Armistice Day in Rabaul

Dutch and Territorians Remember

By Mancunian

ARMISTICE Day (November ID did not seem to arouse much enthu siasm in Rabaul except amongst some ot the old soldiers. Several chap lains made reference to the day. at the usual Sunday morning services, and in one or two instances special services were held.

Among the special services arranged was one at the CCS. A number of mem bers of the NEI Army attended. Another be-ribboned detachment consisted of old members of the NGVR. To most of this group the occasion brought forth many poignant memories of previous Armistice Days in Rabaul, whenthey had paraded with others of their comrades, not far from the spot where they were then standing.

These ex-NGVR’s came from ANGAU and Ist NGIB. They were: Captains V.

Maxwell and C. Barnard; Lieuts. J. Dow sett, Jock Ession, F. Patton, H. Wyatt; WO/II W. Forrester, MM; and ex-Rifle man Larry Dwyer, who was one of the few NGVR men to escape from Rabaul.

In a nearby ward, as patients, were two more old NG residents, Lieuts. Nip Burke and E. Britten. W/Os R. Sowerby and J.

Brennan were not able to be present.

During the period of silence, thoughts of old friends who had gone into the Great Beyond were brought to mind; memories of Rabaul in the old days—;SO different from its present state; memories of once familiar faces and scenes before all were swallowed up in the holocaust of war. Probably few towns in the Empire have suffered the damage Rabaul has suffered. The loss of life sustained has been tragic. . , imi „ The service concluded with “The King and the Dutch National Anthem. Thus was brought to a close the first post-war Armistice Day service attended in this place by ex-members of that gallant corps, the NGVR.