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A.H.S. Centaur MemorialPrint Page 
A memorial plaque commemorates the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur".
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, ANZAC Memorial Chapel, 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
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 20th May, 2001 |
|---|
Australian Hospital Ship
m.v.. "Centaur"
Ship details.
Builder : Scott`s Shipbuilding & engineering
Place and date : Greenock, Scotland, 1924
Dimensions : Length 96m,m beam 14.7m.
Tonnage : 3,222 gross registered tons.
No. of holds : 4
Engine & speed : Diesel, single-screw, 12.5 knots.
Official number : 147275
Cost to build : 146,750
Conversion to Australian Hospital Ship,
Williamstown, Melbourne completed 6 March 1943
Maiden voyage 12 March 1943.
Torpedoed on the second voyage to New Guinea at 0410
on 14 May 1943 by Japanese submarine 1-177.
Sunk in three minutes, 23 miles north-east of Point Lookout,
Stradbroke Island, Queensland Australia.
Survivors were rescued after 34 hours in the water
by USS "Mugford"
On board `Centaur`:
Army personnel 245 Nursing sisters 12 Merchant Navy crew 75 Total 332
Survivors : Nursing sisters 1 Doctors 1 2.12 Field Ambulance 32 Merchant Navy crew 30
Total survived 64
Total lost 268
Memories of 45 young seamnen
lost forever to the sea whilst serving their country
: [ Names ]
Presented to Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre
by the Merchant Navy R.S.L. Sub-Branch Victoria
In memory
of all lost at sea on the "Centaur"
and with special thoughts for our departed shipmates.
Unveiled and dedicated on 20th May, 2001
By Martin Pash, Merchant Navy crew survivor
and Keith Oliver, Secretary, Merchant Navy R.S.L. Sub-Branch
