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Centaur WingPrint Page 
The wing of the Repatriation Hospital commemorates the Australian Hospital Ship "Crntaur".
On 14 May 1943 the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur" was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine 15 kilometres miles east of Cape Moreton in Queensland. There were no patients on board but 229 crew and medical personnel lost their lives, while 64 survivors were rescued after 36 hours in the sea.
Location
| Address: | 300 Waterdale Road, Repatriation Hospital, Heidelberg, 3081 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.756478 Long: 145.047353 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 14-May-1943 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 14-May-1943 |
Dedication
Plaque 1 :
2/3 Australian Hospital Ship
Centaur.
Memories of the 268 Souls who made the supreme sacrifice when Centaur was sunk on 14 May 1943
[ Names ]
Unveiled by the Minister for Veterans` Affairs
Hon De-Anne Kelly MP
On 19 May 2005
Plaque 2 :
2/3 Australian Hospital Ship
Centaur.
Memories of the survivors when the
Centaur was sunk on 14 May 1943
[ Names ]
14 May 2006 2/3
AHS Centaur Association
Preston RSL Sub-Branch
Plaque 3 :
2/3 AHS Centaur
Roll of Honour
2/12 Field Ambulance
Ship`s Medical Staff
Merchant Navy Personnel.
In memory of shipmates,
relatives, colleagues and friends
who paid the supreme sacrifice on a
mission of mercy, 14 May 1943.
2/3 AHS Centaur Association
2010
Lest We Forget.
This plaque is a replica of the Centaur Plaque which was placed on the deck of the 2.3 Australian Hospital Ship Centaur on 12 January 2010. It was laid on behalf of families,friends and colleagues of Centaur personnel.
The Centaur was torpedoed and sunk by enemy action on 14 May 1943 with the loss of 268 non-combatant lives. Only 64 survived. It was discovered on 20 December 2009 to be resting 2059 metres below the surface of the ocean at 27 16.98 S, 153 59.22 E, some 50km east of Moreton Island.
The central disk represents the CD embedded in the plaque on which are inscribed the names of those on board, their serial number, age, unit, next of kin and the names of all known living relatives. It does not include rank, death being the great leveller. The CD also contains personal messages from relatives.
This replica was funded by families and firends of Centaur personnel and has been donated on their behalf by 2/3 AHS Centaur Association Inc.
