NEW GUINEA VOLUNTEERS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13056, 26 January 1943, Page 2

NEW GUINEA VOLUNTEERS

FINE WORK IN EARLY STAGES Sydney, Jan. 21. The first men to fight for their homes on Australian territory, the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, to-day celebrated the first anniversary of their call-up for full-time duty. The unit, which did magnificent work in the early days of the Japanese southward drive, has now been disbanded. At its peak the unit numbered more than 500, its members being scattered over the vast area of New Guinea and New Britain. Many have died or are prisoners of the Japanese, but some are still in action in jungle warfare. The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles were formed at Rabaul in September, 1939, with subsequent detachments on the New Guinea mainland at Lae, Salamaua and Madang. Mainly it was composed of returned soldiers from the last war, men over the age for enlistment, most of them having had many years of experience of the territories in which they were stationed.

On January 21 last year, when the alarm was given in Rabaul that the Japanese' invasion fleet was approaching, the unit took up full-time duty. A detachment fought until all their ammunition was expended, only seven eventually escaping to Australia. In New Guinea volunteer riflemen took charge of areas from which the civilian populations had been evacuated. They were the only Australian soldiers there when the Japanese landed some weeks later. In patrol activities they inflicted many casualties and gained vital information concerning enemy strength, armaments and likely plans. To-day those members of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles who are still on active service are acting as guides, scouts and liaison officers in territories with which they are so familiar. Their local knowledge has been a major factor in many jungle warfare successes scored against the Japanese.