Siblings Bill and Beryl were lost to each other for nearly 80 years. The discovery of a WWII shipwreck changed that

When the sunken wreck of a ship torpedoed by the Japanese 80 years ago was found in Bass Strait, not only did it give Bill Stewart comfort in knowing his dad’s final resting place — it would lead to an emotional reunion with his long-lost sister.

Key points:

Mr Stewart and Beryl Johnson became orphans when their father died onboard SS Iron Crown after it was attacked about 100 kilometres off Victoria’s south coast in June 1942.

Frank Stewart, 64, was among the 38 people who died.

“It was a shock, I now had no father and no mother. I was 11 years old then,” Bill Stewart said.

As their mother had died years earlier, Bill and his sister Beryl were both sent to an orphanage while their father was at sea.

But when they both became orphans, Mr Stewart was sent to a Boys Home in Adelaide and his sister was adopted, due to a belief at the time that adoptees needed a “clean break” from any remaining relatives.

World War II ore freighter SS Iron Crown was sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1942.(Supplied: South Australian Maritime Museum)

Mr Stewart, now 91 years old, still gets visibly upset when he recalls the day he had to say goodbye to his sister.

“The two of us put our arms around each other and cried our eyes out. I was told to leave the room and I never saw Beryl again.”

Mr Stewart ended up moving to Sydney and started a life there, while Ms Johnson remained in Adelaide.

But neither sibling ever gave up hope of one day being reunited.

“The two of us were looking for one another but didn’t get any help from the orphanage,” Mr Stewart said.

“I would go back to Adelaide every year and look for Beryl.”

Ms Johnson said she struggled too.

“I couldn’t find any details of Bill’s whereabouts or where he’d gone, I tried for years,” she said.

“I gave up and started thinking perhaps he’s dead, but in my mind, I always thought one day we would find one another.”

Memorial event the turning point Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 4 minutes 20 seconds4m 20s CSIRO vision of the submerged Iron Crown

The turning point came when the wreck of SS Iron Crown was found by Hobart-based CSIRO research vessel Investigator in April 2019, and a memorial was held for the descendants of those who died on board.

“More than 50 descendants of Iron Crown’s crew gathered for the memorial event at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on Merchant Navy Day,” said Emily Jateff, from the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Mr Stewart was put in touch with Kylie Watson, a distant relative who had attended the memorial, who also happened to be an amateur researcher for people looking for missing family members.

After nearly 80 years apart, Beryl and Bill now talk every morning over the phone.(Supplied)

She immediately began searching for Ms Johnson, and even dug up old newspaper clippings to get an idea of where she might live.

When all the evidence pointed to Adelaide, they contacted local newspapers and put in a notice for anyone who knew the whereabouts of Beryl Johnson, formerly Beryl Stewart, to come forward.

“That same Sunday, my granddaughter told me she had wonderful news regarding Beryl — that she was alive, and was going to call me in 10 minutes,” Mr Stewart said.

“I cried when I heard Billy was alive,” Ms Johnson said.

“It was an unbelievable voice that I never thought I would hear again.

“I’ve regained my life now, which used to be full of longing and wanting.”

Bill and Beryl now call each other every day.(Supplied) ‘This isn’t usually what happens when you find a shipwreck’

The pair have spoken every day since they were reunited last year when Mr Stewart travelled to Adelaide.

“I couldn’t get into Bill’s arms quick enough, we just hugged one another, and we couldn’t let each other go,” Ms Johnson said.

“I love him dearly, and it’s been a miracle as far as I’m concerned that we found one another after nearly 80 years.”

They both say their reunion has given their life a whole new meaning.

Ms Jateff said it was an “amazing” resolution.(ABC News: Gemma Hall)

“This isn’t what usually happens when you find a shipwreck, but I’m very glad it did,” Ms Jateff said.

“It’s amazing that all the pieces were in place to create a situation where Bill and Beryl could find each other again”.

Both Mr Stewart and Ms Johnson said they would continue calling one another at 8am every day, and plan to spend Christmas together surrounded by their family.

“I hope we can continue to love one another, and be there for one another as long as we can be,” Ms Johnson said.

“Now that Bill is back in my life, I just don’t want it to ever end.”

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Posted 7h ago7 hours agoTue 12 Jul 2022 at 7:29pm, updated 14m ago14 minutes agoWed 13 Jul 2022 at 2:45am