Territories Men

Distinguished Service in Famous "Hush-Hush" Unit

MANY men well known in the Western Pacific Islands gave most distin guished service in a very “hush hush” organisation called the Allied In telligence Bureau, formed by the Ameri can and Australian fighting services, in combination, to undertake special duties in the South-West Pacific in the critical war years.

The AIB is probably the most decorated unit in World War 11.

The story of the AIB still has to be told. If it is told as it deserves to be, it will make one of the remarkable docu ments of World War 11, and will out shine the most incredible “thriller.” The founder of the Bureau, Commander Eric Feldt, formerly a well-known District Officer in New Guinea, is reported to have written a book about the organisa tion, called “Coast Watchers,” which is slated for early publication.

The members of the Bureau undertook the most difficult and hazardous jobs in the remoter islands and jungles. There was a small group of Bureau men in Bougainville, for instance, from 1944 on wards, under the leadership of Lieutenant Paul Mason. They rallied the Bougain ville natives to the protection of their country, they killed many hundreds of Japs in remote and unexpected places and, when the Jap surrender came, they were on the point of capturing Kieta, where they had cornered 500 Japs, who were entirely cut off from the other in vaders in the north and west. They lived like shadows in the remoter jungles, and they had the Japs completely de moralised.

The full roll of the unit is unobtain able, at present; but the following are the names of some well-known Islands men who rendered distinguished service therein. This, of course, is not a com plete list; — Commander Eric Feldt, RANVR, formerly a well-known DO in New Guinea.

Lieutenant Paul Mason, RANVR, formerly a planter at Inus, Bougainville. He was awarded the British and the American Distinguished Service Cross.

Captain E. D. Robinson, formerly a Dis trict Officer in the Sepik country, New Guinea. Awarded Military Cross.

Captain Lee Ashton, formerly a New Guinea miner.

Captain Alastair Maclean, formerly a New Guinea planter.

Captain John Stokie, formerly a planter in New Britain. Awarded Military Cross.

Captain C. W. Seton. formerly a planter in British Solomons. Awarded Distin guished Conduct Medal.

Lieutenant Dick Horton, RANVR, for merly DO in Solomons. Awarded

Dsc.

Lieutenant Henry Josselyn, RANVR, DO in Solomons. Awarded DSC.

Lieutenant John Keenan, formerly DO in Buka, TNG, Awarded DSC.

Captain Jeff Archer, formerly a miner of Wau, New Guinea. Awarded Military Cross.

During the war, overseas circuits of the Beam Wireless service were operated up to speeds as high as 375 words per minute, enabling thousands of additional words to be transmitted daily. The special telegraph equipment used was developed and manufactured in Australia by Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd.