Department of Defence that the identification markings and lights be removed from AHS Manunda, weapons be installed, and that she begin to sail blacked out and under escort. The conversion was performed, although efforts by the Department of the Navy, the Admiralty, and authorities in New Zealand and the United States of America caused the completed conversion to be undone. The cost of the roundabout work came to £12,500, and kept Manunda out of service for three months. On 9 June 1943, communications between the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the subject of hospital ships contained a section referring to the Manunda incident as a response to the attack on Centaur, with the conclusion that the attack was the work of an irresponsible Japanese commander, and that it would be better to wait until further attacks had been made before considering the removal of hospital ship markings. Manundas final wartime voyage was to New Zealand transporting civilian passengers. During the war she carried approximately 30,000 casualties to safety. After the Japanese surrender, Manunda was despatched to Singapore to repatriate ex-POWs and civilian internees who had been imprisoned in Changi Prison. She also sailed to Labuan in Borneo to pick up ex-POWs and civilian internees from Batu Lintang camp. Postwar career Manunda was decommissioned in September 1946 and refitted. She returned to service on 2 April 1948, transporting passengers around the Australian coast. In September 1956 she was withdrawn from service and sold to the Japanese Okadagumi Line, who renamed the vessel Hakone Maru. The company's plans for the ship did not eventuate, and she was broken up the next year in Japan, arriving in Osaka for scrapping on 18 June 1957. Legacy In 1973 the suburb of Manunda in Cairns was named after the ship. In 1975 the neighbouring suburb of Manoora was named after its sister ship. References Further reading John L Forrest "Clara Shumack, AHS Manunda, and other times and places" limited edition 2013 External links AHS Manunda, Australian Merchant Navy website 2/1 HMAHS Manunda, Peter Dunn's "Australia @ War" website history and photo of ward HMAS Manunda History, far-eastern-heroes.org.uk Wartime wedding aboard Manunda, far-eastern-heroes.org.uk Manunda's ship's menu from Thursday 16 July 1953: Menu; Wine list, State Library of South Australia Silver dinner bell from MV Manunda, Australian War Memorial 1928 ships Ships built on the River Clyde Maritime history of Australia Hospital ships of the Australian Army