Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

S.S. MATUNGA  -  WW1

S.S. MATUNGA
FEARS FOR HER SAFETY.
NAVY OPFICE ANNOUNCEMENT.
The following statement has been issued by the Navy Office concerning the S.S. Matunga, which has for years been engaged in the trade between Australia and Papua, being well known at ports on the eastern coast of the continent:
'The Navy Office announces that there is cause for grave anxiety as to the fate of the steamer Matunga (Messrs. Barns, Philip, and Co.). which left Sydney on 27th July, and Brisbane on 30th July, for Rabaul direct. The Matunga was last heard of on 5th August, when about 5 p.m. on that day she reported by wireless that she expected to arrive at Rabaul about 2 a.m. on 7th August. Since that message was received, nothing whatever has been heard of or from the Matunga. She was believed to be off Woodlark Island at that time. When the vessel became overdue arrangements were at once made to organise a search for her, and the Morinda, another of Messrs. Burnes, Philp's vessels, and several smaller craft are now scouring the locality, unfortunately up to the present without success. No traces of any kind have been found.
"The. Matunga was on her usual trip to New Guinea, and so far as is known the weather was fine. From the meagre information available it is not at present possible to give any opinion as to what may have happened to the vessel, but the gravest fears are entertained."
The Matunga is a steel screw steamer of 1,618 tons gross, and was built at Glasgow in 1900 by Napier and Miller Ltd. for Messrs. Burns. Philp, and Co.'s island trade. She is 273ft. in length, 37ft. beam, and has a draught of 17ft. Her engines are of 273 h.p., and she is classed 100 A1 at Lloyd's. The vessel is fitted with wire-less.