Searson
p. 62 · Read in the full issue
Military Cross To J. J.
THE Military Cross has been awarded to Captain J. J. Searson. a Terri torian member of ANGAU. for out standing courage and devotion to duty in the South-west Pacific area.
The citation says: Captain Searson was one of the original members of the ANGAU Task Team which accompanied US Forces when they landed at Aitape on April 22, 1944.
On August 23, 1944, Captain Searson was assigned the mission of accompanying a strong patrol of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarter Company, 103 US Infantry, 43rd Division, USA, which was attempting to contact the Japanese rear element in the vicinty of Taja and the Dandriwad River area.
Captain Searson’s mission was to precede the column with eight native police-boys, and locate large isolated groups of Japanese that were known to be in this area.
Proceeding along a little used Jungle trail, the leading police-bov signalled that the Japs were ahead. Captain Searson, without thought of his own life, and displaying courage to his police boys, immediately moved to the head of the patrol. Coming to a small clearing, Captain Searson observed about 10 Japanese in spider holes: they had evidently been warned of the patrol’s approach.
Placing his police-boys in a semi-circle facing the Jao position, he ordered them to ooen fire, while he with two others circled to the flank and rear. As he closed in from the flank, the Japs were withdrawing. Acting quickly, leading the police-boys, he charged the Jans, killing a Japanese captain and three others of the party.
This is only one of the many such actions in which Captain Searson displayed courage, daring and sound judgment In co-operating with American troops in this area.
Mr. R. G. Garrett, who had been manager of Panning Islands Plantations,
T M. (Fanning and Washington Islands),
for «*. vears. arrived in Melbourne re
cently. by Skymaster plane from Hono
lulu. He did much to heln the Allies in that part of the Pacific during the war —especiallv the Americans, who then had a verv strongly fortified base at Palmyra Island—and his services were recognised last year, wfien he was awarded the OBP. He new is enioying long leave.
Back in the ’thirties. Mr. Barrett was a RP nlantation manager in New Guinea— in the Ninigo and Witu Groups.