MEMORIAL NEWS
The Pacific War and its Significance to the 50th Anniversary of PNG Independence
In this 50th anniversary year of PNG Independence, we remember all those who fought and who died in WWII on what was then the Australian Mandated Territory of New Guinea. The Pacific War was significant for Australia and Papua New Guinea. Along with the resulting family traumas, it caused mass destruction which needed rebuilding after the war ended. It also influenced the Papua New Guineans who recognised the long relationships and respect by Australians, and the support given to it by the allies when it was needed at that time—Australia and the US.
Andrea Williams
Last Post Ceremony, AWM Canberra
1 July is always significant for this group. Following the dedication of the national Rabaul & Montevideo Maru Memorial at the AWM, Canberra, on the 70th anniversary in 2012 of the ship being sunk, the AWM’s Last Post Ceremony acknowledges the story along with one of the soldiers who perished on Montevideo Maru. Representatives of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia and Rabaul &Montevideo Maru Group (Andrea Williams), Lark Force (Rebecca Mills), NGVR/PNGVR Ex-members Association (Michael White) and Rabaul Historical Society (John Reeves) lay wreaths, together with about 15 other family members of men who did not come home. The ceremony by the Pool of Reflection, is moving and memorable as the sun is setting.
This year the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, on 1 July 2025 shared the story of George Christopher Harrington NX191465. The family of Gunner George Harrington participated in the ceremony, as well as a large number of various family members joining this solemn occasion with their own floral tributes.
Some of the families present included Kylie Adams-Collier, another came from Gippsland—Ray Youlden was there to remember his grandfather, Ray Moor Youlden, who had also fought in WWI and was lost on the Montevideo Maru. Another family was there to commemorate Private John William McMahon VX28468 who was aboard the Montevideo Maru.
Attending this service as a mark of respect were members of the armed forces from numerous Asian and Pacific nations studying in Australia under the Defence Cooperation Scholarship.
See the live stream at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fhsZ5fj2h6I
With grateful thanks to the AWM and all who supported this special service.
Wartime Sweethearts
It was the day before the Montevideo Maru anniversary, where George Christopher Harrington was being honoured at the Last Post Ceremony, when the family received an email from the Australian War Memorial (AWM). The email advised that they had been contacted by a lady saying she had recently discovered original letters from George while he was away on service, and she would like to share copies. The letters were to her grandmother, Dorothy.
The details surrounding this serendipitous contact soon became clear, but the haze of amazement is still settling. After the AWM passing the email from Dorothy’s granddaughter to the Harrington family the communication trail began. The granddaughter said, ‘I have only this week come across some letters that George sent to my Nanna, Dorothy Haron, whilst I was cleaning out her house.’ She then searched the AWM website for Gunner Harrington and to her surprise saw there was a Last Post Ceremony on 1 July … a day away. She very quickly contacted the AWM and thus the email trail began. It was obvious that Dorothy and George shared a friendship as sweethearts while he was in Rabaul.
Amazement did not end there. Dorothy was in fact still alive and well and now nearing 102!
The poignancy was not lost of what might have been and thus the Harrington family added a special card from Dorothy to their wreath at the Last Post Ceremony. These cards are held by the AWM with Gunner Harrington’s documents. Dorothy’s letters are also being forwarded to the AWM to be placed with Gunner Harrington for future generations to view and treasure as his nieces and nephews have.
A copy of the handwritten letters from Gunner Harrington were forwarded in time for the family to read them after the Montevideo Maru Anniversary Last Post Ceremony. The letters gave some context of the fine person George was and provided insight into the site of Rabaul. The volcanoes and the issues of volcanic dust, so much so that Gunner Harrington had to change his clothes every day. There was also a description of the menu items, too. A small slice of social history was treasured by the Harrington family. An envelope (opposite) has a drawing of a palm tree and a hut on the front.
