The report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the SYDNEY is an excellent, well balanced summary of the controversy. It's on the web at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jfadt/sydney/reportinx.htm Ric Pelvin > >Thank you. One of the books re the loss of the "Sydney" which I, >personally, >found to be the most credible was - "HMAS Sydney-Fact, Fantasy and Fraud" >by Barbara Winter. I guess the shock of losing "Sydney" was too enormous >to >contemplate unless there was some "skull duggery" involved. Winter's >research is in depth and supported by various records still available >today. >Where she states an "opinion" her backgrounding of the possible decisions, >including what may have pressured/prompted the decision maker is excellent. >In particular the reason why Capt. Joe Burnett may have approached too >closely and without any seeming suspicion that his opponent was the >"Kormoran". It is hard to accept but I believe "Sydney" was bested by a >better prepared, trained and experienced foe. > >Maurie > >The attitude of the IJN toward Hospital ships appears to be ambivalent. >They >sank the "Centaur" but illuminated the Hospital ship in Milne Bay and did >not fire on it. Perhaps all were not barbarians. > >Maurie >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Anthony Staunton" <anthony.staunton@pcug.org.au> >To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 11:37 AM >Subject: RE: [AUS-MIL] Montevideo Maru > > > > Maurie > > > > Do not worry - being picky is quite OK. > > > > Thank you, Maritime is more accurate. However, I was thinking in terms >of > > reports that gave the impression that the loss of HMAS Sydney was the > > greatest loss of Australian life at sea. > > > > Anthony > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Maurie [mailto:henery1@tpg.com.au] > > Sent: Saturday, 13 May 2006 11:15 AM > > To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [AUS-MIL] Hospital Ships > > > > Being picky here. "Montevideo Maru" was a Japanese vessel. ( uncertain >as >to > > whether or it was even IJN). The bulk of those Australian Service >personnel > > killed were Army. Therefore "Sydney" was the worst NAVAL disaster. > > "Montevideo Maru" may have been the worst MARITIME disaster involving >the > > loss of life for Australian Servic personnel. This does not make it the > > worst NAVAL disaster. > > > > Maurie > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Anthony Staunton" <anthony.staunton@pcug.org.au> > > To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 9:43 AM > > Subject: RE: [AUS-MIL] Hospital Ships > > > > > > > Mike > > > > > > You are probably correct. Jan may have been referring to Australian >POWs > > in > > > unmarked Japanese ships sunk by US submarines. > > > > > > On 1 July 1942 the Montevideo Maru was sunk with no survivors among >the > > 1200 > > > Australian soldiers and civilians captured at Rabaul. There were more > > > sinkings in 1944 but there were survivors picked up by US submarines. >One > > of > > > Don Wall's books was on the sinkings. The official history which is >online > > > mentions the ships. > > > See: http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/20/chapters/25.pdf > > > > > > Anthony Staunton > > > > > > PS You often see reference to the loss of HMAS Sydney as Australia's > > > greatest naval tragedy but that sad honour belongs to the Montevideo >Maru. > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Mike Boyd [mailto:mikejboyd@bigpond.com] > > > Sent: Saturday, 13 May 2006 8:33 AM > > > To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: Re: [AUS-MIL] Hospital Ships > > > > > > Jan > > > When was working in Rabul in the 1960's, it was said that a number of > > POW's > > > were put on ships to Japan and were never seen again. > > > > > > I can't recall what period this was in the War - 1943 or so I think >after > > > being told 40 years ago. So ships like this could have been sunk by >the > > > Allies without even knowing that there were POW's on board.. > > > > > > It was also said that a number of POW's were still buried in the >Tunnels > > in > > > Rabul. On my first day in Rabul, I was told do not go into the >tunnels >as > > > we do not have any maps of where they go. > > > > > > Mike Boyd > > > Brisbane > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Anthony Staunton" <anthony.staunton@pcug.org.au> > > > To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 9:27 PM > > > Subject: RE: [AUS-MIL] Hospital Ships > > > > > > > > > > Jan > > > > > > > > What are the allegations that the allies attacked Japanese hospital > > ships. > > > > > > > > It seems unlikely since Japan did not have ships that were > > internationally > > > > recognised as hospital ships along the lines of the Centaur. The >Centaur > > > > was > > > > painted white, had large red crosses on its sides, was illuminated >at > > > > night, > > > > carried casualties and medical supplies but no war material. > > > > > > > > I do not think that evacuation of casualties had a high priority in > > > > Japanese > > > > war plans. > > > > > > > > Anthony Staunton > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: Jan Thomas [mailto:jthomas4@bigpond.net.au] > > > > Sent: Friday, 12 May 2006 8:40 PM > > > > To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com > > > > Subject: [AUS-MIL] Hospital Ships > > > > > > > > Can anyone refer me to any factual information on the allegation >that > > > > the Allies attacked Japanese hospital ships during WW2? Any help > > > > much appreciated. > > > > > > > > Jan Thomas > > > > on the banks of the beautiful Hawkesbury River > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > > > RAAF Museum > > > http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/334 - Release Date: 8/05/06 > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > > AUS-MILITARY is set so that, by default, replies go to the list. Please > > check your replies before sending, to make sure that is what you know is > > happening. > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > > RAAF Museum > > http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/ > > > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/334 - Release Date: 8/05/06 > > > > > > >==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== >First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918 >http://www.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/index.html >

Russian Anzacs in Australian History. Military records, biography, genealogy. Personal web pages of one thousand Russian-born servicemen who served in the Australian Army during the First World war. Web page contain links to archival files and photographs. http://russiananzacs.narod.ru/ Yours, John Wilson