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SS Wollongbar II Second World War Honour Roll, Port Macquarie

SS Wollongbar II Second World War Honour Roll, Port Macquarie
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SS Wollongbar II Second World War Honour Roll
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SS Wollongbar II Second World War Honour Roll
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Description / Background

The memorial is an honour roll dedicated to the merchant seamen who served aboard the coastal freighter SS Wollongbar II, which was torpedoed on 29 April 1943 by a Japanese submarine off Crescent Head on the NSW Mid North Coast.

The polished timber honour board is topped with a carved pediment and features a blue painted scroll with the vessel's name painted in gold. The dedication is printed in gold with the Captain's name written below in gold and blue shadow lettering. The names of 36 merchant seamen are listed alphabetically in two columns, with an asterisk indicating the five survivors of the torpedoing. The memorial was designed by John Barrett and manufactured in 1994 by Hamilton Honour Boards, Sydney. A small metal plaque is positioned at the bottom of the honour roll detailing the memorial's commissioning and manufacturing. 

A detailed history entitled The sinking of the Wollongbar II is published on the Anzac Portal on the Department of Veterans' Affairs website, which chronicles the merchant ships and the North Coast Navigation (NCSN) steamer Wollongbar II, including details of its sinking and the rescue of the five men who survived.    

In 2019, archaeologists from Heritage NSW found the wreck off Crescent Head, following the discovery of wreckage by a local fisherman. On 30 April 2022, Emma Siossian and Cameron Marshall of ABC Mid North Coast posted a story entitled: SS Wollongbar II mariners remembered at wreck site 79 years after Japanese torpedo attack. After a series of COVID-related delays an official memorial service was held at sea on April 2022 at the wreck site.

The honour roll is on display in the Mid Coast Maritime Museum and is available for viewing when the museum is open to the public.

Inscription

Honour Roll

29th April 1943
S.S. Wollongbar II
Dedicated to the merchant seamen
who served aboard S.S. Wollongbar which was torpedoed
by a Japanese submarine off Crescent Head

Captain... C.T. Benson

[Names]
* Survivors

John Barrett

Plaque

Manufactured exclusively for
Port Macquarie Trophies 065 835 611
by Hamilton Honour Boards 1994

Veterans listed on this memorial

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more
W Anderson Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
Able Seaman G Archibald Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
Able Seaman H E Barton Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
Captain Captain C T Benson Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
B Blinkhorn Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
R Brown Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
Able Seaman O V Carlson Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
Able Seaman N F Croxford Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
Chief Stoker J Dalton Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view
K J Durie Second World War, 1939–45 South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945 view

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Address
Mid North Coast Maritime Museum
6 William Street
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Local Government Area
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Setting
Building – inside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Board/roll/plaque/tablet
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
1994
Conflict/s
Second World War, 1939–45
Materials
Timber