Rabaul Eruption

Overlooked!

Men Who Helped During The Rabaul Eruption

“T REGRET that little or no credit has X been given to the people who played such notable parts in the rescue work during the eruption at Rabaul in May, 1937”, said Sir Charles Marr in the Aus tralian Parliament on September 23.

“One person who was overlooked by the Minister in this respect was Bishop Ves ters of Vunapope. The Administrator was the first person to be recognised for the work that was done, but he was not even at Rabaul when the volcano erupted.

“The captain of an American freighter that was alongside the wharf has never even received a letter of thanks for his valuable work. He manoeuvred his ves sel in the darkness, and moved hundreds of people from the danger zone.

“The junior officers of the service who did meritorious work have also been over looked. There has been no recognition of the services of the man who sat by the telephone and kept the town in com munication with other parts. Nor has there been any recognition of the man who took over the wireless and sent messages to the outside world when the wireless operator met his death.

“These men are deserving of more than thanks and the Minister will do himself credit if he obtains a report written by the men on the spot instead of content ing himself with a cold-blooded official document. Judge Phillips is one man who could furnish such a report”.