April 2020
PATRON: Major General B. W. (Hori) Howard AO MC ESM (Ret’d.)
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2020
April
25th Anzac Day: RSL State Branches will advise alternative options for 2020.
June
7th Association AGM in Brisbane (& celebration of 80th Anniversary)
July
30th Reunion (2nd/14th Battalion) THIS EVENT MAY BE CANCELLED.
August
8th Kokoda Commemoration Service at Broadbeach, Qld
9th Kokoda Commemoration Service at Brisbane AND
Kokoda Commemoration Service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance
September
2nd Battle for Australia Commemoration, Brisbane & other places
November
11th Remembrance Day, Brisbane & other places
NEWS ABOUT PNG
Our Vice-President, Greg Ivey has been active pursuing the interests of our Association. Here is a photo of Greg linking up with PNG author, Lahui Ako. One of Lahui’s books, Nameless Warriors has been reviewed by Greg below.
Nameless Warriors: The Ben Moide Story
Lahui Ako
University of Papua New Guinea Press, Port Moresby, 2012
Hard cover, 246 pp, index, photos in colour and B & W
ISBN 9789980869579
The stated purpose of this book, according to the author, was to record publicly, for the people of Papua New Guinea, the “quality, sacrifice, suffering and courage” displayed by their countrymen during the Second World War. The author aimed to retell the War experiences – as the soldiers saw them – of Benjamin Steven Moide and some of his Papuan Infantry Battalion mates. The book offers a rare collection of War experiences in PNG from the indigenous soldier perspective. The bulk of the text came from interviews of Ben Moide recorded during 2008-2011 in Motu. Later, the interview transcripts were translated into English by the author’s father, a retired PNGDF Chaplain.
In his foreword to the book, former PNGDF Commander, Peter Ilau, notes that Ben Moide “tells the story as he saw it and remembered”. Given that 65 years had passed since Moide’s War experiences, some readers may doubt the accuracy of his memory, particularly those second-hand experiences conveyed to Moide by his PIB mates. On the other hand, readers who have been to war, or have read considerable military history, will understand that key war experiences are retained in the long-term memory and can usually be readily recalled. Some details recalled, however, may be faulty and, therefore, some details of some War incidents in this book may also be inaccurate (such as Ben’s claim to have used a Bren Gun in 1942 whereas the PIB were not issued with Bren Guns until 21 January 1943). Other War details may simply be inconsistent with European records. (European records proved inadequate in listing the names of six PIB soldiers killed during the Kokoda Campaign – those indigenous soldiers were also “nameless”.)
The author has consulted a number of sources on the battles in which the PIB participated, as listed in the book’s bibliography. I was surprised that the official Australian history by Dudley McCarthy was not shown there. The reader is provided with the wider context in which the PIB fought, even if that context interrupts the flow of the narrative. Readers learn directly about the Japanese commanders (chiefly from Paul Ham’s book) and, to a lesser extent, about the Japanese soldiers (chiefly from Moide’s recall). They also learn indirectly about the Australian officers and instructors. This latter aspect is important for readers, as Peter Ilau mentions in his foreword. Ilau notes that the text offers a “different observation” on the “unique” relationship which developed between indigenous soldiers and their Australian leaders, creating “probably the glue which keeps the two nations and their people together.”
Ben Moide was the chief source for the book which begins one year prior to Moide enlisting in the PIB – despite being only 16 and despite his mother’s wishes. Early chapters describe Moide’s Australian Army training and duties around Port Moresby, his promotions in spite of his low status in Papuan eyes, and his preparation to fight an unknown “enemy”. The middle chapters detail the early Kokoda Campaign beginning with the PIB on 23 July 1942; the fighting by Maroubra Force at Kokoda, Deniki and Isurava; and the PIB’s additional Army role of supervising the evacuation of wounded soldiers from Isurava. Later chapters cover Moide and PIB patrols in the then Northern District in early 1943, Moide on leave in his father’s village for his tribal initiation, and Moide on PIB operations at Finschhafen, Sattelberg and Scarlet Beach. Moide continued on PIB patrols in early 1944 around the Song River before the PIB was rested at their Bisiatabu headquarters and Moide’s role changed to that of instructing the new recruits needed to build up Battalion numbers.
The modest size of this book reflects the nature of Ben Moide. The book’s author disclosed at Ben’s funeral that Ben allowed him to publish only one quarter of his Wartime experiences. Ben had said, “Some things are better left unsaid, in respect of the dead, as well as to ensure that there is harmony in our future lives.”
The book’s final chapter deals with Moide’s discharge, dislocation and the disgruntlement felt by discharged PIB soldiers. Readers will empathise with the disillusion and dissatisfaction experienced by these former Australian Army soldiers who were abruptly discharged without sufficient Government support. Moide had to use his extended family and his military skills to survive in the new Hanuabada Village, to select a wife against tribal resistance, and to gradually find paid work. Ben and his wife Maba had seven children at their family home at Waigani. Over time, Moide exercised his leadership skills in the developing Rugby League organisation and in the PNG RSL. The government of PNG later awarded Moide several honours including the C.B.E. and the Distinguished Military Service Medal.
As Lahui Ako was completing his text for publication, his grandfather Ben Moide was already 86 years old, an advanced age for a PNG Veteran in a tough society. (Moide only lived about 18 months after this book’s publication.) The need to publish without delay probably caused a few technical issues within the text. The publisher did not pay sufficient attention to copy editing so there are some grammar and spelling problems. These, and several Kokoda Campaign errors, could easily be addressed if a second edition were published. Readers, other than the intended audience in PNG, would also have benefited from the inclusion of a map of the War-time Northern District where Moide patrolled. However, the publisher has included colour photos of Moide with his family and friends in 2012; these complement the book’s War-time photos of the PIB in black and white.
