Statment by Minister Ward, 5 October 1945

Statement by Mr Ward - East Sydney - Minister for Transport and Minister for External Territories, In the House of Representatives, Canberra, On Friday 5 October 1945

At the time of the Japanese invasion of Rabaul and other parts of New Guinea in January, 1942, there was a considerable number of administration officials, missionaries and other civilians in the area, in addition to the Army garrison. Some of these people escaped at the time, but a large number were captured by the Japanese. Some missionaries and a few civilians were rescued when the Australian forces entered Rabaul after the surrender of the Japanese, but there are 316 civilians who have not been accounted for. On 26th September, the Minister for the Army announced that most urgent war inquiries were being made to ascertain the whereabouts of the men of the Rabaul garrison.

Investigation in Japan by Australian inquiry officers working with General MacArthur’s forces confirmed the Government’s fears that the majority of the Australian prisoners of war and internees captured in Rabaul, and still missing, lost their lives at sea. It has now been ascertained that the Japanese Navy Department officially informed the Tokyo Prisoner of War Information Bureau on the 6th June, 1943, that the SS. Montevideo Maru, sailed from Rabaul on approximately the 22nd June, 1942, carrying 845 prisoners of war and 208 civilians, and that this ship was, during its voyage, torpedoed near Luzon with a total loss of the prisoners of war and internees embarked at Rabaul. It has also been ascertained that among the prisoners of war embarked were members of the 1st Independent Company which had been operating in New Ireland.

A roll which, it is understood, contains the names of those aboard the SS. Montevideo Maru, at the time is now being translated in Japan in order that the information may be transmitted to the Australia for notification to next of kin. It will be understood that this is all the information we are able to give at present, and inquiries concerning the whereabouts of individual civilians or members of the Rabaul garrison cannot be answered in any greater detail than in this statement. As there is a total of 1,053 persons involved, it is expected that some time will elapse before all names are available, but the next of kin can be assured that names will be progressively released as they become available in Australia.

Some Australian prisoners of war, who were still in Rabaul when the SS. Montevideo Maru sailed in 1942, have been recently recovered, and they have been able to confirm the names of some of the prisoners of war who embarked on this ship. In all such cases the next of kin have been informed without waiting for the rolls from Japan. So far, no authentic information has been obtained as to the names of the civilian internees on the vessel.

These servicemen and civilians, who died in such tragic manner, have undoubtedly given their lives in defence of Australia just as surely as those who died face to face with the enemy. To their next of kin the Commonwealth Government extends its deepest sympathy.