73 years ago today, Australia’s worst maritime disaster occurred, a disaster borne in war and one which was unknown for three and half years. For three and half years, the families of the victims held high hopes of the return of their loved ones, hopes brutally dashed by hastily prepared telegraphic messages which were sent to offset pending press reports of their loved ones’ demise.
Early in the morning of 1 July 1942, the Japanese prison ship MV Montevideo Maru was torpedoed off Luzon Island, the Philippines, by US Submarine USS Sturgeon. Although 17 Japanese reached shore, none of the 1053 prisoners on board survived. These were Australian men who were forced to embark in Rabaul on 22 June 1942 for shipment to Hainan. The prisoners comprised 845 Prisoners of War and 208 civilian internees. All were men who were either sent to the Rabaul and New Guinea Islands for its defence or employed in civil occupations for the administration and economic wellbeing of New Guinea, a Mandated Territory of Australia.
Over 50 of the victims were veterans of WW1. 47 of the civilian internees were and at least 4 in the military. The 845 military on board comprised 178 non-commissioned officers and 667 other ranks. The officers were sent to Japan in another ship and survived the war.
In 1941, the Australian Government sent 1400 military to Rabaul and 270 to the north and east of Rabaul to defend the islands. This group was known as “Lark Force” comprising the 2/22nd, primarily a Victorian Battalion, and other supporting ancillary units. 1 Independent company was the screening force. Attached to the 2/22nd Battalion was a company of 80 men from NGVR, a militia unit formed in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. On 23 January 1942 the Australian defenders were readily overwhelmed by a huge Japanese invading force and told “every man for himself”. Eventually about 400 escaped and reached safety, the rest perished either on the Montevideo Maru, during the fighting, were massacred by the Japanese or died of hunger or disease during their attempt to escape: a situation which was never investigated by the Australian Government and went unrecognised by the Australian people. Imagine the plight of the victims’ families during this time.
In the early 1990’s progress towards recognition, at last, was being made:
- in 1994 the NGVR/PNGVR Association dedicated a plaque in the Brisbane Hall of Memories, Cenotaph, to the loss of its men;
- In 2004 a Montevideo Maru Memorial was erected at Ballarat POW Memorial;
- In 2009 the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society was formed and its first project was the erection of a memorial for the Montevideo Maru victims, military and civilian, on the Subic Bay Hellships Memorial, Philippines, which was dedicated by the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, the Hon. Rod Smith, on 1 July 2009;
- On 21 June 2010, both houses of the Australian Parliament, by way of resolution, expressed their regret and sorrow for the tragedy and acknowledged the great suffering over the many long years by the families waiting for news, and recognition of the sacrifice of their loved ones;
- In 2012, the 70th Anniversary of the disaster, the Society erected, and Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, dedicated, a National Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial to those lost, when 640 attended a pre memorial luncheon and over 1700 attended the dedication ceremony for the lost civilian and military men. Common comments by the relatives of the victims after the ceremony included “the dedication had the gravity of a funeral service” and ” the memorial represents a tomb stone for our men who have no known grave”. A commemorative service was held at the National Memorial last Sunday, 28 June, with 30 people in attendance, many travelling interstate.
It is important to continue acknowledging these men so the present generation and future generations honour their memory and sacrifice, making our nation what it is today.
We are fortunate that we have a representative of our Premier, Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe, here today to speak with us.
The Queensland Government made a generous contribution towards the National Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial and the Society, and its members are most appreciative of this support. The NGVR/PNGVR Association is also grateful for the Government’s continuing support for this and other activities. Queensland has always had a close relationship with Papua New Guinea and its people from the initial declaration of Papua as a British Protectorate in the 19th Century to recent ongoing practical aid provided.
It is with pleasure I welcome Minister Hinchliffe, MP, Assistant of State assisting the Premier and Leader of the House, Member for Sandgate, here today and invite him to address us on this very special occasion.