Location
Lat 3° 43' 0S Long 128° 11' 60E  Known as "Amboyna" by the Japanese.

History
The island was one of the Portuguese settlements founded in 1521, taken over by the Dutch in 1605, alternating between British and Dutch administration, until in 1814 restored to the Dutch. Occupied by the Japanese on January 30, 1942.

Japanese Air Raids
The last remaining Dutch fighters were shot down on 15 January. On the 16 January in a daylight raid some of the Hudsons were destroyed plus ground casualties inflicted. On the day of the Japanese landing at Kendari, 24 January, the carriers Soryu and Hiryu attacked Ambon with thirty-five aircraft. Two other carriers, Shokaku and Zuikaku, of the carrier Fleet were supporting the assault on Rabual. The last few remaining serviceable Hudsons evacuated after 28 January, soon no air or naval support would remain for the defense of Ambon.

Japanese Landings
During the night of January 30, 1941, two Japanese forces were landed: Navy SNLF (marines) at Hitu-Iama and by an Army Regiment on the southern coast at Laitimor. The defenders were at a disadvantage to contest the landings, as only a few Dutch detachments were in the area. At Hitu-Iama on the north coast the defenders were quickly overwhelmed. Other landings occurred around Hutumori, here the Japanese split westward to the town, and northward to Paso using captured Ambonese compelled to act as guides. By February 2, the defenders had been pushed down upon the coastline of the bay with Japanese naval ships and seaplanes machine-gunning the roads and it became apparent that officers and men were exhausted from continual fighting. On the morning of February 3, the Japanese occupied Laha and Scott concluded that if he stayed in this position he would be bombed and strafed, he therefore dispatched the battalion medical officer, Captain Aitken, to obtain terms of surrender with the enemy.

Paso
Principal Dutch defensive fortifications were located here.

Ambon War Cemetery
Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00 by appointment. Commonwealth Cemetery at Ambon and memorial. The cemetery contains Australian soldiers who died during the Japanese invasion of Ambon and Timor, plus those who died in captivity in one of the many camps constructed by the Japanese on the Moluccas Islands, including many British prisoners who were transferred from Java to the islands in April 1943. Soon after the war, the remains of prisoners of war from Haruku and other camps on the island were removed to Ambon and in 1961, at the request of the Indonesian Government, the remains of 503 graves in Makassar War Cemetery on the island of Celebes were added to the cemetery. The total number of graves in the cemetery is over 2,000. Of this total over half are Australians, of whom about 350 belonged to the 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion. Most of the 800 British casualties belonged to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force; nearly all the naval dead were originally buried at Makassar.

Bennet
Battery of guns operated by Dutch permanent artillerymen and was emplaced in concrete with accommodation, underground telephone system that ranged the Bay of Ambon and Laha airfield.

Sirimau
WWII era circular concrete pillboxes and trenches remain to this day.

Halong
Locate to the northeast of Ambon, on the nothern side of Ambon Bay.

Liang
Located on the coast along Ambon Bay. Prewar airfield at this location

Laha
Located on the coast along Ambon Bay. Prewar airfield at this location

PBY-5 Catalina Bureau Number 2309 Number 16
Shot down February 15, 1942 over Ambon by Japanese fighters

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Last Updated
December 28, 2011