TARAWA MASSACRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 4

TARAWA MASSACRE

JAPANESE OUTRAGE 22 EUROPEANS MURDERED 17 NEW ZEALANDERS AMONG DEAD (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 21. The tragic story of the massacre by Japanese of 22 Europeans, including 17 New Zealanders, on Tarawa Island, where they had been removed as prisoners of war after the capture of the Gilbert Group little more than two years ago, was told to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser). “ This outrage,” said Mr Fraser, “ occurred on the island of Tarawa, in the Gilbert Group, on October 15, 1942, following a bombardment of the island on the afternoon of that day by United States warships and United States aircraft. The fate of the men was not discovered until after the capture of the Gilberts by 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 with 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. Postal Officials and Soldiers

“ Seven of the New Zealand personnel were officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. All were young men who, 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 in 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. “ The occupation of the Gilbert Group by the Japanese began in December, 1941, immediately after 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 the three post and telegraph officers and four 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, after the recapture of the Gilberts by United States forces. “Investigations were made by the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Groups. These disclose that immediately after their capture in September, 1942, all the Europeans were 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. Beheaded by Japanese They were then confined.at 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. “ On the afternoon of October 15, 1942, the island was bombarded by a United States warship and United States aircraft, and on IBie evening of that day the 22 Europeans were beheaded, or otherwise killed by the Japanese.

“I am sure that every citizen of this Dominion will join with the Government in expressing sincere sympathy to the relatives of those men who were so foully murdered by the Japanese,” Mr Fraser said. “No to their courage and their devotion to duty is too high. Notwithstanding the danger to which they were exposed after the outbreak of war with Japan, they all remained at their posts and continued to send reports of enemy 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 the best advantage the naval and air forces available in the Pacific in 1942, to arrest the progress of the Japanese, who were then moving south. Met Death ivith Fortitude

“The evidence of natives and others gathered since the reoccupation of the froup pays eloquent tribute to the ravery of the coast watchers. Particular mention is made of Messrs A. L. Taylor and T. C. Murray, who at the time of the Japanese occupation were serving on Beru. These two men abandoned their intention of escaping on learning that the Japanese had threatened the natives vvith reprisals if they should leave the island. “All these men 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 atrocity is but one more in the grim list for which Japan will be called to account.”

A memorial tablet has been erected by British and American officials on the site of the Tarawa massacre. This records the devotion to duty of the victims of the tragedy, and lists their names as follows: —R. G. Morgan, A. L., Sadd, A. E. McKenna, L. B. Spedey, R.’ Jones, W. A. R. Parker, B. Cleary, A. C. Heenan, A. L. Taylor, C. J Owen, R. A. Ellis, R. M. McKenzie, I. R. Handley, J J. McCarthy, T. C. Murray, D. H. Howe, C. A. Kilpin, A. M. McArthur, H. R. C. Hearn, C. A. Pearsall, R. J. Hitchon, and J. H. Nichol. The wording on the tablet reads: “ In memory of 22 British subjects murdered by the Japanese at Betio on October 15, 1942 Standing unarmed to their posts they matched brutality with gallantry and met their death with fortitude.”

Two Otago Men Included Messrs Morgan, Cleary, and McArthur, Captain Handley, and the Rev. A. L. Sadd were all well known in the Gilberts. Messrs Morgan and Cleary were administration officials. Mr McArthur was a trader. Captain Handley was a well-known master mariner who had retired, and Mr Sadd was one of the best-known and most loved missionaries in the Central Pacific. Included in the New Zealand list are two Otago men, Corporal Arthur Clarence Heenan, whose father is Mr E. P. Heenan, of Middlemarch, and Corporal Clifford Ronald Pearsall, whose father is Mr L. Pearsall, of Lawrence.