NEW GUINEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1943, Page 5

NEW GUINEA

AWARDS FOR NATIVES (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, August 31. Awards of the Loyalty Medal were made to three New Guinea natives for outstanding bravery and devotion to duty. A high Army officer made the presentations before, a large number of natives. The citations were read in pidgin English and then translated into the Motuan dialect. The audience sang “God Save the King” in English. One of the recipients, named Buka, was decorated for remarkable work in operational areas. When enemy bombers attacked the area in which 'he was supervising the work of. a telephone line repair gang, he dissuaded the natives from deserting and induced them to finish the job. Later, he was supervising a large group of natives building a landing

ground.' Enemy aeroplanes again attacked, but he calmed the frightened natives and conducted them to a shelter. Buka was wounded in both legs. Kakei, another recipient of the Loyalty Medal, kept close watch on Japanese activities in a New Guinea district, and the information he gained was of great value in preparing a successful raid by Australian troops. Sanasan received his medal for devotion in assisting the retufn to the New Guinea Administration of its vessel, Nereus, which was in the Kawieng area (New Ireland) when the Japanese landed there. All the native members of the crew deserted except Sanasan who remained on the ship until it reached Australia, once taking the wheel for 39 hours without relief.