Of N. Guinea Total 123

Rc Missionaries Lost In Jap Invasion

56 Nursing Sisters in Appalling List

TN the horror of losing some 300 civilians in the Japanese invasion of Rabaul, Australia has overlooked another great wartime tragedy of New Guinea— namely, the loss, by murder, “strafing” and disease, of 123 Roman Catholic Mis sionaries on the north coast of the New Guinea mainland.

When the Japs invaded New Britain, in January, 1942, the missionaries gener ally did not retire. They believed that the Japanese, as allegedly “civilised” people, would respect those who devoted their lives to religious work. The Japs treated missionaries—especially in com batant regions—with little respect, and many missionaries of all denominations lost their lives. Having so many more missionaries in TNG, the Roman Catholic losses were heaviest.

The Roman Catholic personnel in all missions in the regions directly affected by the war (the Vicariates of Rabaul, Central New Guinea and Eastern New Guinea) totalled 416. The losses in Rabaul (per sonnel, 187) were not heavy:, but in Cen tral and Eastern New Guinea, invaded about the end of 1942, they were appall ing. Out of 229 personnel in the two Vicariates, no less than 123 lost their lives, as follows:

Both Bishons were lost. The Rt. Rev.

Joseph Loerks, of Central New Guinea,

has been missing since March, 1943. The Rt. Rev. Francis Wolf, Bishop of Eastern New Guinea, died from wounds in Feb ruary, 1944.

The following details have been kindlv supplied to us by the Rev. Father I.

Schwab, who recently returned to the Mission field, from which he escaped after the Jap occupation of the Sepik area. The list shows the fate of every

missionary in the two Vicariates. Until

we received it, we did not realise that the losses had been so heavy, especially among

the Nursing Sisters. A large proportion

of the missionaries who survived are now back at their work among the natives.

Vicariate Apostolic Of Central

New Guinea

Vicar Apostolic: Rt. Rev. Joseph Loerks, miss ing since 15/3/1943, believed dead.

Kariru District

Kariru: Bro. Sarinus, died; Bro. P. Appeldorn, evacuated, returned.

Missing since 15/3/1943, believed dead: Rev. A.

Manion, Rev. A. Mueller, Rev W. Waechter.

Rev. G. Prinz, Bro. Siegbert J. Komar, Bro.

Heldemar P. Berg, Bro. Hyacinth Budde, Bro.

Ananias P. Bosmik, Bro. Fabian H. Brockhaus.

Sisters: Sr. Heriberta, Sr. Arildis, Sr. Adelaide, Sr. Chrysentia, Sr. Aquina, Sr. Übaldiive, Sr.

Angelina, Sr. Machuta, Sr. Monica.

Wewak

Rev. W. Reif and Rev. O. May, killed by Japanese.

Bro. Gonzaga Schniedergers, evacuated and re turned.

Bro. Tiberius, exacuated, in Australia; Bro.

Wendelin F. B-ecker, rescued, returned.

Missing, believed dead; Very Rev. F. Winzen

hoierlein, Bro. Barthol J. Kubizat, Bro. Andreas J. Matil. Bro. Rupert A. Ganahl, Bro. Augustin A. Wolf, Bro. Melchior J. Buekkerns. Sisters: Sr. Kunigunde, Sr. Heldemara, Sr. Zeta, Sr.

Idoberga.

Turubu: Rev. J. Gehberger, rescued, returned.

Boikin: Missing, believed dead: Rey. J. Rom anskl, Bro. Benignus E. Franken, Bro. Victor A.

Salois, Sr. Alphonsa, Sr. Imata, Sr. PerpetUa, Sr.

Imeldina, Sr. Hildeganda.

But: Killed by Japs, 25/2/1943: Rev. W. Jakob, Bro. Emanuel Wagner.

Sassoya: Rev. J. Dingels, died from malaria; Rev. W. Hagan, rescued, in USA; Bro. Ambros A.

Nicke, rescued,’ in Australia.

Ulupu: Rev. A. Gerstner, rescued, returned; Rev. A. Derowski, rescued, returned; Bro.

Raphael R. Schwarz, missing, believed dead.

Tumleo District

Tumleo: Rev. J. Blaes, rescued, returned; Bro.

Cletus A. Mainzer, rescued, in Australia; Sr.

Alma A. Businger, rescued, in Australia; Sr.

Xaverine T. Krauthof, rescued, returned; Sr.

Christopheroa C. Einsman, rescued, in Aus tralia; Sr. Nicola E. Sauermilch, rescued, re turned; Sr. Claria M. Sudbrock, died from wounds.

