The Escape From

Letter to the Editor

The Escape From Tarawa in 1942

I WOULD like to give you the plain facts on the final escape from Tarawa in 1942, which, to my knowledge, have not before been published. (See PIM for July, 1955). In doing this I feel I will be clearing up any doubts cast on the loyalty of my officers and crew serviing under me at the time.

The escape from Tarawa in the first place was to have been under taken by myself, officers and who ever among the crew wished to leave, which would have been a comparatively simple undertaking.

Subsequent events, including the arrival of a drifting life-boat with nine survivors, the wish on the part of a good many more people to leave, and the presence of heavy air reconnaissance, turned this hitherto small operation into one of heavy responsibility.

Prior to this I had received orders to proceed with the utmost celerity to the Southern Gilberts.

But, because of the reconnaissance, and the difficulties attached to travelling at night and staying concealed by day with three boats (1 launch and 2 life-boats) and a

large party, I decided to wait until, in my opinion, reconnaissance had lessened and conditions regarding tides had become more favourable. The wisdom of this decision was borne out by the fact that my officers (with one exception) and men stood by me,

and the escape was accomplisj leaving no one who wished to < could leave, and leaving responsibility to Government! regards Europeans.

While I do not decry in way the efforts on the part of correspondent to escape, the

Isults prove that careful planning md loyal team work produce lositive results.

'As can be imagined the repairing if battered boats was no easy natter when a visit from the nemy could be expected at any ime, and I highly commend the aen who helped in this task, with pecific reference to my then Chief tagineer, Mr. L. Sinclair, who rusted my final decision.

I am, etc.,

E. W. Harness

uva, bv. 17, 1955. (EDITORIAL NOTE: The article i July, 1955 PIM, to which iaptain Harness refers, was not itended to reflect on the loyalty f his officers and crew. Nor do b think that it does. One matter lould, however, be made plain, as aptain Harness may infer that it as Captain Stead who provided Fwith the July story. This is not I Captain Stead has never unmunicated with the PIM about le Tarawa escape, or about mhing else. Staff members of [M know him only by repute. As is made clear in an introduction [ our July story, it was written ire in Sydney from copies of an Bcial report that we had held for r er 13 years. The report contained itements from almost every person volved in the escape, and official mments on the statments. Stead is commended as having shown itiative; and it was considered at “the success of his venture ntributed materially to the icision of the main party at irawa to put to sea.”)