Tribute To "Bob" Kennedy,

Murdered At Tol

MR. TREVOR BRUCE recently arrived in Sydney by plane from New Guinea and is spending a short holiday prior to proceeding to NZ.

In speaking of the trials faced by the evacuees from Rabaul at the time of the Japanese landing in 1942, Mr. Bruce paid tribute to the fine work performed by W/O R. L. Kennedy, of the NGVR, who was among those massacred at Tol, and who in pre-war times was well-known as the manager of the Regent Picture Theatre in Rabaul. It was owing to the self-sacrifice of Bob Kennedy, said Mr.

Bruce, that many of the troops and civilians were able to make their escape along the North and South coast of the island of New Britain. Regardless of his

own health, Mr. Kennedy established first-aid posts along the line of retreat, which provided the men with badly needed medical treatment and supplies.

Many of the evacuees, said Mr. Bruce, speak most highly of this work, and sur prise had been recorded that some posthumous recognition of Mr. Kennedy’s unselfish service, has not been made.

Mr. G. R. G. Wearne, a former ANGAU officer, and until recently, a patrol-officer at Sio Police Post, near Pinschhaten, New

Guinea, left recently for Australia wharp he will attend a couvS School of Pacific Afflfrs Australian