Sinking of the MV Montevideo Maru

Sinking of the MV Montevideo Maru

Deborah C Wheeler

In less than eleven minutes on July 1, 1942 the MV Montevideo Maru sank with over 1,000 men on board. This tragedy dealt the Allies a double blow, for despite the strict rules of engagement regarding the marking of non-combatant ships, the Japanese had failed to mark the ship as carrying prisoners of war. This led the Captain of the American submarine the USS Sturgeon, to believe the ship was carrying enemy troops. The downing of this ship and the recording of lives lost, makes this the deadliest disaster in Australia’s maritime history.

In April 2023, some eighty years after this tragic event took place the remains of the doomed ship were discovered some 4,000 meters below the surface, in the South China Sea. This discovery has led to closure for hundreds of Australian families who lost their loved ones on that fateful day in June 1942.

Here on the Southern Downs, we have currently identified two local men who were on board when disaster struck. Private Edward Joseph Butler QX64932 was born in Allora on March 31, 1917. Edward enlisted in his hometown on June 9, 1941 and his last posting was with the Australian Headquarters in New Guinea.

Also, on board the fated ship was Signalman Ronald Ernest Dwyer QX17983. Ronald was born in Brisbane on January 8, 1920 and at the time of his enlistment he was living in the Stanthorpe area. He enlisted in Brisbane on January 23, 1941 and his last posting was with the 1^st Australian Independent Company Signals.

Now we know the stories of two Southern Downs veterans Edward Joseph Butler and Ronald Ernest Dwyer and we will remember these two brave local men and acknowledge their sacrifice.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.