Dr Brendan Nelson, Director, Australian War Memorial
The Hon Gordon Ramsay, MLA, Attorney-General; Minister for the Arts and Community Events; Minister for Veterans and Seniors
His Excellency Sakias Tameo, PNG Acting High Commissioner
His Excellency Sumasy Singin, PNG Consul General
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
On behalf of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia and the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru group, I thank you for being here today to commemorate this 75th Anniversary. I know that many of you have travelled far—from nearly every Australian State—and I’m sure that, like me, you are grateful for the beautiful day we have.
In January 1942 Rabaul was Australia’s front line in the Pacific war. This was a war fought on Australian soil against Australian people, both soldiers and civilians.
This was a critical period in the history of both Australia and what was then the Australian Mandated Territory of New Guinea. The resultant losses accounted for 15% of all Australian POWs who died in captivity in WWII.
Over 1000 men were drowned with the Montevideo Maru, about 160 were killed in the Tol and Waitavelo Massacres and around 250 died of illness, starvation or being taken out to sea whilst trying to escape. These accounted for at least 1400 men out of 2000, and close to 75% of the Australians in Rabaul and Kavieng at that time. Today we remember all those involved in this terrible conflict.
Just over a week ago I joined other relatives and friends in Rabaul, PNG, where a moving dusk service commemorated the men lost on the Montevideo Maru, on the day that they embarked on the ship in Rabaul, 22 June 1942. In Rabaul and surrounding areas, WWII wrecks of old aircraft, ships, torpedoes and bombs lie strewn where they were left. As we sat beside the magnificent harbour surrounded by spectacular volcanoes, it was easy to envisage the brave Wirraway pilots diving and swooping above the harbour, courageously taking on the superfast Japanese Zeros 25 times their number. We could see the site of the Observatory, then called Frisbee Ridge, and we knew that coastwatchers, dotted amongst the various islands, had warned of enemy attacks by aircraft. A local school choir sang, their melodious Melanesian voices harmonising beautifully with the surrounds And then, like today, Kylie Adams-Collier transported everyone with her special song Montevideo Maru. Thank you Kylie.
In 1941 the Australian Government had sent 1400 military personnel to Rabaul and 270 to islands west, north and east of Rabaul to defend the Archipelago. The first group, known as Lark Force comprising the 2/22Btn, primarily a Victorian Battalion of just over 900 men, and other supporting ancillary units. 1 Independent Company was the northern screening force.
Musical entertainment was provided by the 2/22nd Battalion Band under Bandmaster Sgt Arthur Gullidge, a highly talented composer and musician whose musical arrangements continue to be well known to so many— and we’ve been delighted to have the Crossfire Ensemble from the Salvation Army with us today.
On New Britain, the 35km expanse of coastline from Rabaul to Kokopo, much of it with a sheer escarpment beside it rising from the deep caldera walls of the harbour, and the defence of New Britain, a 1600km coastline, was to be the responsibility of 1400 Australian troops, based around the 2/22nd Battalion using WW1 equipment and no back up by sea or air. A huge ask.
1700 servicemen and at least 300 European civilians were not evacuated, despite several ships entering Rabaul over December 1941 and January 1942.
The first bombs were dropped on Rabaul on 4 January 1942 and the last civilians were taken out on 8 January 1942.
Many of those who survived the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in January 1942 escaped at great personal risk. They walked hundreds of miles, crossed crocodile infested raging rivers and traversed high mountains and inhospitable, impenetrable jungle, without maps or ammunition, and often without food, medical supplies and little or no clothing.
214 escaped on the Lakatoi through the efficient leadership of Assistant District Officer from Talasea, JK Keith McCarthy, and 156 were rescued on HMAS Laurabada under the command of Lt Ivan Champion. Others escaped New Britain and New Ireland on smaller vessels.
75 years ago the Australian prisoners who embarked on the Montevideo Maru had no idea they would be making history: that their names would be listed in the worst maritime disaster the Australian nation has known, the only hellship with no allied survivors; a wartime disaster unknown for three and half years.
58 Australian WWI ex-servicemen died on the MS Montevideo Maru.
Noted historian Hank Nelson once said about WWII:
Of all the 23,000 Australians who had been taken prisoner-of-war, or interned by the Japanese, the ones Australians knew least about by August 1945 were those captured on Australian territory.1
The families of those lost from the New Guinea islands held high hopes for the return of their loved ones for three and half years: hopes brutally dashed in late 1945 when hastily prepared telegraphic messages were sent to offset pending press reports of the death of their loved ones.
It was 67 years before a group of relatives and friends joined together to gain the recognition for these men that they well and truly deserved.
Keith Jackson’s empathic vision overcame early setbacks and set the framework. Phil Ainsworth, already President of the NGVR/PNGVR Ex members Association, stepped in as President of the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society in February 2011 when Keith could not continue due to ill health. Phil spearheaded a campaign to raise just under $500,000 for a national memorial at the Australian War Memorial, an extraordinary achievement, especially in the short time frame of three years. The Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial, designed by sculptor James Parrett, at the Australian War Memorial was dedicated on the 70th anniversary in 2012.
It is a sad fact that many younger Australians have no idea of the long and close connections Australia has had with Papua New Guinea. It is important to acknowledge the sacrifice of and remember these men so present and future generations of Australians are aware of the contribution made towards making our nation what it is today.
The Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is a special place for the relatives and friends of those with a connection to this part of Australian history and we thank Dr Brendan Nelson and the Australian War Memorial for their support.
End Note:
1. Hank Nelson, Historian.