Stanhope RSL Sub-Branch vice-president James Bell, secretary George Gemmill and president Phillip Chapman.
Photo by
Bree Lambert
On Wednesday, July 1, Stanhope residents and visitors gathered at the Stanhope Community Hall to pay their respects and honour the memory of those lost in the Montevideo Maru tragedy.
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Organised by the Stanhope RSL Sub-Branch and the Stanhope and District Development Committee, the commemorative service marked 84 years since the sinking of the Montevideo Maru.
In the 1942 tragedy, more than 1000 people lost their lives, including hundreds of Australian prisoners of war when the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by the United States submarine USS Sturgeon.
Among the Australian POWs were three servicemen from Stanhope, Percy Crombie, Alfred Meldrum and William McLennan, who were part of the 2/22 Battalion of the Australian Army, known as Lark Force.
Stanhope RSL president Phillip Chapman led the service.
Stanhope RSL Sub-Branch president Phillip Chapman led the service.
Photo by
Bree Lambert
“We live today to remember that the series of events that culminated in the greatest maritime tragedy in Australia’s history, the sinking of the ship Montevideo Maru,” Mr Chapman said.
As part of the service, Mr Chapman laid a wreath on behalf of the Stanhope RSL Sub-Branch, before welcoming community members and visitors forward to place wreaths.
Stanhope RSL secretary George Gemmill recited the Ode before The Last Post was played, followed by a minute of silence.
Stanhope RSL vice-president James Bell spoke about the history of the RSL, from its beginning through to the present day, also discussing the Monash St mural depicting the Montevideo, painted by Tim Bowtell in 2023.
A number of guest speakers addressed the crowd throughout the service, including Stanhope RSL affiliate member Fiona Wallace and Kyabram RSL member Clive Toms, who spoke of their connections to the tragedy.
The service concluded with an open mic session, giving community members and visitors the opportunity to share their own stories and personal connections to the Montevideo Maru.
Kyabram RSL Sub-Branch member and affiliate member of Stanhope RSL Sub-Branch Clive Toms spoke of his family connection to the tragedy, as his two uncles Howard and Hector Toms were on board the Montevideo.
Photo by
Bree Lambert
New affiliate member of Stanhope RSL Sub-Branch and Stanhope Primary School principal Fiona Wallace spoke about Stanhope serviceman William Avenel McLennan, who was aboard the Montevideo Maru.
Photo by
Bree Lambert
