HEROES OF THE CENTAUR
The sinking of the hospital ship Centaur stands as one of Australia’s most devastating wartime tragedies, claiming 268 lives on a mission of mercy. But from its ashes rose extraordinary heroism that united a nation under siege by Japanese forces, which had already seen submarine attacks on Sydney and Newcastle, and aerial bombing raids on Darwin, Townsville, Broome, and other Australian targets.
On 14 May 1943, the Centaur, lit brightly and marked with red crosses under the Hague Convention, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off Brisbane’s coast. The ship sank in just three minutes, plunging to a watery grave 2000 meters below. Many perished instantly, but among the survivors was nurse Ellen Savage, the only woman to emerge alive from the carnage. Despite horrific injuries, she spent 34 agonising hours in shark-infested waters, tending to the wounded and defying the odds until rescuers arrived.
Prime Minister John Curtin condemned the attack as ‘barbarous’, and avenging it became a powerful rallying cry for Australian forces. Ellen Savage’s courage earned her the George Medal, and decades later, the discovery of the Centaur’s wreckage brought closure to a story of resilience and sacrifice. This extraordinary story of survival, courage and heroism remains one of the most inspiring chapters in Australia’s history.
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