MONTVIDEO MARU 2025.
Canberra Service below the Brisbane Service.
A total of 15 people were in attendance at the annual Montevideo Maru Service at the Brisbane Hall of Memories.
They included Assn Patron Maj Gen Professor John Pearn AO RFD., Tegen Tippert (Aust Commando Assn, Qld Branch), Tracey & Don West, Tracey is the niece of Pte Andrew Albert Johnson NX 3002 who was on the MVM, Deb James ( from Adelaide) daughter of Trevor James, 2/22 Bn, who escaped after being missing on New Britain for 3 months; and, Salvationist Marshall Strong who has played the Last Post and Reveille for our services for many years.
Paul Brown was MC for the service and introduced Phil Ainsworth for the opening address, Maj Gen Pearn for his address, Assn Chaplain Ron MacDonald for prayers, Mike Griffin for the Ode, buglet Mashall Strong for the Last Post and Reveille, then Chaplain Ron again for closing prayers.
While the service was being conducted, a viewing in the background wall showed various photos of the wreck of the Montevideo Maru which was discovered in April 2023, almost 81 years after its sinking.
The service was followed by a morning tea and a visit to another section of the Hall of Memories where the wreaths laid were placed under the plaque dedicated to those 1,053 allied lives lost when the Montevideo Maru was sunk.
Thank you to Paul brown for his efforts in organizing the function and to the Salvation Army who have attended the function and provided a bugler over many years.
President, Phil Ainsworth's opening address is below the photos of the Brisbane ceremony.
President Phil Ainsworth with welcoming address.
Patron Maj. Gen. Professor John Pearn AO RFD. giving his memorial address.
Chaplain Ron MacDonald leading prayers
Tegan Tippert representing Australian Commando Association, Qld Branch with wreath prior to wreath laying ceremony.
Patron and President after laying wreath.
Paul Brown, Master of Ceremonies, in background.
After the ceremony, all adjourned with the wreaths to the Hall of Memories where the wreaths were laid at the foot of the plaque to remember the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles placed there by the Association in 1994.
Mrs Deb James, daughter of Trevor James, 2/22 Bn, who escaped after being missing on New Britain for 3 months is standing in front of the plaque.
Welcome address for the Montevideo Maru's 83rd Anniversary commemorative service – Brisbane Cenotaph, 1 July 2025
Good-morning, I welcome you and thank you for coming to today’s service commemorating 840 Australian POW’S and 213 Civilian Internees lost on the Japanese un-marked transport /prison ship Motor Vessel Montevideo Maru when it was sunk by the US Submarine Sturgeon, 83 years ago today.
Special guests today include: our Patron and today’s keynote speaker, Major General John Pearn; Tracy & Don West, Tracy is the niece of Pte Andrew Albert Johnson NX 3002 who was on the MVM ; Deb James ( from Adelaide) daughter of Trevor James in2/22 Bn, who escaped after missing for 3 months; Tegan Tippett, representing the Australian Commando Association Qld branch; and, Salvationist Marshall Strong who has played the Last Post and Reveille for our services for many years, thank you.
The loss of 1,053 Australian men on the MV Montevideo Maru (MVM) and other losses occurred when the Japanese invaded and occupied Rabaul and New Guinea Islands in January 1942. Many of the men were captured, some massacred, while others escaped to die in the jungle through hunger and disease. Many families were thankful that about 400 men eventually reached Australia. The families of the missing were not aware of the fate of their men until several months after War’s end, after three and half years of waiting and with expectations. There was no public investigation for this disaster caused by shortcomings in Government decision -making. After the War, both sides of the Australian Parliament agreed the catastrophe was to be hidden under the explanation of the vagaries of war.
The Prisoners of War (POWs) comprised Lark Force’s and 1 Independent Company’s non-commissioned personnel and civilians captured by the Japanese after its invasion of Rabaul and New Guinea Islands, the first invasion ever on Australian Territory. The civilians were aged from 15 years and comprised administrators, professionals , plantation owners/managers, missionaries, traders and men from all walks of life working in a colonial environment. After 5 months imprisonment, the POW’s were to be transported to and work the mines on Hainan Island China, and It is thought the civilians were to be exchanged for Japanese civilians interned in Australia.
Our Association’s long involvement with this significant annual service is because 36 of its New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) soldiers were lost on the ship, and others were killed at the time of the invasion, massacred and or perished in escaping. Of the 1,700 odd military men and civilians on the New Guinea Islands at the time, about 400 managed to escape , the rest killed or died escaping, a casualty rate of over 70%. The military officers and nurses had been separated from the non-commissioned men and were transported by another ship to Japan where most survived the war.
Most European women and children were evacuated to Australia in late December 1941 and early January 1942 prior to the invasion. The resident Chinese, who were brought originally to NG Islands by the Germans were not considered Australians, and were left with the indigenous Papua New Guineans and mixed race people to survive the hardship of the Japanese occupation as best they could.
The loss of the Montevideo Maru remains the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history, yet few are aware of it.
A National Rabaul and MVM Memorial was erected on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial ( AWM) in 2012. This memorial is presently in storage while the refurbishment of AMW is completed. It is expected this Memorial will be re-erected in the near future. Discussions will soon take place to negotiate a suitable site. As part of tonight’s AWM Last Post Ceremony, a tribute to the loss of the MVM men will be told through the story of a POW lost on the MVM, Pte George Christopher Harrington NX 191465 from Lark Force. Our Treasurer, Michael White will represent NGVR and lay wreath. Andrea Williams, President of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia (PNGAA) will also be present and lay a wreath.
