SS Induna Star
From Our Contribution
Photo John Oxley Library, Queensland accessed 1 Dec 2022 | |
History | |
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Name | SS Induna Star |
Owner | Rondahl, Kolopo |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 81 tons |
Remarks
Little is available about the boat itself other than its role in an escape attempt by Australian soldiers on the island of New Ireland.
On 2 Feb 1942 they were attempting to escape from a larger Japanese force aboard the SS Indura Star and were sighted by a Japanese plane which subsequently attacked, causing considerable damage to the vessel as well as destroying one of its lifeboats and causing a number of casualties. Stanley Curtis was one who subsequently died fro the injuries received. For those that survived the strafing, The Induna Star had begun taking on water and as a result the men were forced to surrender. Under escort by a Japanese aircraft and then later a destroyer, they were instructed to sail to Rabaul where they became prisoners of war. Those who survived were later to drown when the Montevideo Maru was sunk while carrying a thousand POWs to Japan. None survived.
Soldiers carried
- † Stanley Gordon Curtis WIA while aboard the sloop attmapting to escape from Japanesae forces on New Ireland.