Strong to save
The Melbourne Staff Band plays during the Australian War Memorial ceremony to mark 70 years since the sinking of the Montevideo Maru. (Photo courtesy of Scott Lingard)
The Melbourne Staff Band premiered a new composition to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the WWII sinking of the Montevideo Maru, at remembrance events in Canberra on the weekend.
Strong To Save was written by composer, Roger Trigg, whose grandfather, Wilfred Trigg, died when US forces sank the Japanese prisoner of war ship, the Montevideo Maru, in 1942 off the Philippines coast. 1053 Australians died, including the 2/22nd Battalion Band – all but two ofwhom were members of The Salvation Army.
“When the Melbourne Staff Band played the new composition, Strong to Save, with a historical audio-visual display it was quite a moving moment,”remembers Tuggeranong Music and Creative Arts Coordinator, Scott Lingard.
The Melbourne Staff Band played at a number of ceremonies over the weekend, including a Montevideo Maru society luncheon that was attended by 600 people and hosted by Australian television personality, Ray Martin. They also gave a free outdoor concert in the heart of Canberra on Saturday and played to packed houses on Saturday night at Canberra Girls Grammar School and Sunday night at Tuggeranong Salvation Army.
But the highlight of the weekend was the official 70th Anniversary commemorations at the Australian War Memorial – attended by the Governor General and other dignitaries. There was more than 1,000 people in attendance, including Salvationists and other family members whose relatives perished when the Montivideo Maru went down.
“The Melbourne Staff Band played a recital within the commemorative area in the War Memorial, right outside the tomb of the unknown solider,” says Scott Lingard, “and then they took part in the dedication ceremony for the memorial which was a very moving time.”
During the ceremony the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru memorial was unveiled – a 3.5 metre high sculpture that was designed to commemorate Australians who died in the defence of Rabaul, and those who later died on the Japanese prisoner of war ship the Montevideo Maru.
“It was a really significant time for The Salvation Army to be involved in such an historic occasion at the War Memorial and the Melbourne Staff Band were well supported through the weekend as they ministered to the people of Canberra,” says Scott Lingard.
Further photos of the event can be found at: http://salvos.org.au/tuggeranong/photos/
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