LMS Missionaries in G

G and E Colony Mr. Eastman Stays On— Memories of Mr. Sadd

rE well-known LMS missionary, Rev.

G. H. Eastman, OBE (he got the dec oration in the 1946 Birthday Honours List for undertaking three hazardous jour neys among Jap-occupied islands in 1942- 1944) is still at work in the Gilbert and Ellice group, although he has done over 33 years’ service there, and is long over due for retirement. He agreed, in 1946, to defer his return to England for two years, in order to assist in native rehab ilitation, Mr. Eastman, and the Rev. A. L. Sadd —a famous partnership— were at Beru, Southern Gilberts, before the Jap invasion.

Mr. Eastman was away on furlough in those black days; but the ■ Japs caught Mr. Sadd. A few months ago, the story of this missionary’s heroism was broadcast through the BBC. It appears that Mr.

Sadd was ordered to leave Beru, and he replied with this remarkable telegram: “I serve two masters —God and our King.

The King’s representative has ordered me to go. But I think that God takes pri ority. I stay.”

At Beru, the Japs marched him out in front of the school, before the natives, and told him to walk on the British flag.

He refused, and walked around it. They dragged him back, and again told him to walk on the flag. He walked to the flag, knelt down and kissed it. Then they threw him back into gaol.

Mr. Sadd was taken to Tarawa, and held in prison, with four other civilians, and 17 New Zealand soldiers, who had been coast-watching, and who were cut off by the Japs. Late in 1942, they were mur dered. The Americans, when they recap tured Tarawa, erected a monument to the memory of the 22, and on this stone there is a tribute to the courage with which they met their death at the hands of a cruel and merciless enemy.

The Australian warship “Bataan” called at Noumea during its April cruise which included visits to Vila, Suva, and Norfolk and Lord Howe islands. Caledonian en tertainment for the crew was on the usual hospitable scale.