The coincidences did not end there. Andrea Williams, President of the PNGAA, noted the censor on one of George’s letters being ‘DM Selby’, i.e. David Mayer Selby, who was in charge of AA battery on Frisby Ridge, now the site of the Rabaul Volcano Observatory. His book, Hell and High Fever, was one recalled by Gunner Harrington’s late sister, Doreen, in her possession. Andrea commented, ‘It makes me wonder, though, if there is a little more to George’s story as, from memory, many of David’s men escaped with him …’
Andrea also said they had a few ‘sweethearts’ connect with the then Rabaul & Montevideo Maru Society and who attended various Canberra events in the early days, some as recently as the dedication of the memorial at the AWM. Andrea had mentioned that she often thought of them—their loss often as great as family but often unrecognised. The Harrington family were so pleased they could honour Dorothy on the very special occasion of the Last Post Ceremony for their uncle, Gunner Harrington.
Another story from the PNGAA website tells of a hanky, framed and on display in the PNGVR Museum in Brisbane being the one surviving item from Rabaul POWs. It was given to Rudy Buckley, who was on the wharf when the soldiers boarded the ship. The hanky had the soldier’s number and name on it.
In 2005 Rudy, now living in Brisbane, found it in an old tin and shared his story in the PNGVR newsletter. They found the number belonged to a young man from Box Hill in Victoria. The story went into the local Box Hill paper and a lady from Brisbane happened to be having two weeks in Box Hill packing up her mother’s house when she saw the newspaper.
See the story at https://pngaa.org/rudy-buckley-and-the-montevideo-maru-maxwell-r-hayes/
After the conclusion of the 1 July 2025 Montevideo Maru commemoration at the AWM several people commented about a ‘presence’. The Harrington family felt it too. It was real in the cold stark evening sky above the War Memorial. The connections which are very real today.
It is stories like these, that surface today when it is felt all has been told, that maintain relevance to the work of the PNGAA and the Rabaul & Montevideo Maru Group. The Harrington family were honoured to have been able to be part of the ongoing story.
Barbara Herden
NGVR/PNGVR Ex-members Association Montevideo Maru Service, Brisbane
The 1 July 2025 annual NGVR/PNGVR Ex-members Association ceremony at the Memorial Gallery, under the Brisbane Cenotaph, remembered the members of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles who perished alongside those soldiers of Lark Force and 1 Independent Coy as well as over 200 civilians on the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942.
Formed in Rabaul in 1939 to protect this Australian territory, some had left to join Australian forces in Europe, at the time unaware of the impending devastating effect to occur on their own homes.
NGVR/PNGVR Patron Maj-Gen John Pearn was the keynote speaker. President Phil Ainsworth, also spoke and Paul Brown, Curator of the PNGVR Museum at Wacol, was Master of Ceremonies.
Please note that the PNGVR Museum, at 907 Boundary Road, Wacol, Brisbane (entry from Nashos Place) is open on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am–1 pm, or by prior appointment for groups, with Curator Paul Brown (Mob: 0402 644 181 or Email: paulbrown475@gmail.com). It holds a great amount of fascinating historical material.
Stanhope Service and New Storyboard
The Stanhope RSL Subbranch combined with the Stanhope & District Development Committee held a remembrance service honouring those lost on the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 2025 outside the Stanhope Community Hall.
On their behalf George Gemmill, secretary of the Stanhope RSL, had arranged for a new storyboard to be made explaining how the wreckage of the Montevideo Maru was found on 18 April 2023. This is being added to the eight storyboards already on location explaining details of this tragic event. The RSL has also arranged seating close to the War Memorial so that the mural can be visually linked.
A presentation talk, with photos and slide show, was given on how the mural, designed and painted by Tim Bowtell, came about. Clive Toms spoke along with Lindsay Cox of the Salvation Army Museum who had a display and gave a presentation on the Salvation Army Band members who were also lost. Lisa Page spoke of her grandfather and Tol, and Marg Curtis spoke on the 2/22nd and the events of Rabaul.
Lois Newman and George Gemmill opened the memorial storyboard which will be put with the others near the mural.
Interviewed by John Dunn of Outback Magazine, George Gemmill said: ‘The people of the town are very proud of their contribution to ensuring this tragic, but important historical happening is not forgotten … It is becoming widely known and attracting an increasing number of visitors.’
The Girgarre Gazette Extra also wrote up the Stanhope service this year.
Letter from Beverly Fisher, a Montevideo Maru Daughter
RSL Victoria recently received a letter from the daughter of a Montevideo Maru widow. It told the story of loss her mother felt for the rest of her life and was a poignant reminder of the loss felt by those left behind. Below is the story of Beverley Fisher and her mother, Rene McNamar:
