Plaques To Mark Australian Battle

Areas In New Guinea

Lae, October 2.

ACTING under instructions from Head quarters, Australian Bth Military District, Rabaul, Army'Trawler AS 1743, is at present on an unusual mission on the coasts of New Guinea and New Britain.

Bronze plaques, specially made in Australia and shipped to New Guinea, are being placed in positions at all points on the coasts where Australian forces landed and overcame Japanese resistance.

The trawler is to visit the following places, and it is presumed that a plaque will be displayed in each place: Rabaul, in New Britain.

Madang, north coast, New Guinea.

Scarlet Beach.

Finschhaven, New Guinea.

Langemak Bay.

Red Beach.

Lae, New Guinea (2 plaques).

Wau, interior of New Guinea.

Buna, Papua (5 plaques).

Gona, Papua.

Wye Point.

Giropa Point.

Milne Bay (Goroni), Papua.

THIS special detail is under the com mand of Lieut. M. O’Donnell, M.C., who served with the 7th Division in New Guinea. The trawler is commanded by W. 0.1. Allister McAllister. R.N.R.T., who will be remembered by many who were on the coast, of New Guinea during the late war, and who served in British mine-sweeping trawlers in World War I.

It is understood that the present itin erary does not complete the task. Fresh orders and a new route are expected on the return of A.S. 1746 to Rabaul.

The following is the inscription on the plaque installed on Namanula, at Lae: (Commonwealth of Australia and .Scroll.) Here, on 16th September, 1943, the Australian flag was raised by the Commander, 25th Australian Infantry Brigade, to mark the capture of this Important Base from the Japanese.

The plaques are by no means outstand ing or decorative in design, and they are mounted on two lengths of rusty angle iron. One would have to be a keen seeker to be attracted by the installa tions. —E.B.A.

Dr. J. C. R. Buchanan, Inspector General of South Pacific Health Services, has now been appointed, in addition, Director of Medical Services in Fiji.