How 240 Men Were Saved

Events on New Britain Coast After Jap Invasion of Rabaul

r J I HL S is the second and concluding in * stalment of the article by Mr. J.

K. McCarthy.

In the January instalment, he described the tragic situation that developed in January and February, 1942, in New Britain, after Rabaul was invaded, and hundreds of Australian military and civi lian refugees tried to escape westwards along the north and south coasts of that primitive, unroaded, heavily-jungled island.

Mr. McCarthy was Asst. District Officer, Talasea, on the north coast. In the face of incredible difficulties, and daily men aced by the enemy’s sea. land and air patrols, he enlisted the services of several experienced New Guinea bushmen— planters, traders, officials and mission aries—and planned and put into operation an organisation that eventually rescued some hundreds of men.

Great praise is given to Mr. McCarthy’s achievement by Mr. E. A. Feldt, in his book “The Coast Watchers.”

Section Ii

REPORTS from up the coast were un settling; they stated that the Jap anese were now sending out “mopping up” patrols from Rabaul and were visiting points west of Lassul Bay on the North Baining coast, where they were collecting hundreds of our troops who had succeeded in getting there from Rabaul.

It was only a matter of time before the Japs would again visit Pondo, and then all hope of our escape plan being put into action would end. We had to work fast.

After drawing up the plan and com mitting it to writing I decided to ■ leave Rod Marsland at Pondo with my tele radio set and push on with two natives to the north coast. With two Rabaul natives I set off in a small canoe on the night of February 20. The weather was still bad and it took us 15 hours to

reach Seraji Plantation—l 7 miles away.

En route 1 called at Stockholm Planta tion and saw Mr. and Mrs. Kyllert, who were determined to remain on their prop erty. They claimed that they were neutrals. (They were not treated as neutrals by the Japs, and had a bad time. In 1944, they were rescued by Australian Com mandos, and taken to Sydney. Mr. Kyl lert weakened by his privations, became ill, and died in Sydney in 1946. —Editor.) At Seraji there were 6 members of the AIF. Two of them. Corporal Headlam and Sergeant Jane, volunteered to accom pany me to the North Coast area; they were both suffering from malaria and were semi-starved, and I greatly admired their courage in attempting to save the lives of their comrades.

We set out and eventually reached Langinoa Plantation, where we met more soldiers —pitiful wrecks of men who were

so weakened by disease and starvation they could hardly walk. Dysentry and malaria had taken heavy toll of them and they were waiting for death or cap ture. They had only a vague idea where they were and had not been issued with any instructions as to how to live “off the country”; some were starving in areas where native foods were plentiful.

As an example, I found 25 men in a house who had not eaten for days. A few yards outside there was a patch of tapioca—ripe and ready for eating; the men were unable to recognise it as food.

I learned that the day before, a Japan ese schooner had called at Gavit —a few miles away—and a few Jap soldiers had captured 40 of our men. Too weak to resist, they were being herded together and carried back to Rabaul. The Japs had even sent word to others that they would again call for prisoners on Febru ary 21—the day I arrived at Langinoa. I hoped that punctuality was not a strong point with the Japanese Imperial Army.

On the north coast plantations I found that our troops had sometimes acted foolishly in destroying the contents of houses. For instance, the house of Frank Conroy' at Langinoa had been wantonly wrecked—for what reason I know not.

In that area I was delighted to find two old friends in Bill Mason and Frank Conroy. The latter’s son. Joe, was with his father. These were to be of great help in leading batches of men across the Baining Ranges to Pondo, 50 miles away.

Corporal Headlam succeeded in contact ing the senior AIF officer along the coast, Captain Appel, who entered into my plan with enthusiasm.

We travelled along the coast, gathering the scattered remnants of the battalion

into some sort of order. Their physical shape was shocking, ancT it seemed cruel to ask them to march to Pondo and thence another 300 miles to the western end of New Britain but if they were to be saved one had to be tough.

Mason and / Conroy had some stores of food and we managed to find more.

Our cajolings and threats were begining to be heeded and gradually batches of men were formed up and made ready to proceed to Pondo. We divided up our poor scraps of food and the first parties started.

“Pip” Appel and Coporal Headlam worked hard although the three of us, by this time, were in as bad a state as the men. We managed to get hold of a few native carriers: and, at last, the first long leg of the journey had begun. It was unfortunate' that we had not rescued more we had about 200 men but the total of 400 troops had been sadly diminished by the activity of the Jap patrols.

