Funeral for Sgt. Ben Moide C.B.E., D.M.S., Papuan Infantry Battalion
at Port Moresby on 17 January 2014

The PNG Government appointed Colonel Vagi Oala, Chief of Plans PNGDF, to organize a State Funeral after the death of retired Sergeant Benjamin Steven Moide in Port Moresby on 30 December 2013. According to his family, Ben had suffered from respiratory problems and he was rushed from his Waigani home to St John’s Clinic at Gerehu early on the morning of the 30th. Despite the efforts of the hospital staff, Ben passed away later that morning. This news reached Qld later that day and was announced the following day. After phone calls and Email discussions amongst the Committee, I was instructed to represent the PIB NGIB HQ PIR Association at the State Funeral.

While waiting to hear the date of the Funeral, funding avenues were explored to no avail. Our Association approached the Australian High Commissioner, Ms D. Stokes, who readily agreed to provide ‘on the ground’ assistance in Port Moresby. The ADF Liaison Officer was designated to act as my liaison officer.

Australian High Commission

Capt. Jake Osborne (Liaison Officer) and Murray Barracks Officers Rooms

On a fine and humid day, participants assembled at the Rev. Sione Kami Memorial Church on 5-Mile Road at Gordons. Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Lahui Lovai LM, showed the veterans to their places on the right side of the altar. These included PNG World War 2 veterans and representatives of the Australian RSL (Terry Meehan) Port Moresby Sub-Branch (Mick Rice) PNG Veterans Group (John Adie) 39th Battalion Assn (George Friend) and myself. As well as the Australian Military Attaché, Colonel Dick Parker, there were a large number of PNGDF Officers present, particularly those from Papuan areas.

PNGDF Officers included the outgoing Commander, Brigadier Agwi, and the incoming Commander, Brigadier Designate, G. Toroppo. The PNG Government was represented by the Honorable Michael Malabag, Minister for Health, and the Australian Government was represented by the High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms Deborah Stokes. After the arrival of the Casket with escort, the Funeral commenced at 1030. The Service was conducted by the M.C. and the full sequence of the Service is included with his Address in the first Attachment below. The Eulogy was delivered by Ben’s relative and biographer, Mr. Lahui Ako, and his Speech is in the second Attachment below.

The Service included hymns, Bible readings, Tributes and the Laying of Wreaths. Tributes were paid by the High Commissioner, PNGDF Commanders, family representatives and a PNG Veteran. The incoming Commander paid tribute to “this great man; our hero; the icon of the PNGDF.” He said that Ben had lived “well beyond the average PNG life expectancy and, perhaps, was motivated to enjoy his great-grandchildren.” He concluded, “We salute you!” The outgoing Commander referred to Ben’s World War 2 service in the Papuan Infantry Battalion and commented that “War is a terrible thing that should not be repeated (in PNG).” He praised Ben’s role in annually reciting the Ode at Remembrance Day Services (at Ela Beach) in Port Moresby.

Next, a tribute was paid by a PNG Veterans representative, Lt.Commander John Adie (ADF, PNGDF). John spoke persuasively and in detail about the unjust treatment of PNG veterans, such as Ben Moide, by Australian and PNG governments. His speech echoed the earlier sentiments of the M.C. about the unfair treatment of PNG veterans by the government of a nation now rich in natural resources. (These speeches resulted in the Government Minister privately agreeing, at the Funeral, to meet with PNG veterans in his office.)

Our High Commissioner then spoke to the “ties and shared history between our two nations.” She praised Ben’s “promotion of the World War 2 history in Papua New Guinea and Australia” and Ben’s leadership role in the Papuan Infantry Battalion. She concluded, “The people of Australia say Thank You for his sacrifice and his service.” The M.C. later read a message from the Australian Minister for Defence praising Ben as “a fine man, a brave soldier and an outstanding servant of Papua New Guinea.”

Ben’s grandson, Boisen Ila, referred emotionally to Ben as the family’s “hero, legend and icon.” Another relative, Peter Moide, expressed the family’s appreciation to all official representatives. He thanked the PNGDF for their role in the Funeral. (The day after the Funeral, one of Ben’s daughters-in-law told me that the family was “shocked and surprised” at the number of officials attending the funeral yet they were “proud and happy” at the acknowledgement Ben was finally receiving.) At 1345, after a Motuan Farewell Song, the Casket Bearers marched to the Church entrance led by two Pipers from 1 RPIR.

The Funeral cortege drove to the Taurama Barracks Military Cemetery for the Burial with full military honours. We drove through a soldier’s guard of honour at the entrance to Taurama Barracks and parked with Ben’s relatives and veterans near the Cemetery. Here, with no time to ask permission, George Friend and I erected the PIB & NGIB Banner and followed behind the Casket. We positioned the Unit Banner a respectful distance from the burial plot and adjacent to the Firing Party. (The Banner was the subject of much interest and admiration at the Cemetery.)

PNGDF Party fire a Rifle Salute

Veterans with Unit Banner held by Terry Meehan (left) and George Friend

The Burial Service was conducted by retired PNGDF Chaplain, Rev. Rei Lahui Ako and current Chaplain, Major Garibo. The Casket Bearers comprised four Sergeants from PNGDF and two Police Sergeants. The Service included prayers, Last Post, Reveille, three (SLR) Rifle Salutes, presentation of the National Flag and official Wreath to Ben’s oldest son, careful positioning of the Casket, and laying of soil into the burial plot by PNGDF, Representatives, Firing Party and then family.

