Fall Of Rabaul

Defenders Honoured in Three States

THE third anniversary of the fall of Rabaul on January 23, 1942, was marked in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne by appropriate ceremonies.

In Sydney, ex-residents of the Terri tories and representatives of the AIF units who fought in the action met at the Centotaph at 8 a.m. Wreaths were placed there by the following bodies: 22nd Battalion AIF; NGVR; New Guinea Women’s Club; Returned Sailors, Sol diers and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia, New Guinea Branch; Country Women’s Association, New Guinea Branch; W. R. Carpenter & Co.; Bth AASC; Public Service Association of New Guinea: Burns Philp & Co.; Pacific Ter ritories Association; Nelson and Robert son Pty., Ltd.; “Pacific Islands Monthly”; and Anti-tank Battery, AIF.

In Brisbane, a ceremony was held at 8 a.m. at the Anzac Memorial. Padre Nelson, who was with the AIF at Buna and elsewhere in New Guinea, conducted the service, and Mrs. Doris Booth placed the wreath. Fifty-five ex-residents of the Territory were present.

In Melbourne, a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Remembrance was organised by the Women’s Auxiliary of the 2/22nd Bat talion; ex-residents of the Territory took part.

Among the several speakers at the cere mony was the Rev. F. G. Lewis, formerly of Rahaul. A guard of honour was pro vided by men who had escaped from Rabaul and by veterans of the 22nd Bat talion. Ist AIF.

After the addresses, floral tributes were laid in the Shrine by friends and relatives of the men who had fought in the action.