Memories

Citation Stirs

Of Grim 1942-4

r[E presentation in Rabaul on June 14, bv Colonel Rufus S. ,amey (United States Senior Min iry Attache in Australia) of a residential Distinguished Unit station, to Liept. Colonel J. K-. [cCarthy, MBE, as commander of art of a force which did remark ble service in the Admiralty Is mds (Manus), directs attention gain to that District Commis oner’s fine war record.

When the Jap invasion over helmed Rabaul in January, 1942, disorganised mass of civilians and lilitary personnel fled westward, nrough the New Britain jungles, iefore that month ended, J. K.

IcCarthy (who was then an ADO, nd an officer of the NG Volunteer iifles) found himself in charge of Few Britain, between Talasea and tebaul, carrying out rescue oper tions.

It is a long story; but eventually IcCarthy and his assistants gath red hundreds of distressed Euro eans and natives into parties, and 3d them and got them away west ward, across to the NG mainland, nd southwards to Australia. It was a notable performance, under lost discouraging conditions.

Then McCarthy joined ANGAU; nd, two years later, he was the ieutenant-colonel in charge of an iNGAU unit which was part of the hewer task force, which on Febru ary 29, 1944, made a pounce on lomote, in Manus. This was to be aerely a reconnaissance; but the novement was so rapid and aggres ive that it disrupted the Jap de ence, seized part of the Momote irstrip and established and held s beach-head; and this allowed ither American-Australian forces to ush in and secure and exploit an inexpected and important victory.

This in turn opened the way to he seizure of Hollandia a few weeks ater, and shortened perceptibly his nart of MacArthur’s northward irive against the Philippines McCarthy has handed the Cita ion over to Major Wilson, officer ommanding the PNGVR, in Rabaul, :or safe keeping. It is eight years ance the Citation was won; but, ieflnitely, better late than never.

Mr. I. V. G. Mackay, M.8.E., Senior Auditor, North Borneo, since 1947, will shortly be proceed ing on leave, after which he will go to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate as Accountant- General. He was born in 1912 and educated at Dunfermline, Scotland, and Edinburgh University. He was Assistant Auditor in the Gold Coast jn 1938, and was on military service from 1939 to 1946. In 1945 he was transferred to Malaya.