PATRON: Major-General B. W. Howard AO MC ESM (Ret’d)
This update aims to keep Members informed about Association activities since the August AGM. It takes the place of our Newsletter because the Newsletter Editor, Ian, is living out of a suitcase, waiting to move into their next home. New Members can see our previous Newsletters on our Website (www.soldierspng.com). Click on “Articles” on the Home Page.
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All of us stuck at home should call random numbers in India and ask them if they want solar rebates!
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1. Membership
Our AGM mentioned that recruiting New Members was a priority. Since then about 18 former Servicemen have joined, thanks mainly to Dave Williams, Russ Wade and our Patron. Details will soon be passed by our Membership Officer to our State Representatives/Liaison Officers (NSW & ACT – Garry Screen; WA – Graeme Johnson; VIC – Tom Derham; Regional Qld – Graham Carnes).
My rough count shows the spread of our Members: NSW & ACT=35; VIC=20; QLD=56; WA=10; SA=4; PNG=4; plus Honorary Members. Only a few Members have forgotten to send their dues. If you think you are Unfinancial, please Email the Treasurer, Mrs Frankie Maclean, flm61@hotmail.com
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What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers?
Mechanical engineers build weapons. Civil engineers build targets.
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2. Annual Kokoda Commemoration Services, August 2020
Because of the Pandemic, this year’s Kokoda Service at Broadbeach, Qld, went virtual and we were not invited. Our Banner was displayed and the Service is available on YouTube.
The Kokoda Service in Brisbane went ahead, with physical distancing, at the Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub-Branch. One of our Members, Jay Hooper, was the Guest Speaker who delivered a PowerPoint presentation. This will soon be uploaded to our Website.
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Let’s have a moment’s silence for all the people stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride a stationary bike.
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3. Australian recognition of the PNGDF Anniversary Medal
This Association continues to pursue official recognition of the Medal in Australia. Thanks to over 100 former Servicemen from PNG who responded to our survey. We are waiting for a response from government representatives. (Remember the old days when you could phone a government department and speak to a real person?)
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Very well-dressed, elderly Officer goes into the bar at a five-star hotel and sits two stools down from an elegantly-attired, attractive lady and says to her, “Hello. My name’s Reg. Do I come here very often?”
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4. WA news
Graeme Johnson reports that the new Anzac House, HQ for RSLWA, has recently been completed at 28 St Georges Tce, Perth. This third iteration of Anzac House is said to have exceptional views over the gardens of Government House towards the Swan River.
RSLWA’s Remembrance Day Service will take place at the State War Memorial in Kings Park from 10.30am and buglers will stand at major Perth CBD intersections to play The Last Post.
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Interviewer on ABC TV’s ‘The Drum’, “Are you practising social distancing in W A?”
WA interviewee, “In WA, we’ve been practising social distancing since Federation!”
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5. Website additions
Web Manager, Kevin Smith, welcomes text or photos from Members for our Website pages. Visit the website (www.soldierspng.com) to see some recent items:
- Home Page – stories & photos about Don Collins in PNG, 1944-45
- Articles Page – our previous Newsletters
- Resources Page – PIB: a brief history
You can email items direct to Kevin Smith – his email address is on the Contact Us Page.
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Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever – we call those people Coppers.
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6. 80th Anniversary of the PIB
2020 is the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Papuan Infantry Battalion at Port Moresby in June 1940. The Association marked the anniversary during our AGM this year and we will celebrate it again after the Brisbane Remembrance Day Service.
A new Member, Mark Fletcher, has sent us copies of some historic photos of the PIB in training in 1940. We plan to publish six of those photos soon. See the tribute to the PIB from our History Officer, Peter Jesser, on the next page (and see Peter’s articles on our website).
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If you’re sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, “Did you bring the money?”
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7. Contacts in PNG
The Association was pleased to observe the official registration in PNG of an organisation aimed at supporting the interests of former PNGDF personnel. This organisation is called the Kumul Association of Retired Servicemen and Women and its President is Lt Col Dr Jethro Usurup. The first branch of KARS was formed recently in Milne Bay Province.
Our Association is also interested in contacting current members of the PNGDF. If you can supply the name and email address of a current member, we would be grateful.
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A Story of the PIB on Bougainville in 1945 by (W.O.) Peter Jesser
I would like to tell a short story – as told to me by my father (Major Harold Jesser MC) – about what made the PIB the great fighting unit that it was. This story is from the swamps of North Bougainville in 1945. My father described it as their worst fighting of the war, fighting in a ‘no-mans-land’ where there was no real front line.
“A” Company PIB had been working with an Australian Battalion, when Dad (PIB Company Commander) was called down and told by the Brigade Commander that the Australian Battalion was to be pulled out. Dad protested that if the PIB Company was left out there on its own they would be slaughtered.
The Brigadier said, “Well what are you going to do now?”
Dad said, “I’m going to recce the back tracks out of there.”
And he did. He took Lieutenant John Wall MC and six Papuans. One of the Papuans was the Company cook. It was Dad’s policy that everyone shared the risk. No one always stayed in the safety of camp. On this day it was the cook’s turn to go on patrol. So off they went and before long they came to a fork in the track. John Wall and three Papuans went one way, Dad and his three Papuans went the other way.
Soon Dad came to another fork on the track. Two Papuans went one way. Dad and the Company cook went the other.
So they are sneaking along this muddy track, never knowing when they might bump into Japanese doing the same thing. The cook was leading, about 20 metres in front of Dad.
After a while, the cook pulled up. Dad’s first thought was: What has he seen?
So, very quietly, he sneaks up and asks the cook “What is it?”
And the Papuan cook answers, “It’s your turn to go in front.”
And, as Dad said, it was too. It was his policy that everyone shared the risk. And everyone knew that they shared the risk.
I don’t think there can be any better way of showing what made the PIB what it was, than to say that even the Company cook had the confidence to tell the Company commander that it was his turn to go in front.
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