 2008, as well as locating Able Seaman Clark's gravesite on Christmas Island.
"An army of people, a myriad of people all over the country have been working to get to where we are today," Ms McDonald said.
She said the burial of Able Seaman Clark with full recognition of his service drew a line under the HMAS Sydney II story.
She said there had been numerous coincidences – including Able Seaman Clark's nephew being part of the research to identify him – throughout the search.
"There's been serendipity all the way through," Ms McDonald said.
"I think that means that the men up there have been watching and looking after us and making sure we got there in the end.
"It might have taken 80 years, but we got there in the end."
'Just never thought'
Chief of Navy Michael Noonan had been involved in the search for the unknown sailor since 2001 and attended the rededication ceremony.
"I think it does provide a degree of closure for everybody," the Vice-Admiral said.
"We know the location of the Sydney — she is now commemorated as a war grave.
Able Seaman Clark died 11 years before the birth of his nephew Colin Clark, who proved the missing link in identifying the remains.
Colin Clark travelled to Geraldton from Beaudesert in Queensland for the rededication.
He had been part of a project to identify the unknown sailor for some years.
"I just never thought it could possibly be Dad's brother," Mr Clark said.
