Bluejackets’ Graves
pp. 41-42 · Read in the full issue
Wanted, A Brass
Plate!
Navy League Does Not Mark Bluejackets’ Graves
IN 1880, a number of naval men were murdered by natives on Mandoliana Island, near the present town of Tulagi, in the Solomons. They were buried at the scene of the tragedy.
Fifty years afterwards, Mr. M. Harper, formerly of the Australian Navy, became lessee of Mandoliana; he was interested in the 1880 tragedy, and finally located the unmarked graves.
Mr. Harper asked for the names of the murdered men; and the P.I.M., with the assistance of the Australian Naval authorities, obtained the names and other details, from London.
Then Mr. Harper decided that, at his own expense, he would place a concrete slab over the graves, and he inquired whether the Navy League would supply him with a suitable brass plate, bearing the names of the men, to be embedded in the concrete.
We wrote to the Navy League of Aus
tralia, passing on the request, explaining the reason for it, and formally applying for a brass plate.
The Navy League was not helpful and refused to take any interest in the matter.
It had no funds for such a purpose. We were left to wonder what a Navy League is for, anyway. Apparently, another or ganisation for the glorification of super annuated old gentlemen.
So then we compiled another explana tion, and made formal application to the Navy Office, Australian Department of Defence, for a brass plate.
The Navy Office “regretted that it was unable to comply with the request,” and suggested that we apply to the Admiralty, Whitehall, London. Which we now pro pose to do.
It is an extraordinary thing that, with all these naval organisations functioning, mere civilians like Mr. Harper and the editor of the P.I.M. should have to fuss and fret in order to arrange so simple a thing as the marking of the graves of bluejackets wfio were killed while on duty.
Rev. J. W. P. Gillan, Principal of the Teachers’ Training College, Tangoa, New Hebrides, who is in Victoria on holidays, was relieving the Presbyterian Minister at Beechmet, Melbourne, in February. He will return to the Condominium in May next.