Casket Bearers and all Officers salute

Funeral Organiser presents National Flag and Wreath to oldest son

After the Service, our Banner was approached by PNG veterans, Ben’s adult children and onlookers with cameras. I spoke only briefly to ABC journalist, Liam Cochrane, about our Association before we had to leave for Murray Barracks refreshments. Pausing briefly to acknowledge the retired Sergeants living at Taurama Barracks Sergeants Mess, we drove to the ORs Club, called the Ben Moide Club, within Murray Barracks. This open-sided building is located next to the ORs accommodation blocks and includes pool tables, chairs and tables. Here, the Government had provided Afternoon Tea and soft drinks for the official party, representatives and the Moide family.

This provided an opportune time for me to meet serving PNGDF Officers and Soldiers, explain the role of our Association, exchange email addresses and arrange a meeting next day with PNG Veterans representatives. The Australian representatives then withdrew to allow the Moide family and PNGDF to enjoy the refreshments.

After the Funeral, having visited Taurama and Murray Barracks, I was interested in visiting the other local barracks where Nasho and Regular servicemen were posted in the 1960s and 1970s – Goldie River Training Depot. Being a Saturday, things were quiet except for an Aussie W.O. slashing the oval used for joint exercises and the local contractors using a ride-on mower around the Sergeants Mess. But the Depot looks impressive and was worth visiting. The ADF maintains a connection to this Depot as well as to the other PNG barracks. That night, I met with retired Lt. Commander John Adie and Major Frank Moripi to explain the role of our Association and to learn about the work of the Papua New Guinea Veterans and Services League as they seek their just entitlements from Australian and PNG Governments.

PNGDF Officers welcome visitors to Ben Moide Club

Part of Ben’s family enjoy refreshments

Overall, it was an honour and a learning experience to represent the diverse membership of our Association at the State Funeral. My brief impressions included:
* respect for staff and operation of the Australian High Commission
* respect for the distinguished Papuan leaders I met
* respect for the work of the Services League and Australian business men
* difficulties facing current and former PNGDF Servicemen
* surprise that English is so dominant in government and social circles
* the phrase ‘colonial times’ is widely used and matter-of-factly
* the roads, and flying, are still hazardous
* the betel nut ban in Moresby is being enforced and supported
* some traditions remain; the rich-poor gap is increasing; and, in some suburbs, the skyscrapers and air-conditioned venues are multiplying.

Thanks again to all who helped me in Port Moresby,

Greg Ivey
(for PIB NGIB HQ PIR Association)

____________________________________________________________________

MC SPEECH – LATE SGT. BEN MOIDE

ON THE 23rd JULY, 2013, THE LATE Sgt. BEN MOIDE PERFORMED HIS LAST OFFICIAL DUTY AS PRESIDENT OF THE PNG VETERANS AND EX SERVICEMENS LEAGUE AND AS A VETERAN PIB SOLDIER AFTER RECITING THE ODE AT THE 34th REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE AND COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE AT ELA BEACH.

IT WAS ONE TASK HE UNDERTOOK WITH A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE AND PERFORMED THE RITUAL WITHOUT FAIL SINCE THE 23RD JULY WAS DECLARED AS PNG’S NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

JUST BEFORE HE RECITED THE ODE, I HAD THE HONOUR OF INTRODUCING HIM AS ONE OF OUR LIVING LEGENDS, THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER OF CHARLIE COMPANY OF THE NOTORIOUSLY FAMOUS PAPUAN INFANTRY BATTALION AND A GENIUNE ‘GREEN SHADOW’.

WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO HIS ETERNAL REST ON THAT FATEFUL MORNING, 30th DECEMBER, 2013 I BELIEVE HIS GREAT WARRIOR SPIRIT GLADLY ANSWERED THE CALL AND STEPPED FORWARD TO JOIN THE RANKS OF ALL HIS FALLEN COMRADES AND ALL OTHER NAMELESS WARRIORS WHO HAD GONE BEFORE HIM IN THIS LIFETIME.

WE CAN BE REST ASSURED THAT HE HAS NOW TAKEN HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AMONGST GOD’S GREAT WARRIORS FROM THE AGES, STEPPING OUT FROM THE GREEN SHADOWS TO WALK UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY FOR TIMELESS ETERNITY.

THE PASSING OF OUR LATE FATHER HAS BROUIGHT ABOUT THE END OF AN EXTRA ORDINARY ERA IN OUR NATIONS HISTORY……AN ERA THAT GAVE RISE TO AN EXTRA ORDINARY GENERATION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEANS, MEN OF GREAT CHARACTER AND VALOUR, WHOSE VALIANT DEEDS AND GREAT PERSONAL

SACRIFICE SECURED FOR US AND OUR NEIGHBOURING FRIENDS THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY TODAY AND GAVE US ENDURING PEACE FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.

THEY KINDLED WITHIN OUR PEOPLES HEARTS A NEW BURNING SENSE OF NATIONALISM AND UNITY LAYING THE FOUNDATION BLOCKS FOR AN EMMERGING SOVEREIGN UNITED NATION WELL BEFORE THE CONSTITTUTION OF OUR NATION WAS EVER CONCIEVED IN THE LEARNED MINDS OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS.

HIS LEGEND BEGAN ON THE 23rd JULY, 1942 WHEN 35 PAPUAN INFANTRY BATTALION SOLDIERS WERE ORDERED TO MAKE A STAND AT AWALA AGAINST AN APROACHING ENEMY CONTINGENT OF 3000 HEAVILY ARMED SOLDIERS, HEADING THEIR WAY ON A FAST MARCH TO CAPTURE A SMALL AIRSTRIP AT THE KOKODA PATROL POST IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE.

AMONGST THE 35 PIB SOLDIERS WHO FIRED THE FIRST SHOTS AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY IN BATTLE THAT DAY WAS A YOUNG 18 YEAR OLD PAPUAN LAD BY THE NAME OF Sgt. BENJAMIN STEVEN MOIDE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT, BRAVE YOUNG PNG WARRIORS STEPPED UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND MADE HISTORY AND SHOWED THE WORLD, WHAT KIND OF MEN ARE BORN IN THIS LAND, THEIR STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, THEIR FEARLESS FIGHTING SPIRIT AND A SELFLESS PASSION TO GIVE WITHOUT RESERVATION AND SHOWING GREAT COMPASSION AND CARE TO RESCUE THE WOUNDED AND THE FALLEN, EVEN UNDER HEAVY ENEMY FIRE.

MANY RESCUED ALONG THE WAR PATH WERE SO IMPRESSED BY THE ACTIONS OF THESE FUZZY WUZZY HAIRED NATIVES AND IMMORTALISED THEIR DEEDS IN A POETS DIARY AS ‘THE FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS’ SENT BY THE ALMIGHTY TO RESCUE THEM FROM GATES OF HELL AND BACK TO SAFETY.

OUR FORE FATHERS DEMONSTRATED TO A WORLD AT WAR WHAT PAPUA NEW GUINEANS WERE CAPABLE OF DOING AS A PEOPLE AND THEY DID THAT BY SETTING ASIDE THEIR TRIBAL AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND WALKED THE WAR PATH STEP BY STEP AS BROTHERS,

THEY SHARED THE SAME FIRE PLACE, WATCHED OVER EACH OTHERS SHOULDERS AND SIDE BY SIDE THEY FOUGHT, PURSUED AND DESTROYED THE ENEMY.

AN ENEMY THAT WAS INVINCIBLE IN ITS CONQUEST THROUGHOUT THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION AND SEEMED UNSTOPPABLE UNTIL THEY LANDED ON OUR SHORES………….

OUR PIB AND NGIB SOLDIERS EARNED THEIR FAME AS ‘THE GREEN SHADOWS’

THEIR ABILITY TO LAUNCH SUPRISE ATTACKS WITH DEADLY FORCE AGAINST ENEMY STRONG HOLDS AND MELT AWAY INTO THE THICK GREEN JUNGLES WITHOUT A TRACE STRUCK FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF ENEMY SOLDIERS WHO COULD ONLY DESCRIBE THEM AS THE GREEN SHADOWS.

I WISH TO PUT ON RECORD TODAY THAT THIS STATE FUNERAL IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AND MOST PROBABLY THE LAST STATE FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICE THAT WILL EVER BE ACCORDED TO ANY PAPUA NEW GUINEAN VETERAN SOLDIER FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

SADLY MANY OF OUR GREAT WARRIORS, WHO FOUGHT BRAVELY ALONGSIDE THE ALLIED TROOPS, HAVE FADED AWAY INTO THE PASSING MISTS OF TIME.

MANY HAVE PASSED AWAY WITHOUT ANY PROPER DOCUMENTATION OF THEIR HEROIC EXPLOITS IN BATTLE.

FROM THE FOREBODING JUNGLES OF KOKODA TO THE BLOODY SHORES OF BUNA, GONA, SANANANDA, SALAMAUA, FINCHAFEN AND THE DARK RAINY JUNGLES OF MAINLAND NEW GUINEA TO THE HINTERLANDS OF OUTLYING NEW GUINEA ISLANDS.

MANY OF THESE GREAT MEN WAITED FOR SOME FORM OF REWARD TO COMPLIMENT THEIR WAR EFFORTS, BUT MANY WAITED IN VAIN, FOR THAT DAY NEVER CAME.

SUCH IS THE REALITY AND CONTRAST OF THE TIMES WE LIVE IN TODAY; OUR NATION HAS ACCUMULATED SO MUCH WEALTH IN RECENT YEARS AND HAS PROSPERED WAY BEYOND THE DREAMS OF OUR FOREFATHERS.
AND YET OUR WAR HEROES ARE BEGGING STILL TO BE REWARDED FOR THEIR SERVICES RENDERED IN THE LAST WORLD WAR.

ONE QUESTION THAT BEGS TO BE ANSWERED IN THIS DAY AND AGE BY A NATION THAT HAS BEEN SO BLESSED BY GOD,IS………………..
‘HAVE WE TRULLY DONE JUSTICE AND ACCORDED OUR GREAT WARRIORS THE PROPER RESPECT AND HONOR THEY DESERVED? (PAUSE)
GOD WILL BE OUR JUDGE

LET ME IN REFLECTION QUOTE THE WORDS OF THE LATE RTD SGT. SERGEANT BEN MOIDE FROM AN INTERVIEW RECORDED ON THE 23RD JULY, 2009.

AND I QUOTE, ‘ THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY MUST CONSIDER PROVIDING WAR PENSIONS TO SUPPORT OUR WAR VETERANS SUCH AS SOLDIERS AND WAR CARRIERS LIKE GOVERNMENTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DOING IN HONORING THE EFFORTS OF THEIR WAR HEROES’, END OF QUOTE’ TAKEN FROM THE 30th REMEMBRANCE DAY ANNIVERSARY MAGAZINE 2009.

IT WAS OUR LATE FATHERS DREAM THAT LEADERS OF THIS GENERATION WILL TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON THE SELFLESS SACRIFICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OUR FOREFATHERS MADE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR….

AND APPRECIATE WHAT THEY HAVE CCOMPLISHED AS SOLDIERS AND WAR CARRIERS IN OUR LIFETIME.

THE BEN MOIDE STORY: NAMELESS WARRIORS WRITTEN BY LAHUI AKO IS ONE BOOK THAT DOCUMENTS THE LIFE STORY OF OUR LATE FATHER.

THROUGHOUT ITS PAGES HIS VOICE SPEAKS TO US, LOUD AND CLEAR, REMINDING US OF THE TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A BAND OF WARRIORS WERE COMPELLED TO SERVE AND FIGHT UNDER A FOREIGN FLAG AGAINST A FOREIGN ENEMY…..

AND HOW THEY DREW INSPIRATION FROM ONE ANOTHER TO BECOME A FORMIDABLE FIGHTING FORCE THAT CHANGED THE TIDE OF WAR IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD.

WITH THESE REMARKS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN LET ME WELCOME YOU TO THIS VERY SOLEMN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF OUR FATHER, RETIRED SERGEANT BENJAMIN STEVEN MOIDE, DMS, CBE, MBE AND HIS MOTUAN TITLE, TUARI TAUNA.

MC: I SHALL NOW ASK THE POREPORENA CHOIR TO SING A HYMN THAT HAS INSPIRED MANY A GENERATION OF BRAVE WARRIORS MARCHING INTO BATTLE.
SONG: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
MC: THE RETIRED REI LAHUI AKO WILL LEAD US IN WORSHIP THIS MORNING.
BIBLE READING: HEBREWS 9: 27
SERMON
PRAYER
MC: THE POREPORENA CHOIR TO SING A MOTUAN HYMN – HYMN 68 ‘SIBOGU NA GINITORE’
SONG: SIBOGU NA GINITORE
MC: I SHALL NOW INVITE LAHUI AKO TO PRESENT US THE EULOGY OF THE LATE RETIRED SGT. BEN MOIDE.
EULOGY: LAHUI AKO
MC: TO BEGIN OUR TRIBUTES THIS MORNING WE WILL CALL UPON THE COMMANDER OF PNGDF, BRIGADIER GENERAL TOROPO TO HONOUR OUR LATE FATHER.
TRIBUTE: PNGDF COMMANDER
TRIBUTE: Retired Lt. Colonel JOHN AIDE
TRIBUTE: The Australian High Commissioner – Her Excellency, DEBORAH STOKES

TRIBUTE: FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE – BOISEN ILA (grandson)
TRIBUTE: THE HEAD OF AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE PERSONAL IN PNG
TRIBUTE: READING OF EMAILS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
TRIBUTE: MC READING OF POEM
MC: THAT CONCLUDES OUR TRIBUTE AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WONDERFUL TRIBUTES.

WE SHALL NOW PROCEED WITH THE LAYING OF WREATHS AS THE POREPORENA CHOIR WILL FAVOUR US WITH A NUMBER ITEMS IN MOTU AND ENGLISH HYMNS.
OUR WREATH LAYING CEREMONY WILL BE LED BY THE PNGDF COMMANDER, MOIDE FAMILY ELDERS,FOLLOWED BY THE PNG VETERANS AFFAIRS, THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER, MINISTERS OF THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERS, HEADS OF OTHER DISCIPLINED FORCES, DEPARTMENTAL HEADS, MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORP, FRIENDS AND THE PUBLIC…..
VIEWING OF OUR LATE FATHER WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE WREATH LAYING CEREMONY.
SONGS: MOTU AND ENGLISH – POREPORENA CHOIR

MC: THE VIEWING OF OUR LATE FATHER WILL PROCEED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER. THE COMMANDER OF THE PNGDF, MINSITERS OF THE STATE, NATIONAL LEADERS, PNG VETERANS AFFAIRS, THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER, THE AUSTRALIAN HEAD OF DEFENCE PERSONAL IN

PNG, MEMBERS OF DISCIPLINED FORCES, DEPARTMENTAL HEADS, MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORP, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHO HAVE NOT VIEWED OUR LATE FATHER AT THE WAIGANI HAUS KRAI OR GARA RUMANA.

FOR THE FINAL VIEWING I SHALL CALL UPON THE ELDERS OF THE MOIDE FAMILY AND THEY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR LATE FATHERS SEVEN CHILDREN, BOGE BEN MOIDE, MARGARET BEN MOIDE, JOHN BEN MOIDE, DAROA BEN MOIDE, ARUA BEN MOIDE, GWEN BEN MOIDE AND LOHIA BEN MOIDE.

