Territorian

He's A Veteran

Tex” Roberts, of New

nea, is a veteran Territorian, :ng been there off and on e 1916. 3 was born at Prestatyn, in Wales, on March 31, 1887, and christened Edward. He trained telegraphist in the early days idio, and worked in Morse code le port of Liverpool. He came ustralia and settled in Brisbane, Post Office telegraphist. When broke out in 1914 he went to as a wireless operator, serving in the troopship Anaeas of the Funnel Line. In 1916 he Jd the Navy as wireless operator,

(Continued on p. 97)

A Brett Hilder Profile

and was first stationed at Woodlark Island. This station, with a mast about 340 feet high, relayed the traffic between Rabaul and Towns ville. He was later sent to the ex- German station at Bitapaka, near Rabaul.

In 1920 Tex resigned and went into the motor engineering firm of Adams and Cooper in Rabaul.

Soon after this he started a car hire service there. He tells the story about the day he was engaged to drive Lord and Lady Forster around during their vice-regal tour of the territory. Poor Tex was dressed up in starched whites, after being briefed in the necessary protocol. All went well until the dignity and solemnity of the occasion was shattered by the joy ful voice of “Tiger Lil”, who had just recognised Tex in his un accustomed attire.

About 1923 Tex and the Cooper of Adams & Cooper began clearing and planting some land in the Bainings with coconuts.

In 1926 he set out with a party, which included “Blue” Allen, from Salamaua to look for gold. They reached Edie Creek after 13 days, and had some success. So for the next 10 years Tex was in the gold fields area, prospecting and occasionally recruiting, and having many adventures in the rough country. He was the first to find gold on the Schilling River, 20 miles in from Wewak.

In 1936 he took up 300 hectares for a copra plantation on the coast

outh of Rabaul. His property ms named “Talilis”, and it is next o Induna.

He filled in his time cutting ralnut logs from about 10 miles of tie neighbouring coast, and these 'ere cut into flitches and shipped ut from Induna. Tex saw the 337 eruption at Rabaul from a ife distance to windward.

Upon the arrival of the Japanese irces in 1942 he took off down the last, luckily avoided the Tol lassacre by going inland, and then lent three months at Drina planta on awaiting rescue. He was nally picked up by the Laurabada, ider Ivan Champion.

Returning to New Britain after te war, Tex was married in 1948 the Kunai Methodist Church at abaul. This church fell down the iry next day. The bride was Rita eorgina, nee Brain, the widow of German planter, Peter Uechtritz. 10 owned Sum Sum plantation. 3r son, by her first marriage, is ibert Harold Roberts, an agri- Itural officer in Queensland.

Tex and his wife have now made eir home in Sydney, living at arrawee, and he makes occasional sits to New Guinea to look after 3 plantation interests.