the NGVR

What the Civilians Did in the Jungle War [?]ome Men of the NGVR

At Madang, New Guinea, each Anzac Day, much decorated John Cox, on be half of Old Soldiers, lays a wreath on the Cenotaph in tribute to the memory of members of the famous NGVR (New Guinea Volunteer Rifles). ■ The generation now taking over in New Guinea knows little or nothing of what was done by its civilian prede cessors, who formed them selves into the NGVR, fought the Japs heroically if hope lessly when they invaded in early 1942, and later, in the jungle, gave our side priceless help as scouts and patrol guides.

We asked John Cox to tell what he could remember of the NGVR men whom he met in the Lae area in 1942, when the Japs were completely in the ascendant, and he sup plied the following notes:

Here is my list: !olonel Bill Edwards: Stout of irt and body. Before the • a Medical Assistant with Guinea ways, and with a nice house and offee plantation out on the Mark n Road. He was the man who was inly responsible for building up goldfields and Lae and Salamaua achments to platoon strength. A :orated soldier from World War I, i he had the trust and confidence all who served under him. y adre Sherwin: A real fight : padre, whose unfailing good mour and matchless facility for rounging” comforts (both solid 4 liquid) endeared him to all.

Captain Ernie Hitchcock: A gold tier and a highly decorated ieran of World War I (he held i DCM and MM), he was later nsferred to the Pacific Islands ttalion. He was a man of cold •oded courage, initiative, and dar -5 of a high order. He made a iciality of attacking Japanese sts and patrols. In the NGVR, we ed to say; “Join the Army and i the world. Join Ernie Hitch 3k, and see the next world.”

Rifleman Bob Emery: Decorated M. and later, I believe, com

missioned. Bob ran a dairy farm near Lae before the Japanese in vasion. He was a fine specimen of the Australian soldier at his best full of courage, energy and resource, coupled with a Puckish humour. Bob simply ran rings around the Japs who were searching for him, and he was a master of bushcraft.

Rifleman Dick Vernon-. He was a planter and recruiter, who lived near the Markham Valley road.

A keen soldier, well known and well liked by Europeans and natives.

He was killed in a clash with a Jap patrol not far from his own house.

Fearful Odds

Riflemen Merv Prosser, Freddie Clark, and Peter Humphries were only boys in years but they acquitted themselves as men when “faced by fearful odds”.

Sergeant Ossie Priebe, of Guinea Airways, Lae. He was horribly burnt on legs and thighs when setting fire to drums of petrol at Voco Point, Lae. He bore himself with fortitude and courage, and he never com plained while his injuries were be ing attended to by Rifleman George Whittaker, shortly before the Jap anese landing.

Afterwards, when only partially recovered, Priebe showed great courage and fortitude, by walking with the other members of his platoon and some civilian prisoners part of the way from Lae to Bull dog. It was noted that a well known Islands firm chartered an aircraft to carry out its account books, while Ossie Priebe and other sick and wounded riflemen were left to stagger out as best they could.

Sergeant Phiebe subsequently joined FELO and became a WO.

Rifleman Jack Priebe: This civilian soldier, a brother of Ossie, also was employed by Guinea Air ways. Although in indifferent health, he marched with his pack on his back and full equipment from Lae to Bulldog, and spared no effort to assist by word and ex ample those of his comrades who either through illness or physical weakness could hardly make the grade. Many an old member of the NGVR will join me in saying, “God bless Jack Priebe”.

Rifleman George Whittaker (later Captain, and MBE) : He served with ANGAU. George formerly had his own lucrative business as optometrist at Lae, besides being a Medical Assistant with Guinea Airways.

He lived on his property at Awilunga, planted up with coffee and native foods, about 10 miles out on the Markham road. He was liked and respected by Europeans and natives throughout New Guinea. He had extraordinary success in treat ing difficult tropical diseases, and was noted for his untiring en^ r sy in tramping up hill and down dale

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tend to even the most humble » or European miner or planter. detested all forms of drill or tentation —in fact anything iry—but when the hour struck, the Japanese invaded his be- New Guinea, he threw him leart and soul into the grisly ess of war, not only killing lese, but attending to the is and diseases of his comrades. >rge Whittaker was entirely ut skilled assistance, and had few drugs. Yet, in those dark when one never asked, “Are ours?” when the watchful skimmed the tree-tops, George id on and. with his own skilled 3 and a wealth of experience, many good Australian lives.

VIBE was his sole reward from teful country. erwards, during the Lae — laua campaign, Lieutenant ;aker did invaluable work, not in organising native carriers ing essential stores to the front mt in operating a very efficient lage service in both Lae and laua. Devoted natives, many riorn owed their lives or the of someone dear to them to ame “Masta Whittaker” risked thing in obtaining vital infor n from inside the two heavily loned towns. urge Whittaker is a truly man, and one whose name e honourably mentioned when the old NGVR lads foregather. geant-Major Alf Lane, DCM : as a veteran of World War I, he worked very hard indeed ng the NGVR. at the gold towns and at Lae and Sala leman John Cook, who ran the lir, Guinea Airways motor h, between Lae and Salamaua, to the Jap invasion. "Jackie”, e was affectionately known, :h small in stature, had the of a lion. While toiling up down the awful greasy slopes e hills and mountains between nd Bulldog, many an old-timer I never have made the grade, t not been for John Cook, who turned back, and carried the r one’s equipment, as well as wn, to the next halting place I thought nothing of it. all this gallant little band it well be said: iow can man fight better than en facing fearful odds the ashes of his fathers, and ■ temples of his gods.