Mass Grave Discovered
p. 47 · Read in the full issue
Near Kokopo, NB Fate of Australian POWs
SECRETS of the Japanese invasion period in New Britain are still being uncovered. Natives recently found a secret Jap burying ground near Kokopo, and Army and Air Force Search units, in June, were investigating this and the report that the Japs threw the bodies of some Australian prisoners-of-war into Matupi crater.
Five bodies were recovered from the burial ground near Kokopo and have been identified by means of service identification discs and teeth, to be Army and RAAF personnel who are believed to have been in Rabaul hospital at the time of the Jap invasion. At the end of the war, the Japs claimed that these men had been in one of their ships which had been torpedoed by the Americans.
The discovery of these bodies opens up new possibilities as to the fate of several civilian internees who mysteriously and completely disappeared during the Jap occupation.
In charge of RAAF identification is Flight-Lieutenant Keith Rundle who re ceived the MBE in the last Birthday Honours.
As Officer in Command of all search parties in the New Guinea area between November, 1945, and August, 1948, he
Walked through miles of unexplored jungle in Papua, Dutch New Guinea, the New Guinea mainland, New Britain, New Ireland and nearby islands.
He was responsible for the discovery of 71 of the 112 RAAF aircraft lost in the area. The other aircraft were presumed to have been lost at sea.
While in command of Australian search, Ft.-Lieut. Rundle acted as adviser and assistant to the American Pacific Search Unit.
'l’he engagement has been announced Of Miss Nina Marianna Minkslin, of Syd ney, to Mr. I. L. Mansell, of Suva, Fiji.
The couple met when Miss Minkslin was holidaying in Suva.
Mrs. J. R. Metcalfe, who with her hus band, the Rev. Mr. Metcalfe, has lived in Choiseul, BSI, for many years, has re cently translated an abridged version of Pilgrim’s Progress into the Banbatana tongue and this has been published and is available for use of the Methodist mis sion which maintains mission stations on Choiseul.