Rabaul & Montevideo Maru Society

The Society

The Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society was established in 2009 to represent the interests of the families of the soldiers and civilians captured in Rabaul and the New Guinea Islands after the Japanese invasion in January 1942, many of whom are believed to have perished on the Montevideo Maru when it was torpedoed off the Philippines on 1 July 1942. The major objective of the Society was to have a memorial erected in memory of those lost. This objective was achieved when a memorial was unveiled at the Australian War Memorial on 1 July 2012. Following this, the members of the Society resolved that it should be wound up, with its assets and remaining objectives being transferred to the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia.

Commemorative Luncheon and Memorial Service—Canberra—29 and 30 June 2013

For details, see here.

70th Anniversary - 2012

The 70th Anniversary of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru was marked by the dedication of a memorial at the Australian War Memorial and a Commemorative Luncheon. Further information is here and photos of the Memorial are here. A DVD of the luncheon and dedication is now available: details here.

Phil Ainsworth, President of the Society, recently presented His Excellency Charles Lepani, PNG High Commissioner to Australia, with two photographs of the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial in recognition of Papua New Guinea's contribution towards the Memorial.

The National Archives of Australia has also launched a new website featuring a Japanese passenger list for the Montevideo Maru, recently gifted to Australia from the Japanese Government. See more here. For an English translation of the Japanese passenger list, click here.