Trafficking in Gold?
Letter to the Editor A FEW days ago, at a certain gather ing in Brisbane, a lady said to me: “What do you think of this?” “This” was a solid, pale-gold signet ring, with an AIF Division shape on the top of it —you know the type of thing—we used to make them in France from the solid copper Lebel bullets. I said: “Very nice —probably worth a fiver. Where did you get it?” I was told that she got it from her boy-friend, who had just come back from “somewhere in the Ramu Valley area.”
A little questioning brought out the fact that said boy-friend had been in the Wau-Salamaua area. I was also told that “this ring is nothing—you should see the solid gold knuckle-dusters he has.” Inter esting: and, having read the “PIM” latelv, I am wondering how many other sol diers have solid gold jewellery, and where they got the gold!
This little story may interest miners who had to leave gold behind when the Nips took over in 1942. If scrounging and souveniring have gone on, it is a reflection on the control exercised by the military leaders.
I am, etc.,
Brisbane.