Commando News Winter Edition10 June17

An anecdote from a 2/5th member who was serving
in New Guinea early 1943
A strange way to go home in 1943
There is no doubt about it; the Japanese were desperate
to hold the Buna/Sanananda/Gona area after their defeat on
the Kokoda track.
My platoon who were over 100 miles away, not very far
from Lae, received information on the fighting in this area
nightly from our platoon leader.
The night before the final battle ended, our Lieutenant
told us to prepare to leave the next morning. He told us that
we would be walking from Wampit, our home for the last five
months, to the south coast of New Guinea through country
frequented by head-hunters. We were told by native police
attached to us that as these local people had never seen
white people, they were not sure how the locals would
receive us? Our lieutenant then went on to tell us to put all
rifles and machine guns in a great hole the natives had dug;
they were then covered with 2 foot of earth.
One of our guys asked what we would do when we got
to the coast, and was told that we needed to fell a large tree
and make a canoe out of it, to travel between the small
islands to reach North Australia. Everyone seemed happy
with that decision. The one thing he did not mention was
that these islands were infested with crocodiles. Maybe he
did not know that then, but we all know it’s a fact today.
Next morning our Lieutenant flew into our hut to tell us
the Japs had retreated and were heading back to the Milne
Bay Area, so our walk-about never got to start. He also
related that our buried weapons had been stolen overnight.
The police boys got to work, and all weapons were returned
in four days perfectly cleaned.
No doubt there would have been plenty of excitement in
Port Moresby with the Kokoda and Northern Beaches
victories, however one of the Chiefs there must have
remembered that the 2/5th Independent Company boys
were still watching the Japs on the other side of New
Guinea.
Our food supply was non-existent, we had lived off the
land for three months, cigarettes were never heard of.
A big surprise happened the following week when up the
valley of the Wampit River flew a B25 bomber, at a height of
no more than 25 feet. The bomb bay doors came open and
a large box was dropped out. The framework of timber
exploded in pieces when it hit the ground and left a shiny tin
box lying there which contained pulverised dog biscuits,
these were used for porridge as we had powdered milk. Two
boxes of bully beef landed in a swamp, so they were lost. I
believe the bomber would have been doing over 300 mph
during the drop as the pilot needed to get out of the Lae
area as the Japs had plenty of Zeros there.
Glenn, the spelling might not be the best, but that
happens as you near 94 years old. Hope our readers get a
chuckle from my recollection.
Regards,
Jim Milgate
2nd/5th Machine Gunner
ACA VICTORIA member Bob McDowell
has close ties with Fromelles and Pozieres
This year marks 100 years
since the World War I battles
of Fromelles and Pozieres –
two of the deadliest and most
gruesome in Australia's
military history.
ACA member Robert
McDowell, brother Ian and
nephew Stephen, laid a
wreath at the Shrine in
Melbourne on behalf of
Friends of the 15th Brigade at
the Cobbers Statue on 19th
July.
Bob was DNA tested to
confirm the link with Sgt
Athol Halliday McDowell, one
of the 1100 who went over
the top at Fromelles and paid
the supreme sacrifice for his
actions.
56 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 10 I June 2017