Apart from Bitapaka War Cemetery, the most significant memorials have been put in place as the result of private effort and subscription.
Montevideo Maru Plaque, Hellships Memorial, Subic Bay, Philippines
2/22nd Battalion band memorials
In The Salvation Army
The North Star Soldiers Memorial Bore and Water Supply
Established in 1954, which supplies the town of North Star and includes the name of WT Cracknell,1 a Montevideo Maru victim, among the seven personnel honoured.
Methodist martyrs of the Pacific war
In 1955, a tablet honouring the Methodists martyrs was erected on the wall of a missionary training institute in Haberfield in Sydney, relocated to Parramatta in 1988. The plaque is in memory of ten Methodist missionaries who died aboard Montevideo Maru2 and two others.
Woorayl District Memorial Hospital
Built as a World War II memorial, honours local men who died in the conflict, including Jack Howard3 who was on Montevideo Maru.
Brisbane General Post Office
A small memorial plaque at the Brisbane GPO commemorates three wireless technicians of the Postmaster-General’s Department who died on Montevideo Maru. The plaque is located on the right hand side of the building as you walk through to St Stephen’s Cathedral – at the back of the front pillar.
Rabaul 1942-45 Memorial
On 16 September 1993, this memorial was unveiled on the shores of Rabaul Harbour, close to where the men boarded MontevideoMaru. It commemorates more than 1200 service personnel who lost their lives in New Britain and New Ireland and who have no known grave. The bronze plaque was paid for by private donations and a $1000 contribution from the Australian government.
NGVR & PNGVR Ex-members Association
On 6 November 1993, the association erected a memorial plaque in the Hall of Memories at Brisbane Cenotaph in honour of 34 NGVR men lost on Montevideo Maru. A memorial service is held each year on 1 July. In recent years this service has widened its scope to include all victims on the ship.
Kavieng War Memorial
On 4 July 2002, a bronze plaque, remembering 97 named civilians who died in New Ireland and on Montevideo Maru was unveiled at the Kavieng War Memorial. Ms Erice Ashby organised the plaque which was paid for by the relatives involved. It cost $2000 after the then Veterans’ Affairs Minister said her Department could not help civilians and did not want the responsibility of looking after the plaque. “We’re bitterly disappointed,” Ms Ashby said.
Ballarat Botanic Gardens
On Saturday 7 February 2004 a commemoration service was held in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens to unveil a memorial for civilians and soldiers who lost their lives on Montevideo Maru.