Filipino Merchant MarinersPrint Page

The plaque commemorates the sacrifices of 16 Filipino Merchant Mariners from the American transport ships SS Florence D and SS Don Isidro during the bombing of Darwin in World War Two. There were also five Filipinos who lost their lives while working on the Darwin Wharf during the bombing of Darwin.

SS Don Isidro was first attacked by Japanese aeroplanes on 18 February 1942, the day before the raids on Darwin, but suffered no damage. On the morning of the 19th, it was north of Bathurst Island when it was strafed by Japanese fighter aeroplanes returning from the strike on Darwin. Meanwhile, SS Florence D, which was responding to the SOS call of Don Isidro, was also attacked and immediately sank.

Fourteen Filipino merchant mariners lost their lives, and two others subsequently died from their wounds. They were all civilians serving under Articles of Agreement with the Master but were in fact on secret mission to support allied forces in the Philippines, crewing blockade-runners engaged by the American military.

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