August 2022
PATRON: Major General B. W. (Hori) Howard AO MC ESM (Ret’d.)
ROTARY KOKODA MEMORIAL WALL
Eighty years after the Kokoda-Port Moresby Campaign, when the PIB organised the first offensive, the service and sacrifice of the defenders of the Kokoda Trail were remembered at a most significant and dignified Commemoration Service at Cascade Gardens, Broadbeach, Qld. General the Honourable David Hurley AC, DSC (Retd) Governor-General was guest speaker at the annual 8th August Service which was attended by many veterans, veterans’ families, community leaders, media, and students.
The following photos and accounts summarise the key moments of this commemoration.
Paver for the late Lt. Fred L. Lucas (PIB)
Also at the Gold Coast Commemoration, a Paver (photo next page) was dedicated to honour Lt. Fred Lucas who served in the PIB during the Second World War. A wreath was laid by Frankie Mclean (who is Lt Lucas’s daughter and Treasurer of our Association). Kev Horton, Association Secretary, outlined the details of Fred Lucas’s service with the PIB in a presentation.
In cooperation with the Wall Trustees, our Association arranges the placing of Pavers honouring individual Veterans of the PIB/NGIB/PIR, at the request of their families.
MELBOURNE KOKODA COMMEMORATION
Another 80th anniversary Kokoda Commemoration Service was held at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on 14 August. Our representative was Tom Derham, a former Nasho RAAEC officer who served at 1 PIR in 1972 and Goldie River in 1973. Tom reports that an excellent address was given during the Service by author Patrick Lindsay AM.
KOKODA SERVICE AT CORINDA, BRISBANE
The Brisbane 80th anniversary Kokoda Commemoration Service was conducted by the Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub-Branch at Corinda and our representatives were Greg Farr and Sharon Harper-Greentree. This annual solemn service continues to impress, set against the background of the unique conglomerate Kokoda Stone.
The guest speaker on 14 August was Lt Col Stephen Maitland OAM (Ret’d) who spoke on the life and achievements of Lt Col Ralph Honner, Commander of the 39th Battalion (and later the 2/14th Battalion) on the Kokoda Trail in 1942.
The Ode was recited twice, first in Tok Pisin by Mrs Rachel Pye (who has family in Kokoda) and then in English by Mr Matt Conway. Our wreath/book parcel was wrapped by Sharon, adorned with wattle, and laid at the Kokoda Stone. The three books related to the Kokoda Campaign and were later presented to the library of the near by Corinda State High School.
KOKODA SERVICES AT KOKODA BARRACKS, QLD
On 8 August 2022, two Services were conducted at Kokoda Barracks in Canungra, Qld, attended by the Governor-General, his wife, several Kokoda Battalion Associations and Servicemen. Acting President, Greg Ivey, witnessed the opening of a Memorial Walk and the naming of a Battle Simulation building after Private Bruce Kingsbury VC (2nd/14th Battalion).
PNG REMEMBERS THE PIB ROLE AT KOKODA
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ASSN. AGM HELD IN BRISBANE, 24 JULY
The AGM was held as close as possible to the 23 July. This was the date of the first offensive in Papua against the Japanese Army in 1942 and it was conducted by a PIB patrol led by Lt John Chalk of Qld.
Acting President Greg Ivey chaired the AGM at the Geebung-Zillmere RSL Club in the absence, through illness, of President Don Graham. The guest speaker was Peter Jesser who gave a detailed account of the PIB action on 23 July 1942.
The 80th anniversary cake was cut by John Stringfellow who had travelled the furthest distance to the AGM (from Perth).
Wishing you well Don.
The minutes of the AGM have been distributed by Secretary Kev through Email and our Website (www.soldierspng.com) so will not be repeated here. However, the list of office bearers is important:
President: Major (Retd) Don Graham
Vice President: Greg Ivey
Secretary: Kev Horton
Treasurer: Mrs Frankie Maclean
Assistant secretary: Greg Farr
Newsletter editors: Ian Ogston and Greg Ivey
Website managers: Kevin Smith and Frank Cordingley
History officer: Peter Jesser
Medallic Recognition officer: Russ Wade
Membership officer: Kevin Smith
Brisbane rep: Phil Adam
Regional Queensland rep: Graham Carnes
NSW and ACT rep: Russ Wade
WA rep: Graeme Johnson
183 rep: Dave Williams
Vic Liaison rep: Vacant
A Military Disaster
“On 28 August 1972, a RAAF 38 Sqn Det A Caribou crashed in TPNG killing 4 crew and 21 PNG school Army Cadets.
It has the dubious distinction of being Australia’s worst peacetime military aviation disaster.
Three RAAF crew (Fl. Lt. G. Thomas, P.O. G. Ebsary, Cpl G. Power), Army Captain Bob Loftus, three expatriate Teacher cadet officers and 18 cadets were killed.
Four cadets survived until discovered by army pilot Captain Terry Hayes DFC almost a week after the aircraft went missing.
One cadet (Nicholas Fabilla) died later at ANGAU Memorial Hospital in Lae (and his funeral was held at Taurama Barracks).
The RAAF crew and cadet officers were repatriated to Australia while Captain Loftus and the cadets were buried in PNG, apparently all but forgotten except by a few.”
by a witness, Ross Eastgate, August 2022
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (Geneva)
Date & Time: Aug 28, 1972, at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft: De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Registration: A4-233
Flight Phase: Flight
Flight Type: Military
Survivors: Yes
Site: Mountains
Schedule: Lae – Port Moresby
MSN: 233
YOM: 1965
Location: Kudjeru Gap, Morobe
Country: Papua New Guinea
Region: Oceania
Crew on board: 3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board: 26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities: 25
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Lae to Port Moresby, carrying three crew members and 26 cadets of the PNG Army. After passing over Wau in good weather conditions, the pilot decided to enter the Kudjeru Gap Valley when the weather conditions worsened rapidly with clouds up to 10,500 feet. At an altitude of 5,000 feet while trying to gain height, the right wing struck trees and the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain, about 50 meters below the summit. The wreckage was found three days later. Five injured passengers were evacuated but one of them died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The pilot entered an area of low visibility, and the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.
A brave survivor
The crash occurred exactly 50 years ago, and one survivor was Patrick Tau Gau (aged 17) of Port Moresby’s De La Salle College. Patrick was awarded a George Medal for his bravery in attempting to save those still alive after the crash. He led and cared for 3 other Cadet survivors until rescued. The crash had a devastating impact on the families affected, the College community, the Army, and the RAAF. The PIB-PIR Website (www.soldierspng.com) displays some details of the crash and the search by many personnel including Army Aviation, 1 PIR Servicemen, and the RAAF (click on the Articles Page).
Patrick was inspired by his survival to study for the Ministry. He became a Minister in 1978, married in 1979 and helped to raise 6 children. Patrick retired from the Ministry in 2019 and lives in Port Moresby. His sister lives in Qld and is arranging a 50th Anniversary tribute for him, fellow Cadets, and the Servicemen involved (some of whom are still alive in Australia).
by Gregory J. Ivey
Editors: Ian Ogston, email: ozoggies2@gmail.com
Greg Ivey, email IVEYGJ@GMAIL.COM