We Of Buka

Women in the New Guinea Evacuation

Written for the “PIM” by Nurse Alice Menzies, of the Catholic Mission Hospital, For or an, Buka, TNG.

THERE is no fence or hedge round Time that has gone. One can go back and have of it what you like, if you remember it well enough. But we people of Buka, though our memories are vivid, would not wish again to go through the ordeal of evacuation.

We were preparing for Christmas. Our Christmas pudding was made, as well as the cake. The Christmas cargo had arrived, with its variety of things for the festive season—not forgetting a tin of boiled lollies for our patients and school children.

At 9 p.m. on December 16 a Govern ment official came to warn us of impend ing evacuation.

No one but those who have experienced it can imagine that sinking feeling. We thought of the closing of our hospital (which we had worked so hard to estab lish, and which was looking so well, with its new coat of green paint); the dis charging of patients, who would surely die if left without treatment; the babies, motherless; the school.

But such regrets had to be put aside, for the moment, as secondary. Our thoughts were concentrated upon what we could pack into two suit-cases; and the disposal of an eight-months’ supply of food, medicine, etc., as well as our little pinnace.

There was no time to indulge in sen timent. It was common-sense and action.

WE were instructed at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, to be ready on the beach the following morn ing at 7 am., with two suit-cases each.

Far into the night we worked, packing.

Dr. Hennessey (an American priest who elected to remain behind, when the men were evacuated in January) came to our rescue, and offered to dispose of all equipment left behind by sending it to the Sisters. It was he who helped us to keep level heads —no easy task for four women. We owe Dr. Hennessey a large debt of gratitude.

At 6 am. we saw the “Bolia”, the Methodist Mission schooner, making her way along the coast to Kessa (now reported to be an enemy base); then back to Karoola; and at seven sharp she crossed to our little coastal islet of Pororan.

We left about 200 natives standing bewildered upon the beach. They could not understand this sudden departure of the nurses who had spent three years with them upon their little island, caring for the sick, looking after their babies, and teaching school.

Mrs. Percy Goode, from Kessa, and Mrs. Newall, from Karoola, were on board. Both had had to leave home, and most of their possessions and, what was hardest of all, their husbands. We continued the journey, picking up Mrs.

Hewson, Mrs. Luxton and Miss Commons, en route to Buka Passage, which we reached soon after mid-day. We spent the night there. The men gave a party —which, like all Islands parties, was a good one. rE women from Bougainville arrived early the following morning. We were now about 30, including child

ren, and we left Buka Passage for Rabaul by the “Asakage” on the very wet morning of Saturday, December 20.

Our luggage was all down in the hold; and, as we had to find accommodation on the hatch, there was no chance of

getting anything.

The mothers and children occupied the only two cabins, and the rest of us tried to make ourselves at home on the hatch.

The rain came down in torrents; the sea all but swallowed us up* and, for two days, we tossed and rolled, and were at its mercy. We were driven 20 miles out of our course. Our clothes were sodden, and black from the dirt of the ag'fes upon the hatch, and the majority of us were seasick.

So, when we eventually reached Rabaul at midnight on Sunday, December 21, and we were told that as we were not expected until the morning, no accom modation had been provided for us, we were not altogether happy. However, after a lot of argument, we were allowed to go on board a waiting steamer; but we were informed that there were no baths available until morning. So we got rid of what mud we could by sluicing in the hand-basins.

WE left Rabaul on December 22. There were 134 women and 104 children on board. Children, with their mothers, slept on the floor of the music room; decks were full of camp stretch

ers; and the cabins were overflowing.

However, we were on our way. We had a lot of sleep to make up, and stiff limbs to coax back to suppleness.

Then we of Buka were put off at Townsville, to continue the journey by rail. After three days in the train our limbs had stiffened up again—but what did it matter, for we reached Sydney at 11.30 a.m. on December 29. We were home!

Great thanks are due to the officials in charge of the evacuation for, despite terrific difficulties, they did their job well. The people of Brisbane and Towns ville won all our gratitude for their kindness and hospitality. And let us not forget a word of praise for the officers and crew of our steamer (“Boat A”) for bringing us safely home. Their’s was no small task.

Sergeant Edward Wilson, of Suva, a member of the Fiji Defence Force, was accidentally drowned in the Lami River, Viti Levu, in April.

Mrs. Gretchen Howell, who escaped from Singapore on a cattle boat just before the Japs attacked the island, and who now is living in Australia, is the wife of a former Fiji official, Mr. C.

Gough Howell, whose post in the Far East was Attorney-General of Straits Settlements.