The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX98260) Private William Eric Burrett, Ships Staff Centaur AAMC, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (NX98260) Private William Eric Burrett, Ships Staff Centaur AAMC, Second World War.

NX98260 Private William Eric Burrett, Ships Staff Centaur AAMC
KIA 14 May 1943

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Eric Burrett.

William Burrett was born in Moree, New South Wales, on 6 June 1922, the son of Lancelot and Muriel Burrett.
William’s mother died when he was just two years old. His father later remarried, and William grew up in a large family. He went on to study accountancy and lived in Parramatta, where he worked as a stores clerk.

He also served in the Militia, parading part-time with the 21st Field Regiment.

William Burrett enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 23 September 1942. Allotted to the Australian Army Medical Corps, he marched out to join AHS Oranje, a Dutch-registered vessel that had been completed in 1939. While Oranje was on her maiden voyage to Jakarta, the Second World War was declared; and by the time she reached her destination, the Netherlands had been occupied by Nazi Germany. Oranje's captain was ordered to Sydney, where the ship was presented ship to Australian authorities and converted into a hospital ship.

A few months later, Burrett was admitted to ship’s hospital with an ear infection. After treatment, in late October Burrett returned to duty on the Oranje. In March 1943, Burrett transferred to the hospital ship Centaur, a British-registered ship with an Australian crew. Centaur had just been converted to a hospital ship, and was headed for Port Moresby to collect injured Australian soldiers. With a crew of 75 merchant seamen and members of the 2/12th Field Ambulance unit, Centaur was also carrying medical staff from the Royal Australian Army, nurses from the Australian Army Nursing Service, and Australian Army Service Corps ambulance drivers.

In the early hours of 14 May 1943 the Centaur was north-east of Brisbane. The ship was well-lit and clearly marked as a hospital ship, with red crosses and green lines painted on the hull, red crosses on the funnel and side, and the Red Cross number that clearly identified her as a hospital ship.

At approximately 4 am, Centaur was attacked by a Japanese submarine.

The ship sank in less than three minutes. Of the 332 people aboard, there were only 64 survivors. It was 13 hours before the survivors were rescued by USS Mugford.

Among the dead was Private William Burrett, who was 20 years old.

The sinking of the Centaur was regarded as an atrocity. The Australian Government delivered an official protest to Japan over the incident.

Burrett’s picture appeared in the Sun newspaper, along with a report that he had “told his relatives when the vessel was last in port, that he had arranged with the chef to make a cake for his birthday party”. The Minister for the Navy pointed to the sinking of the Centaur as evidence that a well-organised spy ring was operating in Australia.

With no grave but the sea, today William Burrett is commemorated at the Sydney Memorial in Rookwood Cemetery.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among almost 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private William Eric Burrett, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section