The Naval Association

The Naval Association

of Australia

VA046 Thursday 19 May 2005

PLAQUE HONOURING VICTIMS OF SINKING OF CENTAUR DURING WWII

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, De-Anne Kelly, today unveiled a plaque at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital to honour those who were killed when the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was sunk in May 1943.

Mrs Kelly said she was honoured to unveil the plaque that names all of the
268 men and women who died in the sinking of the Centaur.

"In the early hours of Friday 14 May 1943, the Centaur was less than 10 miles east of the Cape Moreton Light on Moreton Island, when it was hit by a Japanese torpedo," she said.

"Aboard the ship were 332 people, including the Merchant Navy crew and the ship's medical staff, with 12 Australian Army Nursing Service nurses, and also men of the 2/12th Field Ambulance with attached personnel heading for a tour of duty in Papua New Guinea. Only 64 survived.

"The Centaur sank so quickly that no SOS message was sent, and the survivors spent more than 30 hours clinging to life rafts before they were rescued by the American destroyer USS Mugford. Of the 12 Australian Army nurses, there was only one survivor.

"I praise Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital for its dedication to ensuring that those who died when the Centaur was sunk are not forgotten.

"I know for many years the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital has held regular services in its chapel, with the assistance of Preston RSL, to commemorate the sinking of the Centaur.

"The hospital staff and management feel an especially close bond with those who set out 62 years ago on the Centaur to heal the sick and wounded."

Mrs Kelly said she is pleased to announce the Australian Government was able to contribute $1649 towards the plaque under the Saluting Their Service commemorations program.

"It was an honour to unveil this plaque in memory of the men and women of the Centaur," she said.