Ali: Sr. Vincentiana E. Katzfay, rescued, re turned; Sr. Hierona A. van Rossmalen, rescued, in Australia.

Vanimo: Rev. M. Clerkin, rescued, in USA; Bro.

Otto A Stoeckl, rescued, in Australia; Bro.

Berchmans J. Loner, rescued, in USA; Bro.

Michael T Wieskamp, liberated, returned.

Aissano: Rev. B. Fastenrath, rescued, returned; Bro. Beatus p. Schingle, rescued, in Australia.

Malol: Rev. A. Becker, rescued, in Australia: Sr. Nazaria S. Albers, rescued, in Australia: Sr.

Irmengrad E. Clemen, rescued, in Australia; Sr.

Rigoberta A. Hutter, rescued, returned: Sr.

Petroca E. Van Dyk, rescued, returned.

St. Anna; Rev. J. Donkers, rescued, returned; Bro. Isidor, rescued, returned; Bro. Leonhard H.

Althoff, rescued, in Australia; Bro. Alcuin, died from malaria; Bro. Aufriedus, died from star vation.

Ulau: Rev. E. Kunisch, rescued, returned.

Yakamus: Rev. R. Kunze, rescued, returned; Sr. Christiana H. Wallmeyer, rescued, returned; Sr. Hardwina M. Reis, rescued, in Australia; Sr.

Vicariate Total Lost their lives Personnel Men Women Eastern NG . . 125 28 37 Central NG 104 39 19 Totals 229 67 56

Monulpha van Sempen, rescued, returned; Sr.

Mathilda B. Quack, rescued, returned.

Sepik District

Marienberg: Missing, believed dead; Rev. G. de Bruyn, Rev. G. Bernd, Bro. Ephrem M. Pint, Bro.

Ansgar L. Warnke, died from unknown reason; Bro. Bonosus M. Neusius, evacuated, returned; Bro. Joseph, Bro. Cunibert, rescued, returned; Bro. Bogumil, evacuated, returned; Sr. Alena, Sr.

Antoniella, Sr. Vinciana, evacuated, in Australia; Sr. Auxilium, Sr. Arnoldine.

Kambot; Rev. I. Schwab, evacuated, returned; Rev. F. Jocham. evacuated, in Australia; Bro.

Seraphicus Schmale, evacuated, returned.

Kambrimdo: Rev. H. Meyer, missing, believed dead; Bro. Joachim Wassenberg, died from bayonet wounds; Rev. K. Krzemienski, evacuated, in Australia.

Timbunke: Rev. Ivo Schaefer, rescued, returned; Rev. K. Laumann, evacuated, returned; Bro.

Januarius S. Sliviak, rescued, returned.

Marui; Rev. A. Cruysberg, evacuated, returned; Rev. P. Hansen, missing, believed dead; Bro.

Cherubim Kaufmann, evacuated, returned.

Vicariate Apostolic Of Eastern

New Guinea

Rt. Rev. Bishop Francis Wolf, died from wounds, 23/2/19'44.

Alexishafen

Killed by “strafing”: Rev. J. Hoersch, Rev. H.

Luttmer, Rev. R. Baumert.

Rescued, returned: Rev. R. Jischke, Rev. J.

Noss, Rev. F. Wiesenthal.

Rescued, in Australia: Rev. W. Tropper.

Rescued, in Europe: Rev. P. Fuchs.

Evacuated, returned: Rt. Rev. Msgr. W. van Baar.

Killed, by “strafing”: Bro. Marcolinus J. Hoff mann, Bro. Baldomer, Bro. Lucidius L. Zimmer, Bro. Fabian H. Schroer, Bro. Symphorian A.

Suchsland, Bro. Jacobus van der Meer, Bro.

Jason W. Ziesl, Bro. Cornelius J. Wiedl, Bro.

Cleophas E. Dvorcak, Bro. Mathias Vos, Bro.

Mathias J. Seimetz, Bro. Metellus Hartman, Bro.

Aloysius Want, Bro. Syrus Strathen.

Died from malaria: Bro. Arbogast Fackler, Bro. Firmatus Weddeling, Bro. Beda Marx, Bro.

Bonfilius.

Died from exposure: Bro. Edelbert E. Wasner.

Rescued, in Australia: Bro. Otgerus K. Misch, Bro. Sylvester M. Scherm, Bro. Heribert J.

Stimmler, Bro. Bodo J. Hiller, Bro. Emmerich J.

Roderhoff, Bro. Gregor M. Zimmet.

Rescued, returned: Bro. Nyssenus G. Boeck, Bro. Gerhoch Eder, Bro. Aventin H. Holzbauer, Bro. Sylvester A. Litzenburger, Bro. Edelfried F, Pohl, Bro. Venantius F. Michelkenz, Bro.

