Signing of surrender of Ocean Island on HMAS Diamantina

At 0900 hours 1 October 1945, Lieutenant Commander Nahoomi Suzuki and party boarded HMAS Diamantina lying off shore, to surrender the Ocean Island to 2950028 (NX49) Brigadier John Rowlstone Stevenson DSO, Commander 11 Brigade. At 1530 hours Sir Albert Ellis, discoverer of phosphate on the island, was present in this occasion as he had been at the previous ceremony some forty four years ago. SX13471 Lieutenant (Lt) Geoffrey Richard Mainwaring, Official War Artist, sketching the surrender. 26405 Flying Officer Leonrad Stanley Marquis, Official interpreter, reading surrender terms. Lieutenant Commander Maurice George Rose, Brigadier Stevenson and Lt Lording on a tour of inspection. QX34609 (Q32776) Lt Lennard Rigby, Guard Commander, 31/51 Australian Infantry Battalion saluting. Former residents of Ocean Island, left to right: NX118320 Captain C H Thompson, 19 Field Ambulance; Major Rupert Stanley Bastin; Mr G N Bridges; Sir Albert Ellis; Brigadier Stevenson; Mr W V Bott; Lt Geoffrey Harcourt Lording, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR).