ONE place where emotions ran high when the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at the weekend that the SS Montevideo Maru had finally been located, in 4000 metres of water off the coast of the Philippines, was South Gippsland.
While most people in this country have been blissfully unaware of Australia’s worst maritime disaster, some families in this area still have the porch light on.
And others, like Leongatha historian Lyn Skillern, have kept the home fires burning.
Of the 1053 Australian Prisoners of War who went down with the ship on July 1, 1942, six were from Leongatha, one was from Wonthaggi and another six from Yarram.
On the eve of Anzac Day, this announcement reminds us again of the unthinkable disaster this event must have been at the time, especially after the circumstances became known, and remains so for the relatives of these men who still live locally.
Here’s the announcement from the Australian Government on Saturday, April 22, followed by an article by Lyn Skillern in the Sentinel-Times on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru last July.
From the Office of the Prime Minister
The shipwreck of Australia’s largest loss of life at sea has been discovered, more than 80 years after it sunk.
Japanese merchant vessel the SS Montevideo Maru was sunk on 1 July 1942 off the coast of the Philippines after setting sail from the former Australian territory of New Guinea.
The ship was carrying approximately 1060 prisoners from around 16 countries, including 850 Australian service members, captured by the Japanese in Rabaul. The ship, however, was not marked as a Prisoners of War transport.
The number and identity of those on board the Montevideo Maru was not fully revealed until after the war, but the location of the shipwreck has remained a mystery.
Eighty one years after its final voyage, the resting place of the Montevideo Maru has been discovered.
The search was led by not-for-profit Silentworld Foundation, deep-sea survey specialists Fugro, and supported by Defence.
At over 4000m depth, the wreck is deeper than the RMS Titanic, and it’s hoped the discovery will bring relief to the families of the Australians on board.
“At long last, the resting place of the lost souls of the Montevideo Maru has been found,” Mr Albanese said.
“We hope today’s news brings a measure of comfort to loved ones who have kept a long vigil.
“The extraordinary effort behind this discovery speaks for the enduring truth of Australia’s solemn national promise to always remember and honour those who served our country. This is the heart and the spirit of Lest We Forget.”
The Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, acknowledged the anguish.
“For 81 years, hundreds of Australian families have waited for news of this shipwreck. It is my great privilege to confirm their loved ones have been found,” Mr Marles said.
“Finding the Montevideo Maru has been a remarkable effort by a passionate team of researchers and the Silentworld Foundation, supported by dedicated Defence personnel.
“I also acknowledge the generous support from the Philippines authorities in permitting this search.
“These Australians were never forgotten. Lost deep beneath the seas, their final resting place is now known. This remarkable discovery is a reflection of who we are as a nation and remarkably close to our day of national commemoration; Anzac Day. We will remember them.”
Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart remembers the men who didn’t come home.
“The Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators who had fought to defend Rabaul had enlisted from across the country to serve, met a terrible fate at sea on the Montevideo Maru,” Lieutenant General Stuart said.
“Today we remember their service, and the loss of all those aboard, including the 20 Japanese guards and crew, the Norwegian sailors and the hundreds of civilians from many nations.
“I want to thank the Silentworld team and the dedicated researchers, including the Unrecovered War Casualties team at Army, who have never given up hope of finding the final resting place of the Montevideo Maru.
“A loss like this reaches down through the decades and reminds us all of the human cost of conflict. Lest We Forget.”
Director of Silentworld, John Mullen, said the discovery of the Montevideo Maru closes a terrible chapter in Australian military and maritime history.
“Families waited years for news of their missing loved ones, before learning of the tragic outcome of the sinking. Some never fully came to accept that their loved ones were among the victims. Today, by finding the vessel, we hope to bring closure to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster,” Mr Mullen said.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the dedicated Silentworld team involved in this expedition, to the outstanding Fugro crew and technical team on board the Fugro Equator, and to the Australian Department of Defence for their unwavering support.