Since 1994, our Association has held a commemorative service for its lost NGVR comrades’- there is a plaque in the Hall of Memories, across the walk-easy, which was placed there by the Association in that year. About 15 years ago this service became a public event which the Association is proud to sponsor.
Just over two years ago the wreck of the MV Montevideo Maru was found in two parts in over 4,000m of water about 100 kms northwest of the northern point of Luzon Island, Philippines, near the geographical co-ordinates given at the time of its sinking on 1 July 1942. The US Submarine Sturgeon fired a spread of 4 torpedoes from over 4000 metres with one hit 20m behind the tunnel. The ship sank in 11 minutes with the submarine crew un- aware that it was carrying 840 Australian POWs and 213 civilian internees, enroute from Rabaul to Hainan Island. The wreck is the resting place for 1053 Australians, the location unknown for over 81 years. It is a war grave and will remain untouched.
Phil Ainsworth
Montevideo Maru Memorial Service - AWM Canberra - The Last Post Ceremony
Michael White, Association Treasurer, represented the Association at the Last Post Ceremony commemorating he loss of Pte George Harrington of Lark Force who was lost on the Montevideo Maru, and laid a wreath on behalf of the Association.
Good-morning, I welcome you and thank you for coming to today’s service commemorating 840 Australian POW’S and 213 Civilian Internees lost on the Japanese un-marked transport /prison ship Motor Vessel Montevideo Maru when it was sunk by the US Submarine Sturgeon, 83 years ago today.
Special guests today include: our Patron and today’s keynote speaker, Major General John Pearn; Tracy & Don West, Tracy is the niece of Pte Andrew Albert Johnson NX 3002 who was on the MVM ; Deb James ( from Adelaide) daughter of Trevor James in2/22 Bn, who escaped after missing for 3 months; Tegan Tippett, representing the Australian Commando Association Qld branch; and, Salvationist Marshall Strong who has played the Last Post and Reveille for our services for many years, thank you.
The loss of 1,053 Australian men on the MV Montevideo Maru (MVM) and other losses occurred when the Japanese invaded and occupied Rabaul and New Guinea Islands in January 1942. Many of the men were captured, some massacred, while others escaped to die in the jungle through hunger and disease. Many families were thankful that about 400 men eventually reached Australia. The families of the missing were not aware of the fate of their men until several months after War’s end, after three and half years of waiting and with expectations. There was no public investigation for this disaster caused by shortcomings in Government decision -making. After the War, both sides of the Australian Parliament agreed the catastrophe was to be hidden under the explanation of the vagaries of war.
The Prisoners of War (POWs) comprised Lark Force’s and 1 Independent Company’s non-commissioned personnel and civilians captured by the Japanese after its invasion of Rabaul and New Guinea Islands, the first invasion ever on Australian Territory. The civilians were aged from 15 years and comprised administrators, professionals , plantation owners/managers, missionaries, traders and men from all walks of life working in a colonial environment. After 5 months imprisonment, the POW’s were to be transported to and work the mines on Hainan Island China, and It is thought the civilians were to be exchanged for Japanese civilians interned in Australia.
Our Association’s long involvement with this significant annual service is because 36 of its New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) soldiers were lost on the ship, and others were killed at the time of the invasion, massacred and or perished in escaping. Of the 1,700 odd military men and civilians on the New Guinea Islands at the time, about 400 managed to escape , the rest killed or died escaping, a casualty rate of over 70%. The military officers and nurses had been separated from the non-commissioned men and were transported by another ship to Japan where most survived the war.
Most European women and children were evacuated to Australia in late December 1941 and early January 1942 prior to the invasion. The resident Chinese, who were brought originally to NG Islands by the Germans were not considered Australians, and were left with the indigenous Papua New Guineans and mixed race people to survive the hardship of the Japanese occupation as best they could.
The loss of the Montevideo Maru remains the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history, yet few are aware of it.
A National Rabaul and MVM Memorial was erected on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial ( AWM) in 2012. This memorial is presently in storage while the refurbishment of AMW is completed. It is expected this Memorial will be re-erected in the near future. Discussions will soon take place to negotiate a suitable site. As part of tonight’s AWM Last Post Ceremony, a tribute to the loss of the MVM men will be told through the story of a POW lost on the MVM, Pte George Christopher Harrington NX 191465 from Lark Force. Our Treasurer, Michael White will represent NGVR and lay wreath. Andrea Williams, President of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia (PNGAA) will also be present and lay a wreath.
Since 1994, our Association has held a commemorative service for its lost NGVR comrades’- there is a plaque in the Hall of Memories, across the walk-easy, which was placed there by the Association in that year. About 15 years ago this service became a public event which the Association is proud to sponsor.
Just over two years ago the wreck of the MV Montevideo Maru was found in two parts in over 4,000m of water about 100 kms northwest of the northern point of Luzon Island, Philippines, near the geographical co-ordinates given at the time of its sinking on 1 July 1942. The US Submarine Sturgeon fired a spread of 4 torpedoes from over 4000 metres with one hit 20m behind the tunnel. The ship sank in 11 minutes with the submarine crew un- aware that it was carrying 840 Australian POWs and 213 civilian internees, enroute from Rabaul to Hainan Island. The wreck is the resting place for 1053 Australians, the location unknown for over 81 years. It is a war grave and will remain untouched.
Phil Ainsworth
Montevideo Maru Memorial Service - AWM Canberra - The Last Post Ceremony
Michael White, Association Treasurer, represented the Association at the Last Post Ceremony commemorating he loss of Pte George Harrington of Lark Force who was lost on the Montevideo Maru, and laid a wreath on behalf of the Association.
Canberra based Association Treasurer, Michael White, with the wreath.
The Australian War Memorial after the wreath laying ceremony.