Amongst those who had helped me on that coast were Captains Appel and Field, Lieut. D. O. Smith and Sergeants Kent, Crawford and Laws. Corporal H. McK.

Hamilton (later Captain) was to distin guish himself afterwards in New Guinea.

I RETURNED to Langinoa and examined the schooner “Ecco,” which had been hidden in the mangroves there.

There was no hope of starting her, as essential parts of the engine were missing.

As Rod Marsland had considered he might be able to repair a ship there, I dis mantled part of the engine and carried it back to Pondo, Returning by road to Seraji Plantation I met another party of AIF troops under Lieutenants Tolmer and Donaldson, who had come from Vunalama Plantation by launch the day before. With them were Messrs. lan Maclean (son of the late manager of Vunalama Plantation) and Michael Morgan. They reported that Jap patrols had cleared the rest of the coast of our men. We had been lucky to get even 200.

AT Pondo, Rod Marsland, a splendid engineer and schooner master, had made a survey of the many vessels damaged by the Japs. Most of them had been destroyed; but, at the time of their visit, the small schooner “Malahuka” had been pulled up on the beach. The Japs had damaged her hull and engine, but Rod with the assistance of D’Arcy Hallam and two sergeants, Hunt and Beaument, had already set about repairing the ship.

In the meantime, the 20 men whom we had first found at Pondo had been shipped by “Aussi” to Valoka, where Ken Douglas and Sergeant Bert Smith were getting ready the staging camps that were to lead us to the end of the island. ' We badly needed more ships, for there was a blank area of 50 miles devoid of villages and shelter and intersected by many deep rivers between Pondo and

the first of the Talasea villages called Baia, which would comprise the second leg of our journey.

The “Aussi” now returned to Pondo with Bert Olander and black dis appointment. The Stockholm launch had, they reported, dropped Olander at Valoka as arranged but had then proceeded with the officer and men westwards. I learned later that they reached Salamaua.

That launch was badly needed by us.

Marsland set about repairing the “Mala huka” with added zest.

WE commenced marching the men, who were now arriving from the north coast, towards the Toriu and the maze of swamps and rivers that lay between us and Baia village. The Japs might raid Pondo at any time, and it was unsafe to stay at the plantation for any protracted period.

I set up the teleradio near the estate and maintained communication with Moresby and with the courageous Con Page, now hopelessly isolated at Tabar.

Jap planes were plentiful and any large bodies of men seen on the coast would receive their attention parties had to be kept small and movement was wary.

During this time I had contacted Lin coln Bell and Jerry Swanson. They had been working in the Open Bay area and Bell had fair stocks of food and fuel hidden there. A far-thinking and re sourceful man, Lincoln was to prove himself without fear in the days that followed.

Having known Bell as an expert bush

man and schooner master for many years I was delighted to have his services.

Black-bearded, tall and with his two well trained bull-terriers. Bell looked what he was a brave, determined man. He

looked very fit when compared to the rest of us, now half-starved.

I put Lincoln in charge of “Aussi” and he transported batches of troops to Baia village the remainder, if they could walk at all, commenced the long walk on the soft, black-sanded beaches towards what we hoped was the road to freedom.

At Watu on Open Bay I established another wireless set and left Lieut.

Donaldson and SignaHers Aird and Hok ing to work it while i returned to Korin dindi River and the former home of Jack Dunbar-Reed. It was deserted except for a few soldiers I found there.

The “Aussi” continued to ferry and the men to wearily set out from Powell Har bour towards Open Bay, but the progress was painfully slow.

We were fast becoming skeletons and it was heartbreaking to see poor fellows stagger and often fall to the sand as they slowly struggled along the coast.

Eventually all but 74 men were shifted from Pondo. These remaining were in the worst physical condition of all and we had to rely on Marsland’s skill in repairing the “Malahuka” to transport them. In addition to the men who al ready laboured on this work, Lieut. Tol mer now lent strength to the job. They slaved day and night, and even con trived to make missing engine parts from pieces of scrap steel. On the night of March 2, the “Malahuka” was launched, but Marsland’s work was only begining.

Despite all my persuasions, Albert Evensen and Bill Korn declined to come with us and remained to take their chance at Pondo. I could write more of Albert, but I would record that I understood and admired his motives in remaining. He and Korn had 700 natives at Pondo and they stayed to care for them.

So ended my association with two brave men. With many others, they were lost.