“I am proud to be the citizen of a country that never forgets or stops looking for those lost in the course of duty, no matter how many years may pass.”
By Leongatha historian, Lyn Skillern
The sinking of the Montevideo Maru, a Japanese transport ship, on July 1, 1942, Australia’s worst maritime disaster, was commemorated at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra last Friday, July 1, 2022 - its 80th anniversary.
The vessel was carrying 1053 Australian Prisoners of War from Rabaul in Papau New Guinea to Hainan Island off China.
Local historian, Lyn Skillern, travelled to Canberra to attend the service alongside many family members of the lost as well as Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who was representing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Six of the men who were lost were from Leongatha, one from Wonthaggi and another six from Yarram. Twelve of these men were in the ill-fated 2/22nd Battalion AIF who were captured after the fall of Rabaul on January 23, 1942. Another soldier, Frank Pollock of Wonthaggi, was in the 1st Independent Commando Company and was captured on New Ireland near Rabaul.
Those on board were:
* Jack Howard of Leongatha who was a member of the extended Howard family well known in the region. He grew up in Leongatha and attended the local Catholic School and Leongatha High School. On enlisting, Jack gave the Commercial Hotel Leongatha (now McCartin’s Hotel) as his address as his family had taken over the hotel in 1939. He was a noted Leongatha footballer and was the captain/coach of Leongatha when they won the Central Gippsland premiership in 1940. Following this win, he enlisted. He had two brothers Jim and Joe and two sisters Vonda and Doris.
* Fred Broadbent grew up in Leongatha and attended Leongatha State School. He became a baker and was a well-known local jockey. He was a mate of Jack Howard. Fred’s father had originally come to Leongatha to play football and had been a barman at both local hotels. Mrs Ruby Broadbent, Fred’s mother, was a cook at the Commercial Hotel.
* Tom Sangster was a well-regarded local resident in Leongatha. He was born in Warragul in 1895 and came to Leongatha as a young man to work on the railway. He started as a carter, driving a team of horses, and transporting goods from the railway station. Tom Sangster was survived by his wife Stella, daughters Beryl and Thelma and sons Tom and Kevin.
* Arthur Oliver was originally of Stanley, Tasmania. His mother had re-married in 1933 and the family came to Leongatha. He and his friend Jimmy Kavanagh were working for farmer Barny Maxwell in Leongatha South when they enlisted. Jimmy grew up in the district and had attended Leongatha South School. Both were in the Heavy Battery in the artillery, and they fought until the battery ran out of ammunition before surrendering.
* Fred Ketels grew up in Leongatha, he attended Leongatha State School. He worked as a baker before enlisting. Katie Ketels waited for her son for the rest of her life. Fred’s brother Cliff was killed in New Guinea with the 2/5th Battalion. Fred and Cliff had two sisters Pam and Vera.
* Frank Pollock left Scotland for Melbourne on the Benalla on April 2, 1925 aged 4. He travelled with his mother, sister Elizabeth and brothers James, Duncan, Bill, Horace and Matthew to Wonthaggi where Frank Senior had been living for two years. Frank was a coal miner at one time, like the rest of the family. He was in the 1st Independent Company Commandoes who trained at Wilson’s Promontory before being deployed to New Ireland near Rabaul. After the Japanese takeover of New Ireland, the commandoes escaped but some including Frank were captured and imprisoned at Rabaul.
* Yarram area residents Alan Cocksedge, Colin Coulthard, Baden Hibbs, Edward Newton, John Sutherland and George Thomas were in the 2/22nd Battalion and also lost their lives on the Montevideo Maru.
All the victims of the sinking suffered appalling conditions in Rabaul before being loaded into the holds of the Montevideo Maru on June 22, 1942. The vessel was north of the Philippines when it was sunk by the American submarine the US Sturgeon at 02.29 hours on July 1, 1942. The Montevideo Maru was not showing any markings to show it was carrying prisoners of war. The men in the holds had no chance.
It is important to remember and honour these brave men – lest we forget.