They Will Recall Memories

Of Guadalcanal, 1942

The 20th anniversary of the successful landing of the United States Marines on the coast of Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, will be celebrated on the beach in Guadal canal on Wednesday, August 8, by representatives of the United States and Great Britain.

HHE Japanese occupied Rabaul, I in New Guinea, in January, 42; and most places in the northern irts of New Guinea in February arch; but they did not take over ilagi (then administrative centre of e Solomons) until early May. From *re. Japanese patrols spread all er that archipelago.

Non-official British personnel was thdrawn, but a large proportion of ; British Colonial Office people, d many of the missionaries, simply ;nt into the jungle, lived with and stained the natives, and acted as ast-watchers and guerrillas, while I American forces were building I for an attack.

They became famous com ny, these men h o took to e jungle. At eir head was ssident Com issioner W. S. archant, 3E, and the shop of Mel u e s i a, Dr. iddeley, who d won the 50 and the C with Bar, a combatant World War I.

There was

ting Vivian Fox-Strangways, who ived in the South Seas to RC of the Gilbert and Ellice ands just as the Japs invaded, i who became instead the ijor in charge of the tiny garrison Tulagi. And there were some igh Administrative officers who cted to stay at their posts—D. G. nnedy, who was in the western mds, close to the enemy; Martin :mens, who on Guadalcanal had lost as hazardous a life as Paul ison and W. J. Read, up in ugainville; Bill Bengough, on Jaita; Michael Forster, on San ristobal; and Colin Wilson, at nikoro. Each was given com isioned rank, with authority to ruit Solomon Islanders as fighters; 1 the services given by these

natives were of great value in harassing the enemy—especially when the American attack began.

All the British officers gave distinguished service; and of those

the most notable were Donald Kennedy and Martin Clemens. Mr.

Clemens now is living in retirement in Melbourne; but he accepted an official invitation to proceed tc Honiara at the end of July and take part in the celebrations.

Mr. Clemens will note the contrast now with the days in 1942 when, ragged and barefoot, he led his gang of a score of devoted natives, lived on whatever food they could scratch out of village gardens, and harassed the enemy, day and night. One of his most trusted men was that famous Sergeant-Major Vouza, who was awarded the British George Medal and the American Silver Star.

A war-time photo of Mr. M. Clemens.