Victims of hospital ship centaur to be remembered at last. The discovery of the wreck of the australian hospital ship centaur, torpedoed by the japanese in world war two, has stirred memories of a mystery in south grafton resident jim robb. The scottishbuilt vessel was launched in 1924 as a combination passenger linerfreighter and operated a trade route between western australia and singapore via indonesia, carrying passengers, cargo, and livestock. The japanese government yesterday refused to take responsibility for the sinking of the centaur, saying the circumstances surrounding the torpedoing of the. Torpedoed australian hospital ship ahs centaur found after lying undetected for 66 years on the ocean floor as a watery grave for 268 souls, the ahs centaur. Allied headquarters in australia, tuesday, may 18 two hundred and eightyeight persons in the australian and british medical service and eleven women nurses perished when a japanese submarine. The centaur, 23rd australian hospital ship, was a motor passenger ship converted in early 1943 for use as a hospital ship. The manunda was commissioned as a hospital ship on 22 july 1940. Australian hospital ship centaur the myth of immunity. Today is the 63rd anniversary of the sinking of the 23rd australian hospital ship ahs centaur. A memorial service honouring the lives of 268 australians who died on the centaur was held 2059 metres above the watery tomb of the wreck early yesterday afternoon.
Of the 332 medical personnel and civilian crew aboard, 268 were killed. Hospital ship centaur, the myth of immunity, a 340page book about the. Of the 332 medical personnel and civilian crew aboard, 268 died. Tony stephens, who was three years and eight months old when his father died on the centaur, looks at one of the australias greatest wartime disasters. For 66 years the australian hospital ship ahs centaur, has been lost in a watery. Public interest in the discovery of centaurs final resting place had been sparked by his work in discovering the sydney and the remains of the disguised german raider the kormoran, which was responsible for the loss of the sydney. War memorial to honour victims of australian hospital ship centaur. Most are operated by the military forces mostly navies of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones although attacking a hospital ship is a war crime, belligerent navies have the right to board such ships for inspections. Captain james garden was appointed master of the manunda. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles. Ahoy macs web log australian hospital ship centaur. Most are operated by the military forces mostly navies of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones.
On the morning of 19 february 1942, despite displaying the highly visible red cross markings. A total of 54 german and japanese warships and submarines entered australian waters between 1940 and 1945 and attacked ships, ports and other targets. Although there is an overall history of hospital ships the narrative mainly details the stories and history of four australian ww2 hospital ships the manunda, wanganella, centaur and oranje. He writes too about his discovery of the australian hospital ship centaur, sunk on 14 may 1943.
As a hospital ship the manunda completed four voyages to the middle. The second geneva convention prohibits military attacks on. His deepwater searches have solved the 66year mystery of hmas sydney, discovered the final resting place of the mighty battlecruiser hms hood and revealed the australian hospital ship centaur in the narrow underwater canyon that served as its grave. Centaur was british registered and crewed by australian sailors. For 66 years the australian hospital ship ahs centaur, has been lost in a watery grave, now found lying 2,059m below the surface of the sparkling blue pacific ocean, some 30 nautical miles due east of the southern tip of moreton island. The short answer, of course, is that it was an act of war.
Australian hospital ships naval historical society of. Australian hospital ship ahs centaur was a hospital ship which was attacked and sunk by a japanese submarine off the coast of queensland, australia, on. The author, rupert goodman was a doctor with australian forces during ww2. Thus the sinking of australian hospital ship centaur in may 1943 brought the realities of the war home to brisbane.
David mearns has found some of the worlds most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. The unarmed and brilliantly lit ship was suppoosedly immune from attack, but diown she went to a japanese torpedowith the loss of 268 of the complement of 332. An australian world war ii hospital ship, the centaur, has been seen for the first time since it sank more than 60 years ago with a loss of 268 lives. In november 1941 it had rescued survivors of the german auxiliary cruiser kormoran after it had sunk and been sunk by hmas sydney. The result of 14 years of research into the sinking of the hospital ship centaur by a japanese submarine with the loss of 268 of the. The sinking of the australian hospital ship centaur war. The cameras have left the centaur and the torpedoed australian hospital ship will be left to rest in peace off moreton island. While the ships personnel were almost entirely from other parts of australia. His staff and mercantile navy men who formed the crew of hmahs manunda were as follows. The sinking of the australian hospital ship centaur, by a japanese submarine, will be discussed in australia long after nearly all other events of the second world war have slipped from public. She was converted to a hospital ship on 12 march 1943. The australian hospital ship centaur was en route to new guninea from sydney to collect casualties of war. The centaur story sunk by a japanese torpedoe in 1943. On 14 may 1943 centaur was en route from sydney to cairns when she was sunk by a japanese submarine south of moreton island, off the queensland coast.
