Visitors From Over Ihe Border

Third Escaping Party

Cident At Bena

Bena

)RE interest than is normal in an official war history was

red by The Japanese

ist, reviewed in PIM in Jan , and in which was outlined 5 of the early incidents in the in New Guinea, One of the people to write us about the ry—notably about the omis of the full story of the New ea Volunteer Rifles from the

—now comes back again,

t the Bena Bena incident, i exercised the pens of two readers in April PIM (page He is Roy Macgregor, of mg, and he says: ippears from your remarks, so from others, that there has ;en some misunderstanding leadership of parties of :s rescued from New Guinea, he number of parties, your information there were The first party was landed jadjim in February, 1942, from Administration vessel Thetis I had previously brought out ; Sepik River with a convoy ir other vessels to provision adang and proceed to New i on rescue work, i ship, after being victualled, anded over by me to others I stopped to take over one others which was, by night, orting stores from Madang to jim for native carrier lines, )ok them into base depots and ntu. nteen were on this trip and rest and medical attention, /ere taken by me to Kaigulin e Ramu River and handed to Greg Neilson and Reg second party arrived about April in the Edith, with Lieut, r (later Capt. Palmer, MC) Manus Island from where lad escaped under the eyes i Japanese. They also were and taken by me to the spot and handed over. They the Ist Commando-Indepen tompany. these parties were eventu aken out by planes from Hagen. low come to the third party. :onsisted of four Europeans, .11 Luff, plantation manager, 11 Scannell, miner from We- Tom Gallon, road master, : and Mr. Law, radio opera

tor from Bitapaka and Lieut.

Dawson with maybe eight soldiers, I assembled this party at Bogadjim, leaving early August. Messrs, Luff and Scannell were riding horses. The party was brought first to Kianantu, thence to Bena Bena.

Whilst we were at Kianantu, Jerry Pentland had flown in with a Dragon Rapide.

I was working under Navy at the time and on orders from Captain Penglase at Madang. Whilst at Bena Bena a few days after arrival, I received the following signal. “IN

Future All Evacuations To

Take Place From Here Re-

Peat From Here” (Signed)

Kanga Force, Wau.

On Jerry’s first trip back he informed me that he was told back at Moresby that he was to fly back only American Airforce personnel.

On being asked for his informant, he quoted Capt. Townsend.

From this information, and acting on the text of the signal received, I decided to go to Wau. At Kianantu I split the party into two.

Messrs. Luff and Scannell and one soldier decided to remain at Bena Bena.

The second party I put in charge of Mr. Law (afterwards killed by Japanese behind Saidor with Lincoin Bell). The second party was to leave on the second day behind us and the one lot of carriers, well managed by Police-boys, was to serve both parties.

Eventually, after an uneventful trip down to the Markham River and up the Watut, we reached Sun shine and later Bulwa where the NGVR Headquarters were. Lieut, Dawson with the soldiers proceeded on to Wau.

Lieut. Dawson remained at Wau whilst the others were flown out.

The Japanese were at the time dropping bombs in the area and the place was under fighter cover.

I, later on, with Jim Leahy took 200 indentured natives (ex. Bulolo Gold and NGG labourers) over the top to Bulldog, where Jim brought back supplies from there to Bulwa.

I proceeded on down the Lakekamu eventually reaching Moresby after being seven weeks on the track, in Moresby I called upon Captain Townsend and asked him about this Wau “order” and he informed me that he knew nothing about it, nor had he any authority whatsoever to make such, as he was with ANGAU, another Unit.

Lieut. Dawson (later Lt. Col.

Dawson) was not in charge of the third party as he has stated in your March edition. in reference to the NGVR Sec tion of the War History as men tioned in PIM, May issue, I may state that no one of the Madang Unit has been contacted. By your reference to the History now having gone into print, it would appear that it will be another incomplete book.

Visitors From Over Ihe Border

The Dutch-Australian entente cordiale is being strengthened by visits between Australian and Netherlands NG officials. Recently the District Commissioner of Hollandia, NNG, paid a visit to Wewak, and in June, Sepik District Commissioner, R. R. Coles, and Mrs Coles returned the call. Here they are being greeted at Hollandia by District Officer J. W E. Solcer. Dr. F. R. J. Eibrinka Jansen, DC Hollandia, is shown facing the camera. photo- w e Tausent