The Finding of the Montevideo Maru
With an interest, commitment and passion for uncovering stories of Australia’s past, the Silentworld Foundation, with the support of a large team of experts, undertook a search for the wreck site of Montevideo Maru. The 7,267 tonne Japanese-built cargo/passenger ship was being used as prisoner transport in World War II.
The humanitarian expedition aimed to find the final resting place of approximately 1080 military personnel and civilians from 14 nations, most of whom were Australian soldiers. The sinking of the ship 80 years ago resulted in one of the most tragic losses of life in Australian maritime history.
Silentworld Foundation, with partners Fugro and Unrecovered War Casualties-Army, recently undertook and were successful in the search for Montevideo Maru off the coast of the Philippines. Montevideo Maru was a ship requisitioned for use by the Japanese Navy carrying approximately 1000 prisoners of war and civilians, captured during the fall of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, as well as 122 Japanese crew. She was sunk by United States Submarine Sturgeon, unaware that Allied prisoners were on board, on 1 July 1942.
Although Silentworld Foundation focuses on maritime archaeology and conservation within Australian contexts, the humanitarian aspect was at the forefront of this search. As well as the many Australians lost on board, the prisoners of war also included the crew of Norwegians from the destroyed ship Herstein, and prisoners from other nationalities. Silentworld Foundation was privileged enough to work closely with Japanese researchers, and descendants and relatives of those Australians on board Montevideo Maru, and once the announcement was made, were honoured to be able to host the stories of hundreds of other descendants on their social media platforms and website. The news made international waves as the three nationalities heavily represented in the tragedy (United States, Japan, and Australia) reflected on their past.
International cooperation and storytelling featured profoundly not only after the finding of the shipwreck, but also during the planning phases, in the cooperation between international governments and institutions, all invested in finding the final resting place of Montevideo Maru. In the analytical phase that followed the discovery, it was discovered that the lists and numbers of casualties that had been gathered from Japanese lists in 1945 may require more research; this has led to yet more international cooperation and ongoing strengthening of relationships to attempt to create as accurate a list as possible.
Following are are some details of the finding of the vessel and some related information.
Individuals from other services were present on the Montevideo Maru. The majority of those lost on the Montevideo Maru were members of the Australian Army. However, individuals from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force are believed to have been aboard. There were also hundreds of Australian and international civilians, as well as Japanese crews and guards.
With approximately 1080 victims from 14 nations, and 80 years after the event, tracing next of kin has not been possible. However we have made every effort to provide information to the related organisations around the world and withing Auystralia and Papua new Guinea. We have provided information of findings through media announcements in Australia and in the countries represented by personnel tragically lost aboard the ship.
We would like to encourage descendant families all over the world who have an interest in this particular wartime loss to get in touch. familiesofMvM@silentworldfoundation.org.au
Please register with the Australian Defence Force to be kept informed of developments.
Register with us | Army.gov.au. Additional enquiries, please call 1800 019 090