This is a Papuan introduction to brave, if generally unknown, warriors especially Ben Moide who earnt the respect of fellow Servicemen, of his family and of his society. While Ben’s name was not used by some of his War-time commanders, it became very well known in the PNG capital during his later years leading finally to a State Funeral. (The first edition of this book sold out but it may be available from public libraries.)
[An earlier version of this review appeared in Harim Tok Tok, February 2020.]
Gregory J. Ivey
HISTORY OFFICER HELPS WITH ID
Former National Serviceman, Ron Inglis, has been digitising slides that he took while a Chalkie in PNG in 1970 – 71. One of these pictures (below) was taken during a Civic Action Patrol in the Sepik area, a patrol Ron recalls well. The former soldier in the centre of the photo is holding a full set of Second World War medals which includes the Military Medal. According to official sources, troops under PIB, NGIB or HQ PIR Command during the War period were granted 43 Awards or Decorations: 1 DSO, 6 MC, 20 Military Medals, 10 MID, 1 U.S. Legion of Merit and 2 George Medals.
Our History Officer, Peter Jesser, set to work to try to identify this former Second World War soldier. Using various sources, Peter has been able to identify the soldier as probably PN 480 Private Sala (PIB)who enlisted during the War from Naaimber Village near Aitape in the then Sepik District. Following are the details of Pte. Sala’s Military Medal official citation:
‘ On July 1, 1943 near Dinga Point this soldier while on patrol with two other members of his unit, surprised and opened fire on an enemy party in a village. Three of the enemy took refuge in a large T-shaped dugout.
Private Sala immediately hurled three grenades into the dugout and then attempted to enter. He was met by a burst of light machine-gun fire.
Former Pte Sala with 2 PIR soldiers, Sepik district, 1971.
He then dispatched one member of the patrol for assistance and ordered the other to guard the bush track. He then threw another grenade into the dugout and again tried to enter. This time he drew rifle fire. He then mounted guard at the entrance of the dugout. When reinforcements arrived Private Sala threw one more grenade and was first to enter. On July 3, while employed as a dispatch runner, this soldier saw five Japanese enter a native hut. Unobserved, he crept to the hut and hurled a grenade but could not wait to investigate further. This soldier has shown outstanding bravery at all times and a keen willingness to participate in offensive operations.
SOMETHING FOR YOUR SELF-ISOLATION
Recently, there was a news item on an ABC program Sunday Extra which gave information on a new course being offered by the Australian National University. This is a course on Tok Pisin. Below is the ABC blurb on this.
For the interesting interview that follows, check out the ABC Radio National website and also the ANU website for details.
Papua New Guinea is home to more than 800 languages
On Sunday Extra with Julian Morrow
PNG is known as the land of a thousand tribes and home to more than 800 languages. But there is one language that unites everyone and is the most widely spoken in the country – Tok Pisin.
It’s popular not just among locals but also with visitors like the Prince of Wales when visiting PNG.
Last year the Australian National University began offering a course in it and this year our PNG Correspondent Natalie Whiting has enrolled to improve her grasp of the language.
She believes the language is not only a gateway to better communicating with people, but also to better understanding aspects of the country’s culture.
HELP NEEDED
A Member of the Queensland branch of the Australian Military History Society (of which the ubiquitous Greg Ivey is a member) is researching bravery awards to personnel in PNG post-independence. Anthony Staunton has researched Bravery Awards extensively and currently his focus is on PNG and QCBC awards in particular.
Anthony is aware of awards to four PNGDF engineer battalion members of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct (QCBC). They were: Sergeant Donald Douglas Cameron, Australia (RAE attached to the PNGDF); Corporal Timothy Pokot (Bowat Village, Manus Province); Corporal Bruno Waluka and Private Siaki Karava, Mirivasi Village, Gulf Province).
Those awards were made in 1977.These four soldiers were commended for saving the lives of others when the MV Julie Ross overturned in Port Moresby harbour. This vessel was transporting a detachment of PNGDF engineers to Yule Island for a civic aid project. Six people, including a soldier died as a result of the sinking.
Anthony wishes to identify members of the Australian Forces and Australian citizens who have been awarded the QCBC by PNG as well as compiling a complete list of PNG QCBC awards.
If you are aware of further information on this, or have comments or questions for Anthony, please contact Anthony Staunton of the Military History Society of Australia, Queensland Branch, by Email: seeneyaj@bigpond.com
Can you identify the dashing officer (and Association member) below?
If you can, your prize is Dinner for two with President D. D. Graham at the Vanimo Hotel (when travel restrictions permit). There, Don will entertain you with stories about his first posting to TPNG in 1956-58 and about his Award-winning Platoon (above).
(Editor’s note: Relevant to the photo above, historian Dr Noah Riseman observed recently, “Racial ideas in the 1950s and early 1960s influenced pay and conditions, including not issuing footwear. As new international ideas of racial equality took root in the 1960s and 1970s, and as more Australian soldiers who served in PNG recognised the locals’ capacity, Papua New Guineans gained access to more skilled positions and professional advancement… Papua New Guinean soldiers were, of course, agents in their own right from 1951 to 1975, seeing benefits in joining the Pacific Islands Regiment, and even protesting unequal conditions in 1957 and 1961.”)
Editors: Ian Ogston (ozoggies2@gmail.com)
Greg Ivey (iveygj@gmail.com)
Website: www.soldierspng.com