MASSACRE AT TARAWA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24395, 23 October 1944, Page 6

MASSACRE AT TARAWA

17 New Zealanders Killed MURDERED BY JAPANESE (P A.) WELLINGTON, October 21. Twenty-two Europeans, including 17 New Zealanders, were massacred by the Japanese on Tarawa Island, where they had been removed as prisoners of war alter the capture of the Gilbert Group, a little more than two years a * o. This was announced to-day by tne Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. F. Fraser). “This outrage," said Mr Fraser, "occurred on the island ofTarawam ihe Gilbert Group, on October 15 - 194 ?- lowing a .bombardment of the island on the afternoon of that day by a United States warship and United States aircraft. “The fate of the men was not discovered until after the capture of the Gilberts by the United States forces in December last, and it was not until some time later that the facts were established beyond reasonable doubt "These circumstances, together with certain discussions which have been taking place \yith other Allied Governments, explain the long interval ■which has elapsed between the occurrence and the publication of the details. “The next-of-kin of the men concerned were, however, acquainted with the .position as soon as the fate of their relatives was definitely determined. "Seven of the New Zealand personnel were officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, all young men, iyho, early in 1941, had volunteered for service in the Coast Watching Organisation in the Pacific islands. “The remaining 10 New Zealanders were Army personnel who had volunteered to assist iri coast watching duties and to keep- the Post and Telegraph officers company in the remote islands in which they were situated, very few of which had any regular white inhabitants. Occupation of Gilbert Group - "The occupation of the Gilbert Group by the Japanese commenced in December, 1941, immediately following the outbreak of war in the Pacific. The three northern islands of the group. Little Makin, Butaritari, and Abaiang. were then seized by the Japanese and three Post and Telegraph officers andlour soldiers who were serving there were taken prisoner and removed from the colony. “According to reports received they are safe, but it is not known where they are detained—presumably in Japan. "The remaining 17 personnel were serving in the lower islands of the Gilbert Group which were occupied by the Japanese in September, 1942. "Following the recapture of the Gilberts by the United States forces investigations were made by the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Group. These disclose that immediately following their capture in September, 1942, the Europeans were all removed to Tarawa and that on arrival there they were kept outside the quarters occupied by the Japanese commandant with their hands tied and secured to coconut trees for a period of up to three or even four days awaiting examination by the.Japanese commandant. “They were then confined at the Tarawa Central Hospital in the enclosure which was previously used for. the detention of native lunatics. During the. period that they were treated as prisoners the men were required to work on the construction of the wharf at Betio. Prisoners Killed "On the afternoon of October 15, 1942, the island was bombarded by a United States warship and United States aircraft, and on the evening of that day the 22 Europeans were beheaded or otherwise killed by the Japanese. / "I am sure that every citizen of this Dbminion will join with the Government in expressing sincere sympathy to the relatives of those men who.were so foully mprdered by the Japanese. "No tribute to their courage and thbir devotion to duty is too high Notwithstanding the danger to which they were exposed following the outbreak of war with Japatl they all remained their posts and continued to send reports of ehemy movements up till the time that they were captured. "The information'which they gave Of enemy activities in the group was of the utmost value, since it enabled the service authorities to dispose to best advantage the naval and air. forces available iri the Pacific in 1942 to arrest the progress .of the Japanese who were then moving south. “The evidence of tne natives and others gathered since the re-occupation of the group pays eloquent tribute to the bravery of all ofi the coast watchers Particular mention is made of Lieutenant A. L. Taylor and Corporal T. C. Murray, who at the time of the Jap- , anese occupation were serving on Beru These two men abandoned their intention of escaping oh learning that the ■'Japanese had threatened the natives with reprisals if they should leave the island. ' Tribute To Men’s Courage "These men all discharged their duties with courage and met an untimely death with fortitude. “Their example of duty and the knowledge of their fate should inspire all New Zealanders to do everything they can to end this war as quickly as possible and to ensure that in this area of the world the Japanese shall not again be permitted to practise their barbarities on peace-loving peoples. “No effort will be spared to identify, If this is possible, the criminals who were responsible for this outrage and If they can be found they will be fully and suitably punished. “ThiS atrocijty is but one more in the grim list of which Japan will be called to account.” Mr Fraser concluded. A memorial tablet has been erected by the British and American officials on the site of the Tarawa massacre. The inscription on the tablet reads as follows: In memory of twenty-two British - subjects, murdfered by the Japanese at Betib on October 15, 1942. Standing unarmed to their posts they matched brutality with gallantry, and met death with fortitude. The tablet also records the names of the victims of the massacre. New Zealanders’ Names The names of the New Zealand victims with those of their next-of-kin, are contained in am official casualty list issued to-day. They are as follows: Taylor, Lieutenant Allan Leicester. Mr W. C. Taylor, Waimate (father). Ellis, Private Raymond Arthur. Mrs J. A. Ellis, 10 Arthur street. Ponsonby (wife). . Bearn, Corporal Henry Renton Cropper. Mrs A. S. Hearn, 208 Grays road. Hastings (mother). Hecnan, Corporal Arthur Clarence. Mr E. P. Hcenan, Middlemarch (father). Hitchon, Private Robert Irwin. Mrs S. Hitchon, No. 7 R.D.. Waito? (mother). Howe, Private Dallas Hillman. Mrs S. A. Howe, Tararu road, Thames (mother). Jones, Private Reginald. Mr L. Jones. 14 Tuakina street, Grey • Lynn (brother). Kilpin, Private Claude Andrew. Mr W. G. Kilpin, Te Aroha (brother). McCarthy, Corporal John Joseph. Mr J. J. McCarthy. 19 Neola road. Point Chevalier (father). McKenna, Corporal Arthur Ernest. Mrs H. Webb. Bristol street, Levin (aunt). McKenzie, Private Roderick Murdoch. Mr R. H. McKenzie, Te Kuiti (father). Murray, Corporal Thomas Colin. Mr T. Murray, Hari Hari, Hokitika (father). Nicbol, Private John Hugh. Mrs M. A. Nichol, Te Matai road, Te Puke (mother).

Owen, Private Charles James. Mr V. Owen, 50 Bell road, Woburn, Lower Hutt (brother). Parker, Private Wilfred Athol Rolf. Mrs J. Parker, care Mr H. Schoore. Waharoa R.D. (mother). Pearsall, Corporal Clifford Arnold. Mr • L. Pearsall, Lawrence (father). Speedy. Private Leslie Bruce. Mrs A. J. Speedy. 13 Albion road, Otahuhu (wife). The officers of the Post and Telegraph Department referred to in the statement by the Prime Minister were Lieutenant Taylor. Corporals Hearn, Heenan. McCarthy, McKenna, Murray, and Pearsall. The five other Europeans massacred at Tarawa were K. G. Morgan, A. L. Sadd, B. Cleary. I. R. Handley, and A. M. McArthur. Messrs Mqrgan. Cleary, and McArthur and Captain Handley, and the Rev. A. L. Sadd were all well known in the Gilbert Islands. Messrs Morgan and Cleary were administration officials. Mr McArthur was a trader. Captain Handley was a well-known retired- master mariner and Mr Sadd was one of the bestknown and most loved missionaries in the Central Pacific.-;