Tanimbar Islands

The largest and most central of the islands is Yamdena; others include Selaru to the southwest of Yamdena, Larat and Fordata to the northeast, Maru and Molu to the north, and Seira, Wuliaru, Selu, Wotap and Makasar to the west.

During World War II the Dutch sent a detachment of 13 soldiers led by KNIL sergeant Julius Tahija to the town of Saumlaki in the Tanimbar Islands in July 1942.

Japanese ships entered the bay at Saumlaki on 30 July and small boats were used to get to the jetty.

The Japanese filed in ranks on the jetty and wanted to march in close order into Saumlaki.

Subsequent enemy landings, however, were made elsewhere while the Japanese ships opened fire on the defenders’ position.

On 31 July, a vessel carrying an Australian Army contingent arrived at the jetty at Saumlaki, unaware that the town had fallen to the Japanese.

[6] Important products are copra, tortoiseshell, and trepang (an edible sea cucumber).