The tragedy of the centaur naval historical society of. In the nineteenth century redundant warships were used as moored hospitals for seamen. The australian hospital ship centaur built on the clyde at grennock in 1924, was converted early in 1943 to serve in that capacity. Although australia was remote from the main battlefronts, there was considerable axis naval activity in australian waters during the second world war. It will be the 72nd anniversary of the death of his three uncles who drowned when the australian hospital ship centaur was torpedoed by the japanese off brisbane in world war ii. A detailed account of the sinking of the australian hospital ship centaur during world war ii. Victims of hospital ship centaur to be remembered at last post at. As result of the attack 268 people mostly patients and medical staff died from 332 who were on board. A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital. Torpedoed australian hospital ship ahs centaur found.
The second ms centaur 2 was ordered for the ocean steamship co, of course later known as the blue funnel line and she was built in 1924, but she had a tragic end, after she had been converted to become the australian hospital ship ahs centaur in sydney to serve during world war ii. Of the 332 medical personnel and civilian crew aboard, 268 died, including 63 of the 65 army personnel. Hospital ship project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The australian hospital ship centaur was sunk by a japanese submarine on 14th may 1943, off the east coast of australia, with the loss of 268 of the 332 souls on board all non combatants. It was found within one nautical mile that the much maligned centaur navigator gordon rippon said it would be. Sinking of the hospital ship centaur by japanese submarine i177. Australian hospital ship ahs centaur was a hospital ship which was attacked and sunk by a japanese submarine off the coast of queensland, australia, on 14 may 1943. Thanks for your understanding, stay safe and look after family and friends during these unprecedented times. Bbc news sunk australia wwii hospital ship centaur. The sinking of the centaur the australian war memorial. As a hospital ship the manunda completed four voyages to the middle east between november 1940 and september 1941. Governments response to the sinking of 23 australian hospital ship. On may 14th 1943, australian hospital ship ahs centaur was steaming a course 24 miles e.
Did hospital ships have special protected status in wartime. In the early hours of friday 14 may 1943 the hospital ship ahs centaur, ablaze with lights, was torpedoed by japanese submarine 1177 off moreton island. The centaur was an australian hospital ship sunk by a japanese submarine in the early morning of 14 may 1943, with the death of 268 of its 332 crew and passengers. The myth of immunity 97806467155 by milligan, christopher and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Australian stories, yarns and myths torpedoed australian. She was torpedoed by japanese submarine i177 on 14 may 1943, during her second voyage to new guinea as a hospital ship. Japan refuses to accept responsibility for sinking of centaur. The ships location was discovered last month following a hitech search. John c h foley torpedoeing by a japanese submarine of the centaur on 14th may, 1943 at 04. Milligan, 97806467155, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Australian hospital ship ahs centauri was a hospital ship which was. War memorial to honour victims of australian hospital ship. Centaur embarked sydney on 12 may with the ships crew of merchant seamen, and personnel of the army medical corps aboard. The australian hospital ship centaur built on the clyde at grennock in 1924, was.
The centaur story centaur memorial fund for nurses. The sinking of the australian hospital ship centaur, by a japanese. This war book has long been out of print, and has been sought after for sometime. May 14 1988 marks the 45th anniversary of the sinking of the australian hospital ship centaur, with the loss of 268 lives. The australian hospital ship centaur was clearly marked and brightly lit when she was torpedoed by a japanese submarine in the early hours of 14th may. Axis naval activity in australian waters wikipedia. It was in the indian ocean in november of 1941 that the ship rescued survivors of the german armed merchant ship kormoran, which had been sunk in the fight to the death with the australian light cruiser hmas sydney when fitted out as a hospital. Buy the paperback book articles on australian hospital ships, including. During wwii australianbased hospital ships were operated by the australian shipping control board ascb as hmahs his majestys australian hospital ship although some sources incorrectly describe them as hmas. History australia hospital ships centaur oranje wanganella. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Centaur was a motorship of british registry built in 1924 of 3,222 grt.
703 459 912 458 713 1418 1189 699 1365 1027 763 697 281 1162 1350 622 1310 250 316 613 1110 419 889 480 1033 1012 1482 1274