- This topic has 3,472 voices and 15 replies.
- Posts
My mother was one of 12 children who lived in Kyogle, Northern NSW. In 1942 the family said goodbye to two brothers who enlisted in the Australian Army, sadly one never made it home and the other brother who I did get to meet suffered the most horrendous nightmares and died at a very young age.
In honour of my mother's brother who never came home from the war here in Papua New Guinea, Robert Norman McMillan, I have done some research and found he served in the 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion who first experienced battle in the Wau-Mubo area. For those of you who do not know this area of PNG, The Black Cat Trail is situated in the Morobe Province whereas the Kokoda Trail is in the Central/Oro Province.
Robert_McMillan500.jpgI have also been approached by the Morobe Tourism Authority to try and grow what is commonly referred to as the Black Cat Trail which runs from Wau down to Salamaua. Another trek is known as the Skindiwai track and is the one favoured by the locals living in this area.
Skin Diwai was the site of a major Australian base during WW11 and is littered with live bombs, ammunition, other war junk including boots, and even war wreckage.
2/7 Battalion:
The 2/7th, as a whole, first met the Japanese in battle in the mid-January 1943 as part of the force defending Wau in New Guinea, although its carrier platoon had already been involved in fighting at Buna in Papua. Once Wau was made secure in early February, the 2/7th subsequently participated in the drive towards Salamaua. After arriving back in Australia on 6 October 1943, the battalion spent most of 1944 training in northern Queensland.
On 16 November 1944, the 2/7th disembarked at Aitape in New Guinea for its final campaign. Between January and June 1944, it was engaged mainly in arduous patrolling to clear the Torricelli Range, and in August it carried out a similar role in the Prince Alexander Range. The battalion returned to Australia on 18 December 1945 and disbanded at Puckapunyal in February 1946.
Robert Norman McMillan:
Robert or Bob as he was commonly referred to, managed to stay alive during the Wau/Salamaua campaign but sadly at the age of 22 was shot in the Aitape region and died a couple of days later. He was buried in the Lae War Cemetery.
Gravesite_Robert_McMillan.jpgFor anyone who has either walked the Kokoda Trail and is looking for another PNG adventure or who would like to once again walk in the footsteps of our diggers, I am going to soon be able to offer trekking tours to this area of PNG.
A few people I know have already walked this track but we need to work out the logistics first before we can offer it to you. Before you get too excited, I have been advised by two friends, Pam Christie & Malum Nalu that it is not as easy…did I say 'easy' as the Kokoda Trail. I asked Pam to rate this trek and she said on a scale of 1-10, and Kokoda being a 6, the walk from Wau to Salamaua or vice versa would come in around the 8-9 range….yes, quite tough!
The other problem we have is that there are lots of available porters but no-one is trained up to cater for you our tourists so I have asked Russell & Eric our two Kokoda guides to take a walk on this track in the very near future and together with Pam, we will offer two separate treks, one expat led and the other PNG led and our Kokoda Guides will help train the people and hopefully give them some much needed income in this area. Pam informs me I havent seen poor before until I see the villagers on the Black Cat Trail. All these people live in hope that I can make a difference to their lives as I have done to so many re the Kokoda Trail. With your help, YES WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
We are also looking at opening up the Bulldog Track which was used as a supply line for our troops stationed in this area. Pam has already walked this trail and says this too is tough but mainly due to the fact that it is not often walked and is overgrown. With help from the Morobe Tourism Authority and any help we can obtain from the local people living around these areas who stand to gain from overnight guesthouse accommodation, we are confident we can soon offer these treks to you in the not too distant future.
Possibly we can also offer two separate treks. One could start this end by flying into Tekadu and walking to Wau and then down the Black Cat to Salamaua for some R & R in one of their beachside guesthouse. A boat ride over to Lae from Salamaua and then a flight from Nadzab (Lae airport) to Port Moresby.
Before departing Lae, a visit to the Lae War Cemetery would be included in this tour.
The other tour could be a much shorter one by flying into Wau and then walking down the Black Cat to Salamau, spend a couple of days relaxing and then making your way back home per above.
Lae War Cemetery:
Lae_Cemetery_graves.jpgSalamaua:
At the beginning of the Second World War, Salamaua was the administrative centre for the New Guinea district of Morobe. Built on a small isthmus on the shores of Huon Gulf it was also the main point of entry for the inland goldfields around Wau and had both a small wharf and an airstrip. Salamaua was occupied by the Japanese in March 1942 and developed as a base area. To protect it, the Japanese established strong defensive positions in the hills to the east and advanced inland to Mubo.
In 1943, Salamaua became a focus of Allied strategy but not as a goal in its own right. Allied operations were launched towards Salamaua along the coast, and through the mountains from Wau, to divert Japanese attention from Lae – the Allies' main objective. The operations around Lababia, Bobdubi and Komantium Ridges, the fight for Mount Tambu, and the American landing in Tambu Bay were all part of this strategy. Salamaua was occupied, without opposition, by the 42nd Australian Battalion on 11 September 1943. Lae fell to the 7th Australian Division five days later.
The Salamaua strategy is generally regarded as having been a success because when the Lae landings commenced the town was only occupied by around 2,000 Japanese, mainly base troops. Salamaua was evacuated on 6 September to provide combatant reinforcements for Lae and approximately 5,800 troops were moved there. These units, however, were tired from the Salamaua fighting and were deployed piecemeal as they arrived at Lae.
Japanese War Gun – Salamaua:
Japanese_WW11_gun_at_Sa.jpg<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//rolleyes.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:rolleyes:” border=”0″ alt=”rolleyes.gif” />
Hi GailI see you haven't let the grass grow under your feet! Well done, stick with it.
What info do you have on the Bulldog Track and what info has Pam Christie got on it. Is Pam in Australia or PNG? Has she any photos on it? Reason being, Dad spent time on the Bulldog with ANGAU.
Hear from you soon, must head off to Squash.
Regards
Warren
<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//biggrin.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:D” border=”0″ alt=”biggrin.gif” />Councillor's house at Komiatum:
s_house_at_Komia.jpgPam is a Kiwi and a serious trekker. She cant remember this trek in detail so plans on another hike in April. I will send one of our guys along and we will then be able to offer it to anyone who would like to walk this trek.
We plan on being able to offer various different treks all over PNG by the end of April all going well.
Pam seen here relaxing on the Black Cat Trail. Pam said it was the best trek she has ever done in PNG but also tougher than Kokoda in places near the Wau side of the trail:
Pam_Christie4.jpgHi all
My uncle also served in the 2/7th he was wounded in action at komiatum & later died in a field hospital at Buna, he was buried at Cape Endanaire and later moved to Bomana (Died 20th Sept 1943 aged 19) It was a very moving experience to visit his grave at Bomana prior to trekking Kokoda last July and staying at Buna.
I would be interested in visiting the area in which he fought.Regards
Paul
Photograph: Climbing Up Mount Tambu:
Climbing_Mount_Tambu_with_p.jpgUpdate:Russell Eroro came in on Wednesday and left to head back home to Kokoda today. One of the things discussed was for him and another member of his staff to walk both treks in March before we get tied down with our Kokoda Treks.
Turns out Chris, one of our loyal guides from Kokoda is of mixed parentage with a father from Kokoda and a mother from Salamaua so the perfect guy to ask to walk with Rusty.
Stay tuned for further updates Anzac as I am serious, I plan to open up this area and offer it to you and others who have a connection to the 2/7 or who just want another adventure here in PNG.
House at Mubo Village:
House_at_Mubo_village.jpgThe children of Mubo live in hope that one day tourists will visit their area. This photograph was taken by Malum Nalu who also wants to help his people of Salamaua earn some money from accepting their services as guides and porters.
