1. Best wishes to our Patron

Our Patron, LTCOL Maurie Pears MC has had a recent period of hospitalization, but has now been discharged. We all wish him well during his recovery.

2. Tristan Moss article

Tristan is writing a Ph.D thesis on the role of the Australian Army in PNG from 1951-1975, and interviewed a number of Chalkies as part of his research. His thesis examines how the Australian Army in PNG transformed the Pacific Islands Regiment, a colonial unit, into the independent Papua New Guinea Defence Force, focusing on issues of the structure and composition of the force, as well as the relationship between Australian and Papua New Guineans.
We have included a link to an article written recently by Tristan about Papua New Guinean soldiers in the Australian Army.

3. Notes from the typewriter of Joyce “Sue” Thomas

In the March 2014 Association newsletter, we published some notes of Nancy Mercer, mother of Association member, Graeme Johnson (Medical Corps, Moem Barracks 1969-70). Because I thought they may be of interest, these notes were shared with my 95 year old godmother, Sue Thomas, who lives in Mt Lawley, WA. It transpires that Sue and Nancy have been life long friends and still keep in regular contact.
How about that for coincidence?
Sue, whose birth certificate shows her first name as Joyce, has provided some of her own recollections and thoughts about her war service.
You will see that, in July 1942, she had been posted to Northam in WA. I have included a 1943 photo I found on the net showing a Warrant Officer in the Australian Army Education Service playing his violin to a group of Australian Women’s Army Service trainees at Northam. This was at the time when Sue was in this area.
She was posted to PNG, albeit after the war’s end, through Jacquinot Bay (New Britain) then to Rabaul.

4. 2014 Remembrance Day in Port Moresby

Ex-Chalkie John Gibson is working for his Church in Port Moresby and sent us some photos and videos from the 23 July Remembrance Day. PNG’s Remembrance Day date commemorates the historic ambush of the Japanese Army conducted by a PIB patrol (including John Chalk and Ben Moide) near Awala on 23 July 1942.

Family of the late Ben Moide near the Memorial. Oldest son, Boge Ben Moide, wears his father’s medals.	Former PNGDF Soldiers and a Carrier at the Service. Nepe Kumanil, one of the last World War 2 Carriers, is at front with his daughter.
PNGDF Officers observe the sons of PIB & NGIB servicemen	RPIR Honour Party with John Gibson in front of World War 2 monument

5. If you have any photos, documents or stories for publication in future editions of this newsletter, I’d be pleased to hear from you at rrljb@optusnet.com.au

Richard Boddington
Newsletter Editor