The Battle’s Ended-
p. 80 · Read in the full issue
After 35 Years!
THE name of John NixonwestwoocL has been added to those of world War I veterans, inscribed on the memorial stone in Port Moresby. Thus ends a long battle. (From here on, NW means Nixon westwood; HO means High Official dom.) HW was in an Administration post at Daru, Western Papua, and wanted fnlist. HO was unfavourable— inat Dapi post was essential, even in wartime, and very hard to nil.
Thereupon NW went to war with HO.
NW was asked by Messrs. Wally Maidment, D. C. Harmon and W. H.
Haru, to go to Thursday Island for foodstuffs, then in desper ately short supply. The District Officer forbade the expedition. d .f£ ed the HO and left on Goodwill , carrying outwards mad.
Among the mail was a letter to the II storekeeper from the DO, ask -Ing for certain supplies. NW knew that the DO already had ample supplies. When the “Goodwill” got back to Daru with the food, it was found that the DO’s order had most unaccountably been short-shipped.
NW thenceforward was further out of favour with HO.
NW eventually got away to the war—he served with the New Zea land Engineers on Gallipoli. But xohen the names of Pdpua’s volunteers were assembled on the memorial stone, NW’s was conspicu ously missing. NW always insisted that the omission was a deliberate act on the part of outraged HO.
NW, 35 years ago, started the argument ; he insisted that his name be added to those on the stone. HO was equally insistent that it had no proof that NW ever joined up or went overseas. NW has lived in many parts of the South-Pacific, but now is retired and resides in England. He is a tireless letter writer.
A few months ago, “PIM” heard of the marathon correspondence, and brought the matter formally under the notice of the Secretary of the RSS & A League at Lae. An inquiry was made, and the name at last was added to the honoured List.