SONGS: PORE PORENA CHOIR SINGALONG
MC: A FAMILY ELDER WILL COME FORWARD WITH A WORD APPRECIATION. FAMILY ELDER PETER ALBERT MOIDE.
PETER MOIDE: WORDS OF APPRECIATION

MC: I SHALL NOW CALL UPON THE PNGDF CHAPLIN, MAJOR GARIBO TO PRONOUNCE THE FINAL BLESSING ON THE CASKET.
REV. GARIBO: PRONOUNCE BLESSING

MC: FOR OUR FAREWELL SONG I SHALL INVITE THE POREPORENA CHOIR TO SING THE WORDS OF A SONG THAT CONCLUDES MANY FUNERALS IN THE POREPORENA HANUABADA COMMUNITIES THAT WERE DESTROYED BY WAR BOMBS SO MANY YEARS AGO.

ALLOW ME TO TRANSLATE THE FIRST STANGA FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR NON MOTUAN FRIENDS…..
1. MY DEAREST FRIEND WHERE ARE YOU GOING,
SHALL I ACCOMPANY YOU ALONG THE WAY,
BUT YOU HAVE TO GO NOW,
YOU MUST MAKE THIS JOURNEY TO YOUR HOME IN GODS KINGDOM WHERE YOU SHALL REJOICE FOR ALL ETERNITY………..

SONG: VADA BAOLA – POREPORENA CHOIR
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES OUR DEAREST BELOVED AND GOD’S FAITHFUL
WARRIOR……………..FAREWELL, BAMAHUTA BONA YAWORAI
SGT. BENJAMIN STEVEN MOIDE DMS, CBE, MBE, TUARI TAUNA……………

FAREWELL SONG ENDS
CATAFALQUE PARTY DISMOUNTS
PALL BEARERS AND CASKET BEARERS MARCH OFF
OFFICIATING PARTY FOLLOW OUT.
MC: ANNOUNCEMENTS
* BURIAL SERVICE AT TAURAMA CEMETARY
* REFRESHMENTS – AT BEN MOIDE CLUB
* FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
* SGTS. MESS – OFFICERS AND VIP’S

THE END

__________________________________________________________________________________

EULOGY

Late (Retired) Sergeant Steven Benjamin Moide, C Coy, Papuan Infantry Battalion

(Born: 1925; died: 30 December, 2013)

Good afternoon Excellencies, family, friends, and colleagues;

My name is Lahui Ako. I am one of the grandsons of the late warrior, of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, who lies before us today.

I stand here humbly before you all, at the beckon of the Ben Moide family and our whole extended family, to celebrate the life of this great Papua New Guinean. So I thank you all for this honour and privilege, to share this with you all.

(In Motu, seek permission from the family to use Bubu Ben’s first name during this eulogy for the benefit of everyone).

Each day, the ranks of this greatest generation of World War Two heroes, continue to suffer losses, not from the bullets and bombs of the enemy; but from illness and old age.

We are gathered here today because at around 11am on Monday, 30 December, 2013, one of the last of the Papuan Infantry Battalion’s remaining Non-Commissioned Officers – Benjamin Moide (or Ben Moide, as he was popularly known) – passed on to join that column of comrades marching to their final reward. Today, we pause to honour his memory and to celebrate a life well lived.

But who was Ben Moide? Yes, we all know that he was a WW2 veteran who fought in War 2. But who was he that upon his passing, we all gather here today to celebrate his life and remember him? Why have we travelled from as far as Australia to be here, might I ask?

In 2008, when Uncle Boge Lahui Ben-Moide, or Ralph, as he is popularly known, approached me one evening and said, “I think the time has come for you to write Bubu’s story, don’t you think?” I didn’t hesitate but said, “Why not!”

So, over the course of the next three (3) years, I travelled back in time to the 1940s and started roaming the jungles and hinterlands of Papua with the warriors of the Papuan Infantry Battalion – from their training camps in Port Moresby and Bisiatabu to the foot of the Owen Stanley Ranges and on to Awala, Kokoda, and Deniki, right across to the plains to the great Waria and Ope Rivers and then into Finschafen to make that historic landing; I slept with them in the bushes, ate hardman biscuits and bully beef with them; braved the rain, the sun, the flies, insects, disease; and death, and the strange sounds of the jungle in the deep of the night, and began to understand why the enemy was the enemy and why he was acting as such.

Most times, I would ask myself, would I have really fought with the PIB or evacuated with the rest of the Hanuabadans to the safety of Manumanu if I had been around then? This is the very question that this generation must take stock of as we continue to take our freedom for grant.

As I revelled in the presence of these heroes of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, I continuously hoped and prayed, while I wrote, for God almighty to grant this old man long life just so that he could personally launch his own book.

God, in his mysterious ways, answered my prayers. In July 2012, on the eve of the Remembrance Day celebrations, and with the generous support of countless friends from Australia and PNG such as George Friend, Greg Ivey, the Constantinou Group, Brian Bell, Michael Pearson, those esteemed gentlemen from the Rotary Club, and the UPNG Bookshop who helped published the book; “ NAMELESS WARRIORS: the Ben Moide Story” was launched at the residence of the Vice-Chancellor of the UPNG. The inclusion of the Foreword by former PNGDF Commander, His Excellency Ambassador Peter Ilau added the icing on the cake.

One of the notable condolence messages I received this week is from H.E Mr Peter Eafeare, the PNG High Commissioner to Fiji, who last year took possession of a couple of copies and on his return to Fiji, presented a copy to H.E Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the President of Fiji. Ratu Epeli, is a military man himself, a former Commander of the Fiji Military forces. Anyway, when High Commissioner Eafeare gave him the tragic news of Ben’s passing, the President expressed his most sincere condolences to the family, and wished them strength in this time of bereavement. High Commissioner Eafeare summed this condolence up nicely when he said, “From a Nameless Warrior, Ben has become a Timeless Warrior, as he rests in God’s eternal peace!”
During the writing of his biography, he always said that the war was a formative time in his life that forced him to grow up faster.

