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SS Esperance Bay

In October 1945, the troopship SS Esperance Bay departed Australia carrying over 1,400 striking Indonesian seamen and soldiers back to their homeland during the early days of the Indonesian National Revolution. 

Newspaper article

Emotional scenes as Indonesians leave for home on the Esperance

Indonesian dockworkers and seamen who worked in Australia during the war embark on the Esperance Bay to be taken to Java.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/from-the-archives-1945-emotional-scenes-as-indonesians-leave-for-home-20201005-p5625g.html
Newspaper article

Esperance Bay leaves Brisbane

Esperance Bay leaves Brisbane with >1400 Indonesians destined for Java at the end of the war.

1945 '1416 SAILED IN ESPERANCE BAY', The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), 17 octobre, p. 1. , viewed 02 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50272444
Newspaper article

Trouble On Esperance Bay Explained

Indonesians aboard Esperance Bay protested when 40 potential leaders were compelled to disembark in Timor rather than Java.

1945 'Trouble On Esperance Bay Explained', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 6 novembre, p. 3. , viewed 02 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27920168
Newspaper article

Esperance Bay Enquiry Urged

Faddin demands that Chifley open an inquiry into a mutiny on the Esperance Bay

1945 'Esperance Bay Enquiry Urged', The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), 6 novembre, p. 3. (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS), viewed 01 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188751565
Newspaper article

The Esperance Bay Mutiny - allegations of smuggled arms

Allegations by Daily Mail correspondent that Indonesians smuggled arms on board Esperance Bay.

1945 'THE ESPERANCE BAY MUTINY.', The Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914 - 1954), 6 novembre, p. 2. , viewed 01 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119372712
Newspaper article

Esperance Bay 'Double Cross'

Esperance Bay docks at Timor as Mountbatten is unable to ensure safe conduct in Java for 40 activist Indonesians on board despite assurances from Australian government.

1945 'Esperance Bay ‘Double Cross’', Tribune (Sydney, NSW : 1939 - 1991), 6 novembre, p. 8. , viewed 02 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208696299
Newspaper article

Esperance Bay Story Denied

Calwell denies that the Indonesians protest on the Esperance Bay was a mutiny - no lives were in danger.

1945 'ESPERANCE BAY STORY DENIED', The Evening Advocate (Innisfail, Qld. : 1941 - 1954), 6 novembre, p. 1. , viewed 01 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212283731
Newspaper article

NO MUTINY ON ESPERANCE BAY

K. Plumb, government minister who travelled on Esperance Bay, denies that a mutiny took place at Timor.

1945 'NO MUTINY ON ESPERANCE BAY', Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), 9 novembre, p. 1. (Edition 2), viewed 02 juin 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69098489