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SYDNEY, April 22/Medianet International=KYODO JBN/--

A special and moving ceremony on a ship off The Philippines has honoured

long-lost wartime dead from 14 countries, including Australia and Japan.

It came after a search vessel finally located the wreck of the Japanese

transport ship Montevideo Maru, which sank with the loss of approximately 1080

lives more than 80 years ago on July 1, 1942.

Its whereabouts had been one of the enduring maritime mysteries of World War

II. The majority of those killed were Australians, approximately 979 soldiers

and civilians. It was that country"s worst maritime disaster and made all the

more poignant because the Montevideo Maru was sunk by a submarine of its

American ally, the USS Sturgeon. Unbeknown to the submarine, its target was

carrying Allied prisoners of war and civilians who had been captured in the

fall of Rabaul in New Guinea a few months earlier.

The wreck was discovered in 4000-metre waters on an extraordinary mission put

together by Australia"s Silentworld Foundation, which is dedicated to maritime

archaeology and history, and Dutch company Fugro, deep-sea survey specialists,

with support from Australia"s Department of Defence.

The search commenced on April 6 in the South China Sea, 110km north-west of

Luzon. After just 12 days (April 18), a positive sighting was recorded using

state-of-the-art technology, including an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

with in-built sonar.

It took a number of days to verify the wreck using expert analysis from the

project team, comprising maritime archaeologists, conservators, operations and

research specialists, and ex-naval officers.  

It has taken nearly five years of planning by Silentworld and 20 years of

dedication from the Montevideo Maru Society to assemble the expedition team,

led by Australian businessman, maritime history philanthropist and explorer

John Mullen, the director of Silentworld.

Mr Mullen paid tribute to an independent Japanese researcher who wishes to

remain anonymous.

"This modest gentleman has been liaising with us for a number of years and has

been absolutely integral to the planning of this mission and its ultimate

success," he said.

"Years before joining our planning group, he was instrumental in locating

details of the passenger list of the Montevideo Maru which had been missing for

decades, and helped the Montevideo Maru Society locate archive resources to

fill in public gaps about the sinking and aftermath."

Before the search began, the Japanese researcher presented the Silentworld team

with Daruma dolls as a gesture of good luck. In accordance with Japanese

tradition, each of the team drew in the blank eye of a doll at the start of the

mission. Today on the Fugro Equator, they drew the other eye to denote mission

accomplished!

In a solemn ceremony, the team cast wreaths of fresh flowers into the sea over

the wreck site in concert with another Japanese tradition, a Crane ceremony.

Senbazuru (1,000 origami cranes) is a Japanese tradition for a wish to come

true. John Mullen, as mission head, threw 50 cranes into the ocean.

"There is something very spiritual and special when former foes come together

to mourn their war dead," said John Mullen. "Australians and Japanese are

united in grief over these lost men and today"s event was yet another example

of the wonderful and warm relationship the two countries enjoy."

The tragedy impacted at least 14 countries, including: Australia, Denmark,

England, Estonia, Finland, Holland, Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway,

Scotland, Solomon Islands, Sweden and the United States.

"The discovery of the Montevideo Maru closes a terrible chapter in

international military and maritime history," Mr Mullen said.

"Families waited years for news of their missing loved ones, before learning of

the tragic outcome of the sinking. Some never fully came to accept that their

loved ones were among the victims. Today, by finding the vessel, we hope to

bring closure to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster.

"I would like to express my gratitude to all of the dedicated Silentworld team

involved in this expedition, to the outstanding Fugro crew and technical team

on board the Fugro Equator, and to the Australian Department of Defence for

their unwavering support.

"I am proud to be the citizen of a country that never forgets or stops looking

for those lost in the course of duty, no matter how many years may pass."

The wreckage of the Montevideo Maru, sitting at a deeper depth than the

Titanic, will not be disturbed. No artefacts or human remains will be removed.

The site will be recorded for research purposes out of respect for all the

families of those onboard who were lost.

Details of any commemorative events will be provided at the appropriate time.

Descendants of the Montevideo Maru may register their details to be kept

informed at

https://www.army.gov.au/our-work/unrecovered-war-casualties/register-us

Silentworld Foundation

John and Jacqui Mullen are the founders and directors of the Silentworld

Foundation.  John is also Chairman of Telstra, and Brambles Ltd, and Chairman

of the Australian National Maritime Museum. The not-for-profit Silentworld

Foundation based in Sydney supports and promotes Australasian maritime

archaeology, history, culture and heritage. It also operates a private museum

dedicated to understanding our nation"s early maritime history and supports

annual expeditions and other ventures seeking a greater understanding of our

past. The discovery of the Montevideo Maru is another high-profile success

story. Amongst others, in 2017 Silentworld participated in the finding of HMAS

AE1, Australia"s first submarine. In 2009, the Foundation solved a 180-year

mystery by locating the wreck site of HMCS Mermaid, lost on a coral reef off

the Queensland coast in 1829. Website: https://silentworldfoundation.org.au

Media Assets

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1n77GAta71VvO9nDX-Wuo2hig6SmUdBZm?usp=sharing

(including b-roll, images from the discovery and archives)  

For interviews contact: Nami Otani +61 428 094 988 (Japanese speaking)

Or contact eckfactor for Silentworld Foundation: +61 438 532 569

Karen@eckfactor.com.

SOURCE: Silentworld Foundation

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440144

   Caption: Montevideo Maru