Related News
Hospital ship from WWII is located
Source: Agencies |
December 21, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN Australian hospital ship torpedoed by the Japanese during World War II with the loss of 268 lives has been located in waters off the coast of the northern state of Queensland, the government said yesterday.
The loss of the Centaur in 1943 while sailing to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was one of Australia's great wartime disasters. Survivors and their relatives have long pressed for the wreck to be found, fearing salvagers would reach it first.
The government eventually supported a search for the vessel.
Yesterday, it said the wreck's location had been confirmed by a team led by United States marine search expert David Mearns, whose other finds include HMAS Sydney, another Australian wartime wreck.
The sinking of the Centaur was considered a war crime, though no one was ever tried for it. Many of the dead were medical staff. The vessel was clearly marked as a hospital ship and had no naval escort.
"The discovery of AHS Centaur will ensure all Australians know of and commemorate the 268 brave nurses and crew who died in the service of their nation," Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.
Jan Thomas, whose father Bernard Hindmarsh was a doctor who died aboard the ship, said finding the wreck would bring some relief. Now 73, she was six when the ship was sunk on May 14, 1943.
"It is always helpful to know where your loved ones lie," she said.
As a hospital ship, the Centaur was required under international conventions to travel alone and be clearly marked with red crosses, which also made it an easy target.
The loss of the Centaur in 1943 while sailing to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was one of Australia's great wartime disasters. Survivors and their relatives have long pressed for the wreck to be found, fearing salvagers would reach it first.
The government eventually supported a search for the vessel.
Yesterday, it said the wreck's location had been confirmed by a team led by United States marine search expert David Mearns, whose other finds include HMAS Sydney, another Australian wartime wreck.
The sinking of the Centaur was considered a war crime, though no one was ever tried for it. Many of the dead were medical staff. The vessel was clearly marked as a hospital ship and had no naval escort.
"The discovery of AHS Centaur will ensure all Australians know of and commemorate the 268 brave nurses and crew who died in the service of their nation," Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.
Jan Thomas, whose father Bernard Hindmarsh was a doctor who died aboard the ship, said finding the wreck would bring some relief. Now 73, she was six when the ship was sunk on May 14, 1943.
"It is always helpful to know where your loved ones lie," she said.
As a hospital ship, the Centaur was required under international conventions to travel alone and be clearly marked with red crosses, which also made it an easy target.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
