SS Bontekoe
From Our Contribution
 Postcard | |
 SS Bontekoe in Port Moresby Harbour | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | SS Bontekoe |
| Owner | Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij. (KPM) |
| Launched | 1922 |
| Completed | 1922 |
| In service | 1922 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger / cargo |
| Tonnage | 5,033 tons |
| Speed | 11.5 knots |
Remarks
SS Bontekoe was one of a fleet of Dutch ships owned by KPM carrying trade from the Dutch East Indies to Holland. When the Japanese began advancing on Singapore, and what are now the islands of Indonesia, SS Bontekoe was one of 21 Dutch ships carrying refugees that limped to Australia in early 1942. Here under a complex agreement involving the Dutch Government in exile, Great Britain and the United States they were contracted to carry troops and stores between Australia and the South West Pacific Area of operations. Another group of 5 or 6 Dutch ships joined later in the year.
Bontekoe made a large number of voyages carying men and equipment between northern Australian and New Guine ports, including moving artillery from Port Moresby to Milne Bay to participate in the battle there.
An example of the ship's work was that on 12 Apr 1945 SS Bontekoe arrived at Merauke in Dutch New Guinea where it loaded the 120th (NEI) Squadron RAAF. On the 17th the squadron arrived at its interim destination, Darwin. Following a short stay, on the 21st the squadron personnel again departed on the Bontekoe, this time with company in the form of 79 Wing HQ, 28 Repair & Salvage Unit, 83 Operational Base Unit, 27 Medical Clearing Station and No. 18 (NEI) Sqn RAAF. After roughly two weeks at sea, with several stops along the way, No. 120 Squadron arrived at Jaquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. Here they received orders for a further move, this time to the Island of Biak located off the North coast of New Guinea. 120 Squadron again embarked on the Bontekoe and after a short voyage arrived at Biak in the early moring of 17 May 1945.
Soldiers carried
Sydney to Lae, New Guinea 23 August to 1 September 1945
The ship sailed from Sydney at 5:28am on 24 August, and arrived at Lae at 10:35pm on 31 Aug 1945.