WE were gradually staging the men down the coast to our hide-out at Watu, in Open Bay, but food re mained almost non-existent. “Malahuka” embarked the remaining 74 troops at Pondo and set out but Marsland had to use all his skill, for engine breakdowns were frequent and for one five-hour period they were forced to paddle the ship with boards while Rod worked at her engine by the light of a hurricane lamp.

Eventually, the “Malahuka” arrived at Baia and the “Aussi,” working feverishly, soon ferried the rest of the troops to that village. We now had 200 men at that point; we were about 30 miles from Pondo and there were 250 miles to go! However, we were moving; and 1 prayed that the Japs would not revisiit Pondo and discover the missing ship.

Our wireless party still remained at Watu (Open Bay) in order to meet Frank Holland, who had gone to the Gasmata coast two weeks before. I was becoming anxious about him and had posted native guides to lead him to Lieut. Donaldson, at Watu, when he should show up.

Loaded with all but 100 troops, “Mala huka” and “Aussi” proceeded from Baia to Lolobau Island the next night. We anchored the day at Lolobau and an ex amination of the plantation there showed it was deserted.

That night the ships prepared to do the 90-miles trip SW to reach an anchor age near Walindi Plantation. We set out in driving rain and the bitter cold weather, which lasted all night, almost froze the closely-packed men on the open deck, for there were no shelters from the elements.

En route we had more engine trouble, and we struck two reefs. The second was hit at 2 a.m., and the vessel was left stranded on the coral. In the cold rain, it was necessary to order everybody overboard in order to lift and shove the ship off before daylight and

Jap planes found us lying helpless.

We were lucky not to lose any men by drowning, but after two hours the “Mala huka” was free and floating. By daylight we had reached the anchorage near Walindi, on the western shores of Stettin Bay.

The efficient Ken Douglas had every thing well organised in the area. Sergeant Bert Smith had given able assistance and they had already marched the first batch of 20 men further west, where Ken had- already established staging camps according to plan. He had, with commendable initiative, altered my marching plan so as to save 6 hours’ march between Stettin Bay and Garu, on the other side of Willaumez Peninsula.

The troops were bedded and fed at Walindi while “Malahuka” set out on the return trip to Baia where 100 men awaited her. That was th)e last w!e were to see of the ship for, after further engine troubles, the engine-packing blew out and the main bearings seized. In an effort to save the ship, Marsland and his crew entered the dinghy and actually towed the schooner 18 miles, to reach Banban Island, near Lolobau Island. But their labours were_ in vain, for the engine was beyond repair. She was sunk to prevent her falling into enemy hands.

Our fleet was now reduced to a single launch the original, never-failing, “Aussi.” Bell worked day and night, transporting the men from Baia down the East Nakanai coast to the vicinity of Bialla and Buteolo.

FROM Walindi the men were gradually being marched further west. A party of 74, under Captain Appel, went on to Garu, on the southern shores of Riebeck Bay, west of the Talasea station and then our first good news reached us.

At Moresby G. W. L. Townsend had taken a hand and had instructed several ships with volunteer crews, that were available on the coast of the mainland of New Guinea, to go to New Britain and lend a hand.

At Walindi on March 8 I met C. G. (Blue) Harris a patrol officer who had come over with a flotilla of small ships from the Finschhafen district. With “Blue” Harris were the Rev. A. P. H.

Freund, of the Lutheran Mission, and Jack Goad, of Salamaua. The Rev.

Freund had joined the NGVR as a rifle man and, like others of the Lutheran Mission, had volunteered to help us. The Finschhafen flotilla comprised “Gnair” (W. A. Money), “Bavaria” (A. Obst), “Umboi” (V. Neumann) and “Totol” (E.

Radke).

I specifically mention that Obst, Neu mann and Radke were all lay-workers of the Lutheran Mission, while the Re*.

Freund was an ordained minister of that persuasion because I have heard it said that all members of that Mission were necessarily Nazis. Such stupid state ments perhaps do not need contradiction —but I am dealing with facts.

They reported that their ships were on the west side of Willaumez Peninsula, while two others, “Thetis” and “Nereus” were at Finschhafen awaiting orders.

Salamaua and Lae had fallen to the Japs and I hurriedly asked the skippers to conceal their vessels as much as pos sible for we might expect unwelcome visitors at any time.

By radio I warned L. Pursehouse — patrol officer, who was watching Finsch hafen to have the “Thetis” and “Nereus” move, for it was plain that the Japs would move into Finschhafen soon.

They reached Finschhafen that same day; but, in the meantime, “Thetis” had called into Cape Gloucester and Ijad picked up the 20 troops there. Ken Doug las had left a warning note for any

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