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"Montevideo Maru"Print Page 
The monument commemorates the sinking of the "Montevideo Maru" which is the largest maritime disaster in Australian history. On 22nd June 1942, the Japanese ordered 845 Prisoners of War (POW) and 208 civilian internees to board the Japanese ship, "Montevideo Maru", for transport to Japan.
The ship bore no markings to indicate that it carried POWs. The POWs were members of the 2nd / 22nd Battalion, New Guinea Rifles, an Anti-Tank Battery, an Anti-Aircraft Battery, a Coastal Defence Battery, a Royal Australian Air Force group and a detachment of the 2nd / 20th Field Ambulance. Uniquely, the members of the 2nd / 22nd Battalion Band were all members of Salvation Army Bands.
On 1st July 1942 an American submarine, the USS Sturgeon, attacked and sank the Montevideo Maru unaware that more than 1000 POWs were locked in its holds. There were no survivors. No indication of its sinking, or of the tragic loss of life was given by the Japanese Government.
Location
| Address: | Wendouree Parade & Carlton Street, Prisoner of War Memorial, Ballarat, 3350 |
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| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.553209 Long: 143.821559 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 01-July-1942 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 01-July-1942 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 7th February, 2004 |
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Memorial to those who died on the Montevideo Maru
1st July 1942.
On the 23rd January 1942 Japanese forces invaded Rabaul, on the island of New Britain and quickly defeated the small Australian garrison - Lark Force. About 160 of the Australian soldiers who surrendered were massacred in February, at Tol plantation.
On 22nd June 1942, the Japanese ordered 852 Australian prisoners of war and 208 civilian internees to board the Japanese ship, Montevideo Maru, for transport to Japan. The ship bore no markings to indicate that it carried prisoners of war.
The prisoners of war included members of 2/22nd Battalion. 1st Independent Company, Fortress Artillery, Engineers, Signal Units, No. 17 Anti/Tank Battery, Anti/Aircraft Battery, No. 19 Special Dental Unit; Detachments from: New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, 2/10 Field Ambulance, Ordnance Corps, 8 Division Supply Column, Canteen Services HQ NG Area, Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy. The 2/22 Battalion bandsmen were all members of Salvation Army Bands.
On 1st July 1942 an American submarine, the USS Sturgeon, attacked and sank the Montevideo Maru unaware that more than 1000 prisoners of war were locked in the holds. There were no survivors - no indication of the sinking, nor of the tragic loss of life, was given by the Japanese government. The sinking of the Montevideo Maru is the largest maritime disaster in Australian history.
