War Tragedies Of New Guinea

This group, taken in New Guinea some time before the outbreak of war in 1939, shows, left to right: Mrs. Flo.

Stewart, licensee of the Hotel Bulolo, Wau; her son, Moresby Gofton, of the RAF; her sister, Mrs. Baldie, who was licensee of the Lae Hotel; Mrs. Baldie’s son, Stanley Baldie, of the RAF. The two lads joined the RAF, in Britain, about the end of 1938. This family has been affected by the war in this way:— All Mrs. Stewart’s New Guinea property is in either military or enemy occupation, and Mrs.

Stewart herself is an “evacuee” in Sydney.

Pilot-Officer Moresby Gofton, RAF, was killed

in air operations over Germany in 1940.

Mrs. Baldie, prior to the outbreak of war, married a foreigner, and thus lost British nationality, and is believed now to be living somewhere in Europe.

Stanley Baldie survived the bitter air fighting * n He * s now a Squadron-Leader serving in India. He is married, and has one daughter.

The Lae Hotel was wrecked in the first bom bardment of Lae by the Japanese.