"Maclaren King"
p. 56 · Read in the full issue
Good Record of the "Maclaren King"
Letter to the Editor WITH reference to the Anglican Mis sion schooner “Maclaren King,” re ferred to in your November issue of the “PIM,” page 71: The schooner was impressed by ANGAU for and on behalf of the Australian Army, in August, 1942, and it was never used by the Americans, as stated by you.
Prior to the schooner being impressed, it was strafed up Buna way, and then brought back to Dogura, where Lieut.
Jimmy Ross, formerly of Samarai, brought it to Milne Bay. I was placed in charge of the schooner, from early in September to April, 1943, when it was taken around to Port Moresby by Major Len Dexter. Later on in that year, it ran aground on a' sandbank, broke up, a total wreck.
Some of the activities of the “Maclaren King” are listed herewith, for informa tion of anyone interested: Running supplies and troops during the later stages of the Milne Bay show, and around the coast to Taupota and Dogura.
There, the Japs were ambushed and cut to ribbons by these troops.
Then, it went on to Wanangala, for the first air-borne landing by a unit of the AIF. *At Goodenough Island, the “Maclaren King” really got into things. First, it landed troops and supplies from the “HMAS Arunta,” Into Mud Bay, where the landing was made. When leaving Mud Bay, with wounded and sick, the schooner was strafed by three Zeros, making three runs each. Many of the troops were again wounded, and “the Mac’ had many new port-holes after the show was finished. A half-caste boy, Francis Guise, of Dogura, was severely wounded and later on he died at sea, while being brought to Australia on the “Manunda.”
“The Mac” was on the job at Oro Bay and Porlock Harbour; and, after the Buna show finished, it carried on patrol work from Mullens Harbour to Misima Island, Woodlark, Trobiands and Milne Bay.
Amongst old Territorians she carried were Syd Ashton, Bill Money, Bill Moss man, Ken McMullen, Jack Doonar, Laurie Henderson, George Harrison, Frank Burke and many others whose names at the moment have slipped my memory.
I am, etc.,
R. B. Scholes
(Ex-Ngx 25).
190 Albion Road, Windsor, Brisbane.
Mrs. J. Beveridge has been living in Fiji since the evacuation of BSI in 1942.
She rejoined her husband who is in the Government service in the Solomons in December. This is the first record of a civilian woman having returned to the Protectorate since the evacuation period.