In memory of the officers and crew HMA HOSPITAL SHIP CENTAUR lost at sea through enemy action14 May 1943
Date1943
Object number00054929
NameMemorial Plaque
MediumBronze, ink
DimensionsOverall: 610 × 380 mm
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Mission to Seafarers
DescriptionA commemorative plaque to some of crew members of the Australian Hospital Ship CENTAUR killed when the ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine during WWII. THere were only 64 survivors from 332 people on board.
The engraved text reads 'HMA HOSPITAL SHIP CENTAUR lost at sea through enemy action 14th May, 1943. In memory ofthe officers and crew. GA Murray Master, J Capper Ch. Steward, HE Lamble 1st Mate, AJ Morris 2nd Steward, EJ Summers Purser, WD Cuthill 2nd Eng., JC Buck Barman, C Alexander 3rd Eng., HR Hall 4th Eng., V Lockhart Steward, K Sykes Elect., CEJ Carey Steward, TV Morris 2nd R/Opr., A Rayner Steward, RM Laird 3rd R/Opr., F Siddons Steward, WA Warmer Steward, DR McLean Printer, RJ Spence Carpenter, D Cockerill Cook, RJ Spence Carpenter, G Brandin Bosun, FJ Gannon Cook, S Longden Cook Ch., D Abbot AB, W McKinnon Cook, FW Foy AB, SL Strack Cook, RR Hart AB, TS Hughes AB, SO Pearl Baker, L Laki AB, TE Pritchard Baker, MJ Lee AB, J Le Blanc AB, T Behan Greaser, G Long AB, JO Bowden Greaser, J Lyon AB, C Clark Greaser, D Milligan AB, WR Downie Greaser, EC Page AB, J Gallagher Greaser, EB Simpson AB, R Grainer Greaser.
Erected by Officers and crew of the sister ship MV CHARON. Greater love hath no man than this'.
HistoryHMA CENTAUR was an Australian hospital ship sunk by Japanese submarine 1-177 under the command of Lt Commander Nakagawa in the early morning of 14 May 1943 resulting in the death of 268 of its 332 crew and passengers.
Hospital ships were ships that were commissioned to return wounded and ill soldiers from the battlefront to home front hospitals. There was much outrage at the time about the sinking of a hospital ship—contrary to international agreements.SignificanceThis plaque is part of a group from the Mission that range from 1900 to 1943 erected for people and ships lost at sea and people who worked for many years at the mission. They are all wonderful, evocative and poignant memorials, ranging from 'lost at sea through enemy action', 'a faithful friend of seamen', 'died of an accident on the bridge', 'lost overboard aged 21', and 'fell from aloft'. They are important records of a time when lost sailors were grieved for at the mission and the plaques and services stood in for burials that did not occur. They are outstanding examples of maritime related sites of grief, commemoration and memory.
