Remembering those killed in the Japanese invasion of the New Guinea Islands, and the 70th anniversary of Australia’s worst maritime tragedy. On 1 July 1942 the unmarked Japanese prison ship, Montevideo Maru, was torpedoed by an American submarine off the Philippines. All 1,053 servicemen and civilian internees on the ship lost their lives.
On Saturday 30 June 2012 a Commemorative Luncheon was held at the Rydges Lakeside Hotel, Canberra, with the address ‘Remembering Rabaul and the Montevideo Maru” being given by the Chief of the Army, Lt General David Morrison, AO.
On Sunday 1 July 2012 the Commemorative Address at the dedication of “The Rabaul and Montevideo National Memorial” at the Australian War Memorial was given by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Speeches
Speech by the Chief of Army, Lt Gen David Morrison, AO, at the 70th Anniversary Commemorative Luncheon on 30 June 2012
Speech by Phil Ainsworth, President of the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society, at the 70th Anniversary Commemorative Luncheon on 30 June 2012
Speech by Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor General of Australia, at the dedication of the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, on 1 July 2012
Photographs from these events are on the PNGAA web site.