Young N. Guinea Officer Murdered

By Police Boy

A.D.O. McDonald Fatally Shot While Asleep

ATTACKED by a demented police boy, Edward Colin McDonald, A.D.O., at Ambunti, New Guinea, was shot dead while asleep, at dawn on February 27, during an exploring trip into unknown regions near the Papuan border. The frantic native, who had “run amok,” was overpowered while attempting suicide and was found to be suffering from severe concussion.

Assistant District-Officer McDonald, the second son of the Mayor of Geelong (Councillor E. A. McDonald), was 29 years of age, and unmarried. He had been in the service of the New Guinea Administration for 11 years.

Educated at Geelong High School and the Melbourne University, Mr. McDonald was one of the first two cadets chosen from hundreds of applicants throughout the Commonwealth for appointment to the New Guinea Service. After a 12 months’ course at Sydney University, he qualified in anthropology and law, and then commenced service in the Territory.

He was appointed A.D.O. in 1933, being stationed at Ambunti, a small Government outpost about 250 miles up the Sepik River.

In 1932 while a patrol officer, Mr.

McDonald had a narrow escape from death at the hands of hostile natives. A recruiter named Exton had been clubbed to death in uncontrolled country, and Colin McDonald was sent out to arrest the murderers. His party was ambushed, and it was only after a sharp fight that the police party escaped with their lives.

McDonald arrested nine natives, seven of whom were later sentenced to death for murder.

When on furlough a few years ago, Mr.

McDonald qualified as an air pilot. In 1933 he made a world tour, spending some time in Great Britain and on the Con tinent.

Last Letter To Parents

The last news obtained by his parents in Geelong from Mr. McDonald was received quite recently in a letter dated December 31. At that time he was operating from a base on the Sepik, three days inland by canoe from Angoram. Mr.

McDonald expected to travel further up the Sepik, and then hit across the mountainous country and reach a lake, 9000 ft. above sea level, which is believed to lie in that area.

He described the big trip ahead and endeavoured to dispel fears of possible danger by light-heartedly commenting, “Anyway, I’m getting too old to look for trouble, so I am avoiding it this time.”

“This may possibly be the last letter you will receive for a long time,” he

wrote, “as I am going away for three months into country which has never previously been explored by Europeans.

“I expect to be away for three months, but don’t worry. I am taking a young cadet with me and a party of police boys.

It will be good experience of the bush life for the cadet.”

The natives of the area between Sepik River and the Papuan border were, he said, reported to be rather friendly to Europeans. “So,” he added, “there will be no trouble with them.”