Modestus J. Rasche, Bro. Emil J. Knuever, Bro.

Wenceslaus H. Klus.

Sisters: Died from malaria: Sr. Hedwig A.

Karzer, Sr. Godeberta van Boerden. Died from wounds: Sr. Gertraud A. Hennes, Sr. Dolorosia A. Ruholl, Sr. Domitiana G. Henricks.

Sisters killed by “strafing”: Sr. Imelda M.

Mueller, Sr. Constantine H. Kraemer, Sr. Fer dinanda M. Muendelein, Sr. Annetta A. Kinsman, Sr. Dionora Uhlenbrock, Sr. Deotilla Governeur!

Sr. Annakreszenz Wehinger, Sr. Isbalda Klein’

Sr. Hermengard Rossa, Sr. Theresildis Brandler’

Sr. Milita Schaefer, Sr. Barnaba Zirkel, Sr!

Matritia Haag, Sr. Rotrudis Tuppinger, Sr. Ber nareda Kuehn, Sr. Basiella Kammerer, Sr.

Emiliana Buerger, Sr. Festina Blank, Sr.

Gudalena Hebbing, Sr. Alquirina van Velze.

Rescued, in New Guinea: Sr. Eurista Lohmann Sr. Milreda Zeller.

Rescued, in Australia: Sr. Bathildis Hetz, Sr.

Biletrud Brand, Sr. Elreda Ruiter.

Sigu: Rev. R. Stefanski, rescued, returned.

Karkar: Rev. J. Tschauder, rescued, in Aus tralia; Bro. Abdon Beuers, rescued, in Australia.

Halopa: Rev. P. Ladener, rescued, returned.

Nake: Rev. R. Nowak, rescued, returned.

Utu: Rev. J. Felzman, killed by “strafing.”

Alexishafen District

Gumbi: Rev. A. Aufinger, evacuated, returned.

Wau: Rev. Glover, evacuated, returning.

Mugil: Rescued, returned: Rev. P. Hempel mann, Rev. W. Kemmerling, Bro. Serenus A.

Lindemann, Sr. Alexis B. Lederer. Rescued, in Australia: Sr. Siglinde M. Poboss. Died by “strafing”: Sr. Adulpha Ypelaar, Sr. Melasia Zoelsch.

Bogia District

Bogia: Rev. J. Schebesta, killed by “strafing”; Rev. J. Kotrba, missing, believed dead; Rev. W.

Schorr, rescued, returned; Bro. Chrys. Sawiecki, rescued, returned. Rescued, returned: Sr!

Arsenia Wild, Sr. Frances Bott, Sr. Nomitia Ebbing. Rescued, in Australia: Sr. Lisa Pie treck. Died, killed, by “strafing”; Sr. Egilberta Bertels.

Banara: Rev. W. Tranel, killed, by “strafing.”

Kayan: Rev. L. Meiser, rescued, in Australia.

Tangum: Rev. C. van Baar, evacuated, re turned; Bro. David Brunner, evacuated, returned.

Manam: Rev. K. Boehm, rescued, returned; Rev. K. Konen, killed by “strafing”. Rescued, returned: Sr. Ottonia M. Ruholl. Killed by “strafing”: Sr. Cunera Feiricks, Sr. Alberista Dirsch, Sr. Almaria Vorderwuelbecke, Sr. Gode berta van Boerden, Sr. Ehrentrudis Dietzen.

Ulingan: Rev. E. Van Baar, rescued, returned; Rev. L. Mey, rescued, in Australia. Killed by “strafing”: Sr. Valentine Steinkeller, Sr. Loyo lina Teufel, Sr. Theophane Mayer, Sr. Teo doriana Hallerbach.

Annaberg, Ramu: Rev. A. Kasprus, evacuated, in Australia.

Atemble, Ramu; Rev. J. Ziegler, evacuated, re turned; Bro. Elpidius Malcharek, evacuated, re turned.

Bismarck Mountain And Mount Hagen

District

Bundi: Rev. J. Much, evacuated, returned, Bro. Priscill, evacuated, in Australia.

Denglagu: Rev. J. Nilles, evacuated, in Aus tralia; Bro. Bonaventura, evacuated, in Aus tralia.

Mingende: Evacuated, returned: Rev. A.

Schaefer, Rev. J. Kueppers, Rev. H. Aufen anger. Evacuated, in Australia: Bro. Sym machus.

Mount Hagen: Evacuated, returned: Rev. W.

Ross, Rev. G. Bernarding.