Children_bid_farewell_to_vi.jpgThanks Gail
Will stay tuned for further info on Wau, Komiatum trek
P.S. I met an old neighbour of yours from Pt Moresby Simon Pitt sends his regards
i used to work with him.Regards
Paul
Editors Note: Yes I remember Simon, he did not stick around here that long. Small world, please say Hi to him when and if you meet him again.
Map of the Black Cat Trail and surrounding areas as well as the 2/7 area clearly shown:
Map_Black_Cat_Trail.jpgI have been still doing my research with regards to these treks and Richard Stanaway a well known PNG surveyor, has come back with the following email message:
Hello Gail,
I walked the Bulldog Track in 2001 and it was an excellent adventure. The track isn't too tough if you walk from Top to bottom. Going the other way would be tough as there's a 3000 metre climb overall, with an 800m vertical bit. I haven't walked the Kokoda trail as it was closed the times I was in PNG. The Black Cat track is much tougher physically, with lots of up and down hill sections, very slippery and lots of obstacles along the way. Some people I have spoken too have said the Black Cat is about twice as difficult as the Kokoda Trail (These are geologist types). A real challenge would be to cross PNG from coast to coast using these two tracks. A good itinerary would be:
Day 1 : PMV Boat from Voco Point, Lae to Salamaua, relax in Salamaua for the afternoon, final preps at the Haus Kibung (if it still exists?)
Day 2: Walk along Fransisco River to Komiatum and over to Mubo (overnight)
Day 3: Walk from Mubo to Waipali
Day 4: Waipali to bush Buindiama
Day 5: bush shelter to Buindiama
Day 6: Buindiama to Wau
Day 7: Wau / Wau Ecology Institute (restish sort of day) to Edie Creek
Day 8: Edie Creek to Hidden Valley
Day 9: Hidden Valley to Yanina
Day 10: Yanina to Anandea
Day 11: Anandea to Tekadu
Day 12: Tekadu to Niukeva
Day 13: Niukeva to Okavai
Day 14: Okavai to Lakekamu Bridge
Day 15: Lakekamu to Kerema/Port MoresbyI have scans of maps and routes if you would be interested in them. I could email them to you.
If you've got any more questions please ask me. I've put a lot of content up on the web-pages.
Cheers,
RichardUpdate 17th March, 2005:
One of our guides by the name of Chris Suma and a porter Victor are now on the Black Cat Trail along with Heni from the Morobe Tourism Authority and a couple of recruits from Salamau and are heading to Wau.
They described today as being like walking up the hill into Efogi. Both guys are so far loving every minute of their new adventure.
Chris is half Morobean with his mother coming from that province and his father from Kokoda.
Chris, (with beard) seen here at the Australian High Commission Anzac Day 2004 Gunner's Breakfast following the dawn service at Bomana War Cemetery:
CIMG1561_600.gifUpdate 19/03/05: Chris, Victor and Heni have now reached Guadagsol around midday today Saturday.
Yesterday they said they crossed one river 49 times!
The villagers have also told Chris about three people in the village who were alive during World War II. They have arranged for him to meet with them later this afternoon.
Tomorrow he informed me by sat phone that they have an 11 hour walk to where they will overnight in a Skin Diwai guesthouse.
Chris is not rushing the trek but trying to find out everything he possibly can to ensure our trekkers in future end up with a great adventure.
I asked him how the trek was so far and if it was harder than Kokoda. He replied by saying he is a bushman and so far he has not tackled anything that is hard for him. The said the mountains reminded him of the walk from Kagi to Efogi.
He will give another report tomorrow.
Chris Suma with trekkers on the Kokoda Trail late last year:
Chris_Suma___trekkers_with_.jpgUpdate 20th March:Chris has just phoned in by Sat phone and said they have now reached the SkinDiwai Guesthouse where they will overnight.
Later on this afternoon they plan on walking to have a look at a plane crash of World War II that the villagers have told them about…will keep you posted!
Chris at home in the bush on the Kokoda Trail:
Chris_2.jpg
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.