100 remember Centaur

By LCDR Mick Gallagher
Nursing officers from HMAS Penguin attended a memorial service at Concord Hospital to remember the sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship AHS Centaur.

Centaur was hit by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-117 off the southern Qld coast, on May 14, 1943 with the loss of 268. Only 64 survived.

Of the 12 nursing sisters on board only Sister Ellen Savage survived.

LEUTs John Kennedy and Tracy Holland from HMAS Penguin along with some 100 members and friends of the 2/3 AHS Centaur Association filled the hospital chapel for the service.

Heavy Sydney rain prevented the service being held on the front lawn of the hospital.

“We pay tribute to all nurses and other medical and support staff, acknowledging the significance of their service and sacrifice,” said Reverend Paul Weaver the Anglican Chaplain of Concord Hospital.

“Today we also gather to rededicate the plaque which records the names of those whose lives were lost in the sinking of the Centaur.”

Journalist Tony Stephens of the Sydney Morning Herald, whose father died in the Centaur, gave the address.
“The sinking may have been a reprisal for a Japanese hospital ship which was sunk by the Americans near Rabaul a month earlier, “ he said.

He reminded the attendees that the Centaur took on survivors from the German raider Kormoran when HMAS Sydney was lost off the West Australian coast on November 19 1941.

“We remember them as life savers - not life takers.”

Also in attendance was Centaur survivor George McGrath who assisted with the rededication of the plaque.

Wreath layers included Keith Hall NSW State President RSL, Angelo Tserakis Mayor of Canada Bay Council, Matthew Daley Executive Director Concord Hospital, Peter Harris Walker Merchant Navy Fraternity, Peter Langlois Maritime Union of Australia, and Laurie Hindmarsh of the Centaur Association.

The wreaths were later placed at the stained glass Centaur Memorial Window at the entrance to the hospital foyer.

Pipe Major Bill Campbell of the 2/17 Battalion RNSW Regiment played the Lament with bugler Angelique Wynyard, NSW Corrective Services Band, sounding the Last Post and Reveille.

.