Jungles

Ngvr's Mainland

History

Valuable Work in Jungles

THE story of the Rabaul section of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles is told on the preceding pages. A writer in “Sydney Morning Herald” of January 21 completes the account by describing the deeds of the “mainland” sections of the NGVR; and parts of his article are re-published hereunder; — The Rabaul section of NGVR fought until all their ammunition was expended, and they were at last overpowered. Only seven escaped to Australia after long jungle-treks down the coasts, leading with them large parties who depended on them for guidance in getting out.

On the mainland of New Guinea (Wau, Salamaua, Lae, Bulolo) the de struction of planes, hangars, and work shops put all transport out of action, because the whole area relied on the planes for its traffic. The NGVR were at once called upon by their senior officer for full-time duty. They were civilians on the morning of January 21, full-time soldierS in the afternoon. They were the only Australian soldiery in the district when the Japanese eventually made their landings at Lae and Salamaua, weeks later.

NGVR patrols moved in their own familiar localities like shadows, striking and disappearing, never allowing the invader to gather knowledge of their strength or where they came from, mean while gathering information of the move ments and strength of the enemy, their equipment, their likely plans.

Time and time again they went singly or in small parties right through the Japanese positions by night, wrecking and pillaging where opportunity offered.

They moved freely among the planes on the Japanese-held aerodromes, reported their types and.armament, and the posi tions of their dumps for Allied airmen to strike next day.

They decisively defeated the Japanese in actions at Mubo and in the Markham Valley, took part in the raid at Heath’s Farm, seven miles from Lae —where 44 Japanese were killed—and in the raid on Salamaua, in which 100 Japanese were killed, and in which they did not suffer a. single casualty.

With civil government gone, men of the NGVR assumed responsibility for several thousand indentured natives, unable to return to their homes in other islands and districts. These natives had to be got together in depots, and fed, so that they should not become a burden on the indigenous natives of the area. They became the army of carriers needed for supplies.

The natives soon recovered from the shock of the raids and returned to duty.

and when a day or two after the land ings at Lae and Salamaua, Allied planes came over and strafed the Japanese, the reaction among the natives was terrific.

When six big Allied transport planes arrived and landed troops and equipment at Wau, the natives were so overcome with enthusiasm that they unloaded all six planes in nine minutes.

It was months before any mails from outside reached the volunteer regiment.

Their womenfolk had been evacuated hurriedly with just a few pounds of bag gage, leaving their homes unguarded and their men in uniform.

Their exploits have been rewarded, as far as is known, with one Military Medal, but there can be no doubt that many others have deserved decorations, and perhaps the number of honours to the credit of the NGVR will be increased as details of their actions come to the notice of those in authority.

Major W. F. M. Clements, of the British Solomon Islands Defence Force, has been awarded the Military Cross for "exceptional devotion to duty in a theatre of war.”

It was announced on December 9 that Mr. K. de G. MacVitty, the United States Consul-General to New Caledonia since 1941, had arrived in Washington. He will take up duties there, with the State De partment. Mr. MacVitty was well liked in New Caledonia, where he did much to help the Colony. The appointment, early in 1941, of a US Consul to New Caledonia was made at the request of the New Caledonian Administrative Council and Governor Sautot, and passed on to Washington by General de Gaulle, when Japanese designs in the S.W. Pacific became apparent. Mr.

Henry B. Day, who was United States Consul in Sydney for five years, is his successor in New Caledonia.