Papua NG Anzac Day 2014

[CINDERS]

I think what really nailed the IJA and IJN apart from the stretched supply lines was the Battle of the Bismarck sea which over the days it was fought really knocked them off plus momentum was gaining on our side even though they did manage to bomb Broome and Darwin in W.A and cause casualties in Sydney they were going back slowly and at a terrible price to the Allies and themselves.

I will get to that one AU- 48 I am just reading To Kokoda and beyond By Victor Austin

[Peter Laidler]

Just as an aside, we used to have some former FEPOW's employed in our camps and one of the old boilermen (who was a pre-war pommy emigrant so we used to chatter a bit) told me that the PNG population were absolutely notorious informers against the Allies especially Christians who we basically all were! We also had a talk somwehere, I forget exactly where now, from one of the KRAIT raiders/evaders. Does that raid ring any bells among you antipodeans.

Wish I'd taken a bit more notice now. One of our Lieutenants, 'Flip' McEwan, I think he was a Nasho and bit part historian used to take parties out to look at the big retreat and stop lines. We also went to a famous tank-stop place north of Johore where Australians almost stopped the rout. And took us to a place called Parit Sulong near the old Muar bridge. Absolutely horrendous.

One of our Nashos, Lt or Capt Lauder(?) got the MC in SVn. I wonder where he is now

[CINDERS]

Been away up in Broome, yes the Krait was a good smack in the nose to the IJN-IJA, pity the outcome for the commando's much like Der you know who's notorious order for the off hand killing of any Commandos caught by the enemy....... whether in the European theatre or for that matter any where.

Yes and some books decided to hop in my travel bag the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Broome and Zero hour the bombing of Broome I will let you know in a while have too many books on the go like;
The Fighting 9th, Verdun, The Roses of No-Mans Land, From Gallipoli to Baghdad, Glorious deeds b the Australians in the great war, How we kept the flag flying (BOER War) all H/C 1st Ed and plenty more to follow.
Gads what a way to go reading history.