With that in mind, I would like to now invite you all to join me in reliving Ben’s life again on his final day on God’s earth.

From the very moment the war veteran walked into my grandfather Lahui Ako’s house at the invitation of his wife Henao Mou a couple of years after the end of War 2, it cemented what would be an everlasting relations between our two families – a relations that has continued ever since – even after he left the Lahui Ako residence to raise his own family.

In saying so, I would like to say that our family is very grateful for the outpouring of support from all sectors of the community received since the passing of our father, grandfather, great-great grandfather, uncle, and friend on Monday, 30 December, 2013. The culmination of his funeral arrangements today is tribute to this.

Today, as I look around the Church, I see a lot of faces, most of family, and of friends of family, but generally of friends. Yet to me, the faces I see gathered around here, are all faces of people who have known Ben; people who have loved and respected Ben; and people who were inspired by Ben.

Ben was friends to everyone he came across. Even when he launched his book in such humble surroundings, still friends came from afar: George Friend made the trip from the Gold Coast to surprise him at the launching of NAMELESS WARRIORS; while Ambassador Peter Ilau, who contributed the Foreword to the book, also made the long trip from Indonesia to attend the launching.

As such, your gathering here on his final day on God’s earth is no coincidence. In fact, it was predicted by Confucius more than a thousand years ago, when he said, “to have friends coming to one from distant parts, is not this a great pleasure?”

Retired Sergeant Steven Benjamin Moide died peacefully on Monday, 30 December, 2013, 88 years after his beloved Mother Nevea Gebai of the Motuan village of Pari brought him into the world. Upon his passing, he too, became a member of the cohort who have proudly served this great land of ours, and have passed on into the mist of time.

Like those veterans who have gone before him, Ben’s life involved so much more than this concise obituary. The members of the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the New Guinea Infantry Battalion who returned home after the war were, in fact, the first Papua New Guineans to have established and commenced dialogue with our Australian friends for a future partnership.

What they learnt from the Australians during the war, they put to use after the war. You see, Ben and his band of mostly nameless warriors were the forerunners, or shall I say, pathfinders, responsible for the shaping and rebuilding of the social, structural and moral foundations of their respective communities across this great land of ours which we continue to enjoy today.

73 years ago, a 16-year old boy ran away from home, falsified his age, and stepped forward among grown men, to defend his territory.

When Ben kissed his mother goodbye that fateful Friday morning in 1940 with only one thing on his mind, he didn’t realise that he would only see her one more time before she passed on. You see, when Ben’s parents went to visit him at Bisiatabu early in 1942 (the PIB had relocated to their new training camp at Bisiatabu to prepare for war and were allowing families to visit their sons, fathers, and husbands there), it was also to tell him that they were evacuating from Pari to Gaire village, due to the continuous Japanese bombing of Port Moresby. As they were leaving, his mother made him promise her that he would not kill!

Ben’s mother was a fervent Catholic, a follower of the new faith and a great believer in the Ten Commandments. But then, even as he vowed to keep his words to his mother, maybe out of guilt for “deserting her” when he ran away to join the army, his mind was full of questions he wanted to ask the enemy: What has my family done to deserve this? We don’t even know you or how you look like. My father and elder brother have never raided your village, steal from your garden, hunting or fishing grounds, or raped your women, yet your bombing has disturbed and destroyed my family’s comfort zone . . . and for this, you must pay!

When the Papuan Infantry Battalion met the enemy at Awala for the first time on the afternoon of 23 July, 1942, and when the teenager had firmly gripped his Bren and with such confidence squeezed down on the trigger in long bursts, the first word’s he uttered in this chaos in Motu was, “Sinagu, sori bada herea…!.” O Mother, sorry… as he sorrowfully apologized to his mother for breaking the promise he had made to her amidst the chaos around him.

But this was Ben’s nature. Apart from this apology, he had to make a statement to the enemy for destroying his family’s livelihood. When the Papuan Infantry Battalion officially encountered the enemy, Ben was only 18; and after these actions, one would have thought that he would be accepted as a true warrior by his brother NCOs. Sadly this wasn’t the case.

You see, the core of the PIB were ex-policemen; grown men; most had killed other men during raids up and down the coast, or had fought against the marauding inland tribes, but most importantly, they had been initiated into the traditional society. Ben was born in his mother’s village; and had not gone through the initiation ceremony to deem one a man.

However, Ben, despite this disadvantage, had an edge over his comrades. Ben, at 16 years of age, was educated according to the standards of that time. He was an English speaker; and English speakers were in high demand to make up the NCO Corp of the newly formed Papuan Infantry Battalion. It was to these English speakers, as well as former Police NCOs who could understand orders in English, that the commanders of the PIB looked to, to build a fighting force; one that would bear the first full brunt of the enemy while they waited for the allies to regroup.

Talking about the commanders of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, I was just informed a while ago by my good friend George Friend that Alan Hooper, Lieutenant, of “C” Coy, PIB passed away yesterday. Alan was Ben’s Platoon commander.

Ben had his work cut out for him and had to look out for his own safety, both from the enemy and from within. The PIB was formed by men from all the tribes of Papua; men who brought to the army their tribal animosities; men who were hellbent on taking revenge for past wrongs. There were sometimes knifings in the back in the dark of the night, as old scores were settled. Being an un-initiated NCO, he had a lot to prove and he did so with his wartime deeds; and during a break from the fighting, he made the long journey to his father’s village of Saguane to be initiated into manhood before returning to make the beach landings in Finschafen – as made man.

Today, as he lays here before us, the last of Papua New Guinea’s WW2 NCOs, I guess he has proven all his critics wrong. Because the way I see it, all his brother NCOs, men who fought the enemy simply because the enemy had intruded onto their tribal land and therefore had to be repulsed – men such as the princely Sama, a former Police NCO who became the PIB’s first official recruit; the most-feared Katue from whose deeds the enemy conjured up the now famous PIB nickname of “Green shadows”, the majestic Ehava boys who led forays into the enemy heartlands, and the legendary William Matpi, who, among his heroics and mostly unorthodox ways of waging war, was called in by the ANGAU commander at war’s end to dispel a possible riot by the PIR due to some racial tension, among a host of other heroes – have now formed a Guard of Honour at Ben’s final resting place, and anxiously await this service to end so that they can welcome their teenage warrior into their fold but this time as one of them, a tried, proven, and initiated PIB NCO.

It was to men like Ben and his comrades that the colonial administration unknowingly looked to assist rebuild the ravaged war torn land. Being educated and a good English speaker meant good opportunities for work in town then. So Ben was able to secure gainful employment as one of the two drivers of the post-war Administrator of the Territory, Colonel J. K. Murray; and being one of his drivers meant, driving the administrator throughout this whole locality, so that he could disburse his duties in rebuilding Port Moresby from the ravages of war. His opinion would have been sought and considered at great length too.

Ben also drove Dr Gunther around when he went out into the vicinity of the Waigani swamps to spy out land for a learning institute; and being the talkative person he was, I am sure he had something to do with the exact location of the University of PNG.

But it was during his employment at the Administrator’s office that Ben fell in love for the first time to the love of his life.

Right after the colonial administration rebuilt the village of Hanuabada, its people were encouraged to organize social events to while away their time amidst the ravages which the war had left. One of these activities was traditional dancing.

These dances were organized by the elders along clan lines and the young men and women were all encouraged to participate in these dances. These dances were usually done in the evenings and brought forth young and old alike to participate and or spectate.

So most evenings after work, Ben would spend his time at the dances, spectating. In fact, Ben would stay out late most nights, much to the anger of my grandmother, Henao Mou, who would most times, send her daughters, (my aunties) to collect him. Every time he returned home from these dances, my grandmother would lecture him about the dark, the spirits, and all the legends and fables of that time; Ben would always smile at her, eat his dinner and go to bed.

One evening, he went down to the village square to enjoy what had become his after-work past-time. That evening, the dances were organized by the Vahoi clan, and that particular evening, Ben fell in love forever!

It so happened that as he continued to watch the women swaying in their grass skirts, his eyes fell upon a beautiful young lass dancing in the midst of her seniors. As Ben watched this girl perform, a strange feeling of ownership overtook him; he wanted to make this girl his own. Suddenly feeling that everyone was watching him, he quickly got up from where he had been sitting and left, hoping that no one had noticed him, especially his intent stare at one particular dancer in the crowd. For the first time that night, Henao Mou looked up with utter surprise on her face when Ben arrived much earlier than usual, and went straight to bed.

The following evening, Ben returned to watch the dances; this time, determined to learn the girl’s name. Again he got himself completely lost in the ecstatic feeling of watching her dance. But this time he got caught!

Ben had not realized that he had been followed to the dances by one of Henao’s daughters until my late Aunty, Ranu Lahui surprised him by poking him on the side and said, “Her name is Maba; Maba Daroa. She is very beautiful, isn’t she, Uncle Ben?” Aunty Ranu winked at him.

“What are you talking and winking about?” Ben stumped back.

“Aww come on, Uncle Ben. It is very obvious and written all over your face that you are truly smitten by her. Come on, give me some money and I will go and buy her a gift of betelnuts and tell her that they are from you.”

Without thinking, Ben quickly dug into his pockets and gave the girl some money.

Aunty Ranu came back a few moments later and as Ben looked on expectantly at her, she answered, “She said to thank you for the gift of betelnuts!”

Aunty Ranu and my other aunties became the daily conduit for messages between the two young lovers; whose love grew and blossomed every day. If you must know, my late aunty Ranu is the mother of Major Edward Ga’a.

Their love for one another was such that despite the disagreement of the girl’s family on this relationship, which even included a court summons after Ben had eloped with his girl to Pari, a situation which Henao Mou quickly moved to smooth things out with Maba’s family; who were obviously on the warpath as such practices were unheard of in those times, and traditional law demanded compensations and reparations; it was obvious for all to see – the two young lovers were going to spend the rest of their lives together.

So it came to pass that under Henao Mou’s organization and coordination of the whole extended family network – hers and her husband’s – Ben’s bride price was prepared at the Gunina-Laurina clan and paid to the Vahoi family and his status as a made-man in the Motuan society was confirmed. It was an “awesome” day (as the younger generation of today will say), as relatives from all over Port Moresby, including those from Pari and Ben’s own siblings, came to Hanuabada to celebrate Ben’s bride price payment, and marriage to the love of his life, Maba Daroa.

As far as all the Motuans up and down the coast were concern, Ben had concluded the traditional Motuan obligations of marriage. His father Moide Enagi had done it nearly 30 years earlier. Now his son, Ben had again broken the very conservative ideals of the traditional Motuan distrust of all things non-Motuan. But most importantly, in doing so, Ben had united two families.

That night, Ben brought his wife into his elder sister, Henao Mou’s house to commence another chapter in his life, but this time with his wife at his side.

A year later in 1953, Ben and Maba were blessed with the arrival of a son, whom they named Boge Lahui Ben-Moide (Lahui after Henao’s husband, Lahui Ako). Two years later, their first daughter arrived and they promptly named her, Margaret Henao Ben-Moide (Henao after Henao Mou). Then followed John Ben-Moide, Daroa Ben-Moide, Arua Ben-Moide, Hetahu Gwen Moide, and Lohia Ben-Moide, bringing up the rear of this esteemed family.

Ben’s contribution to society did not end with his marriage. No! Ben also tried his hands at the game of cricket and lawn bowls too. Better still, he was also a prolific Rugby League player. He was a member of the powerful Magani outfit in 1961 to 1962 and was instrumental in the formation of the inaugural Poreporena Rugby league competition in the late 1950s, which paved the way for the formation of the famous Hanuabada Hawks Rugby League Club; a club which all rugby league-minded Hanuabada boys aspire to play in.

The father laid the foundations and the sons extended this legacy. Ben’s legacy to the formation of rugby league in Port Moresby and for that matter in PNG, was greatly emulated and if not, enhanced by his sons, John, Daroa, Arua and Lohia. All four of them have represented PNG during the course of their rugby league careers and have contributed to the development of the code in their own ways. Daroa, in particular, played with the Petone Club in the Wellington competition in New Zealand in the late 1980s where he also became the first Papua New Guinean to represent the Wellington Representive side. Arua, is currently one of the trainers of the PNG Hunters team getting ready to compete in the Queensland Cup competition for the first time.

Ben was President of the PNG Returned Servicemens League from 1982 to 1983; and during this time was a salesman for the then San Miguel Beer Company and later with SP Brewery when merger occurred between these two beer companies. He was SP’s Senior Sales Representative when he retired in 1991.

1991 was a very significant year for Ben. While he was getting ready to enjoy his retirement with the love of his life, tragedy struck! His love affair with his beloved wife Maba Daroa sadly ended on the morning of Thursday,
24 January 1991 when she was called to rest by the Almighty God leaving him a widower.

Today, with his passing, Ben’s legacy will live on in his family. Ben leaves behind his children, 45 grandchildren; and 46 Great-grandchildren.

Finally, I only came to truly know this great man when I started writing his biography; and from 2008 to 2011, the both of us spent countless hours together – one quarter of the time on his “official biography” while the remaining three-quarters was spent on the parts of his wartime experiences which he forbade me to write about; saying, “some things are better left unsaid, in respect of the dead, as well as to ensure that there is harmony in our future lives.” I can truthfully say that if he had allowed me to write EVERYTHING he said, Nameless Warriors would have been in a Trilogy.

It was obvious from our talks, that there was a lot of love from this father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He adored his children. For me, it’s not so much as the activities he enjoyed with his family; Yes, they were special moments. But rather the example of a life well lived that I admire the most. Ben was an example for so many, and yet he was unassuming. He loved his red wine.

I cannot help but have admiration for a man who runs away at 16 to join a cause which he didn’t understand much at all; yet, he enlisted, on his own accord, into the Papuan Infantry Battalion, and became a veteran of World War II. Ben loved life.

I don’t know about you today, but when those final hours of life are left for me on God’s planet, I don’t want to talk about paying bills, or sporting events, or those materials possessions that come and go. I want to be with the ones I love and remember the love that I gave to others. But then as human beings, these are mere whims; After all, God almighty has already predetermined our lives on His earth.

In Ben’s final days and hours, this is how it was, he was with those he loved — and what a blessing that was for him and for his immediate family.

As Christians, we believe that there is eternal life for those called to rest by God Almighty, Maker of everything. On earth, I think there is also eternal life as long as we are remembered by others.

When I look at Uncle Boge, John, Daroa, and Lohia, and Aunties Margaret and Gwen, and Ben’s grandchildren and great grandchildren, and all of you here today who knew Ben, I see and hear him alive in each one of you. This is Ben’s final gift to us all; to look back at his life’s achievements and, wholeheartedly to build on them for a greater and prosperous Papua New Guinea from here on. After all, he helped build this great nation of ours after the war.

We can all come to conclude that Ben’s life was a song that always rang true, with a strong steady beat and gentle melody that warmed the hearts of all who heard it.

An American Indian proverb says: “When you are born you cry and those around you rejoice. Live your life to the fullest so that when you die, you will rejoice and those around you will cry.”

Ben has truly lived his life to the fullest.

When the last post and reveille sounds this evening after he has been laid to rest, I know that everyone around these parts, who know its meaning, will quickly hush the chattering children around them, to say, “hush little one, be quiet now, one of our warriors is finally going to bed…” and everyone will stand to, to rock the warrior to eternal sleep.

May God’s love surround us today.

AMEN!

© Lahui Ako, author of NAMELESS WARRIORS: The Ben Moide story.

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For further reading, there is also an obituary to Lance Sergeant Ben Moide on this website (Obituary – Lance Sergeant Ben Moide C.B.E.)

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