Finding the Montevideo Maru

The Montevideo Maru, discovered off the coast of the Philippines last year, sank with about 1053 Australian troops and civilians on board – almost twice as many Australians killed than during the Vietnam War.

Few Australians have heard of the Montevideo Maru as our history has largely fallen silent on its existence. 

In April 2023, the Montevideo Maru was finally located 4000m on the bottom of the South China Sea.  Andrea Williams was on board the search vessel when the wreck was discovered. 

Andrea lost both her grandfather and her great-uncle in the disaster – both civilian internees. As a founding member of the ‘Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society’, she has worked on behalf of all descendants of those who lost their lives on this vessel for greater recognition of the event.