The handing over of TSS ORANJE II, 1941

On 28 June 1941, after a refitting at Cockatoo dock, a ceremony was conducted to mark the official handing over of TSS ORANJE II from the Dutch Netherlands Indies Government to the Australian and New Zealand Governments, to be used as a hospital ship.

Australia's prime minister, Robert Gordon Menzies, made a speech, commending the actions of the Dutch Government saying, 'The ship will be a daily reminder of the neighbourliness existing between the Dutch Indies and Australia' ('The Sydney Morning Herald', 30 June 1941, p. 10). The 'Morning Bulletin' also reported that Menzies described the generous actions of the Dutch Government as 'a piece of practical and unselfish help.' Major-General Hein ter Poorten was the Dutch representative and described the vessel as 'the most beautiful and most modern Netherlands mail steamer'.

The Royal Netherlands Indies Army placed a unit of its army medical service on board ORANJE. The medical staff was also composed of Australian and New Zealand doctors and nurses.