Last Parade Of Native

Troops

r J I HE following description of the last parade of the PIR was published in “Guinea Gold” (the Service news paper) on April 28: When the Pacific Islands Regiment held its last regimental parade on April 27,

GOC, Major-General Morris, DSO, said “Goodbye” to native island troops whose record in the war has made them world famous as fighting men.

Many men and women of the Ser vices gathered to see the parade and pay tribute to the splendid record of the . native troops who fought in every action but one, from the Kokoda trail to Bou gainville.

The CO, Colonel A. B. MacDonald, led the 1,500 men of the regiment in the march past when General Morris took the salute.

On the official stand were: Cdr. Fowler, NOIC, Brigadier Monaghan, DSO, Com mander 11 Bde., and Brigadier R. Irv ing, CBE, Commander 4 Bde.

The band which was a feature of the parade was trained by Lieut. Ryder, of Gympie.

The splendid bearing of the island sol diers and the precision of their move ments was inspiring to the military audience.

All felt proud of the natives who had stood side by side with Australian and Allied troops throughout the years of the Pacific war, and proved themselves loyal comrades and gallant fighting men.

General Morris made a stirring speech in Pidgin saying goodbye to the island soldiers and expressing the feelings of all who had been associated with the members of the PIR in the war He concluded: “Orait closetu ol Japan i go pinis.

“Nau wok belong guard belong soljia belong nau New Guinea pinis.

“Nau ol i go bek long pies belong im nau sindauum gut long meri nau pik anini bolong 01.

“Taim mipela mi lapun long Australia mi ting yet long yupela. Mi pren bolong yu—yu gutpela tomas.

“Gutbai ologeter yupela gutbai.”

Translated to English: “Shortly all the Japanese will have left. The guard duties of Australian soldiers, Papuan soldiers and New Guinea soldiers are nearly finished.

“Now you will go back to your villages your wives and your children.

“When I am an old man in Australia I will still think of you and I am a friend of you all and think you are fine troops “Goodbye, altogether. Goodbye”

CO, Papuan Infantry Regiment, Lieut.- Colonel Elliot-Smith then translated the speech into Motu for his men.

The units of the PIR marched in this order:— Papuan Inf. Bn. (CO, Lieut.-Colonel S Elliot-Smith); 1 Bn. NG Inf. (Major J P

Curlewis); 2 Bn. (Lieut.-Colonel A‘ g'

Cameron, DSO); Depot Bn. (Lieut - Colonel J. C. Mullaly); 3 Bn. (Lieut- Colonel T. F. B. Macaddie, DSO).

Many of the troops wore ribbons of the DCM and MM on their breasts along side the campaign ribbons of the Pacific war.

In all about 30 natives, besides Euro pean officers and NCO’s, have been decorated.

The Regiment killed 2,200 Japs during the war; wounded a great number; and captured 250 POW.

Many individuals have big totals of killed.

Sergeant-Major Matepi’s total was more than 100, and Sergeant-Major Ta pioli. MM, 74.

Soldiers who had fought beside the native troops in the war said to-day that it was a loss to Australian island de fences that the men should be disbanded and returned to their villages.

Decorations of a European sergeant and four natives were presented.

Mr. A. S. Farebrother recently returned to Suva after leave in NZ.