New Guinea
pp. 76-97 · Read in the full issue
Old Hand
Mr. ALLAN GOW, Distrio Commissioner for Bougainvillt has been in Papua-New Guine since 1937.
HIS father, of Scots descent, sper many years on the KalgoorlJ goldfields around 1900. He the settled in Perth, and Allan Flinde; Gow was born at Subiaco in 191.
After schooling in Perth, Allan starte a Science course at the Universal At the age of 22 he left that to jot the Territory of New Guinea A*, ministration as a clerk.
He served at Salamaua, Wau an Rabaul. In 1940, whilst stationed Kokopo, with ADO I. K. McCartH and Policemaster C. Normoyle, K enlisted in the AIF. He was a original member of the 2/25< Battalion, which trained at Brisbarri After service at Darwin and tl: Middle East (Egypt and Syria), th battalion returned to Australia wii the 7th Division and took part in tlj Owen Stanley campaign. Allan wv invalided out, and then transferred ANGAU as a patrol officer, with til rank of Warrant Officer. His fini six months were spent at the Oronii
(Continued on p. 93)
A Brett Milder Profile
mountain post, east of Goilala. He was then flown to Goroka and did extensive patrolling around Kainantu and the Ramu River district.
During the military operations in this area, including the battle of Shaggy Ridge, Allan was attached to 7th Division Headquarters at Dumpu.
After this he was sent to Australia with complicated malaria, but re turned to New Guinea early in 1944 just in time to become an original member of the ANGAU task team which took part in the American landing at Aitape.
He led many allied patrols, includ ing the first to cross the Torricelli Mountains, and gained information on enemy troop movements in the Sepik River area. For these services he was commissioned and given an immediate award of the Military Cross.
After his discharge from the army, Allan returned to Rabaul as patrol officer in 1946. He was promoted to DO in 1948, and served at Kokopo, Manus and Madang. In 1952-53 he attended a course at ASOPA in Sydney, and returned to Manus.
His next posting was to Buin, from whence he was made acting District Commissioner, Bougainville. He was confirmed as DC in 1958, and has since served in that capacity in New
eland, Milne Bay, the Southern ighlands, and now back again to irkest Bougainville.
After many years of peaceful chelorhood, Allan was married in nuary, 1954, to Phillis Johnson, e was the widow of a pre-war trol officer, Eric Mitchell, who was 3tured by the Japanese as a Coast tcher at Gasmata, and posted ssing in the Montevideo Maru.
Mr. and Mrs, Gow share a liking gardening, which is a popular and /arding pastime in New Guinea, sy have also developed a liking for Tseas travel, during their leave, and >e to do a lot more of this in the
jre.