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| Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. Motor Schooner 341 Tons 132' x 26'1" x 9'4"  AWM prewar |
Ship History Built by Taikoo D & E Company in Hong Kong in 1938. This vessel was a steel hull single screw motorship powered by a single diesel engine of 46 nhp. Purchased by Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. and named MV Lakatoi and designated an Australian Motor Schooner. Wartime History During late January 1942 when the Japanese occupied Rabaul and Kavieng, MV Lakatoi was in Witu Islands. With the Japanese invasion, a white flag was raised to surrender the vessel. Instead, commandeered by the Australian administration. During April 1942, MV Lakatoi motored to the north coast of New Britain to evacuate Australians that had fled Rabaul. Aboard was Gladys Baker owner of the Witu plantation, Gladys Baker who served as a nurse during the voyage. This vessel successfully evacuated 212 Australians and two women. Those evacuated included Keith McCarthy, Frank Holland and Robinson who survived the Tol Massacre on February 4, 1942 and walked to the north coast. The vessel managed to escape steaming via the Trobriand Islands before arriving on March 28, 1942 at Cairns. Afterwards, this vessel was commandeered by the U.S. Army for use as a small ship transport. Sinking History On September 7, 1943 while en route from Sydney bound for Nouméa Harbor, sunk off New Caledonia. References New Guinea Engineer page 224 Flotilla Australia - MV Lakatoi PNGAA - Senior Inspector David Crawley, MBE, Bandmaster, RPNGC Band: Doreen MacGowan (neé Crawley) Merchant Ships of Australia in World War II - Burns, Philp & Company Limited "Lakatoi , (b.1938 gt.341 svce.1938-1943) was presumed sunk, with the loss of twenty-three personnel" Contribute
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