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THROUGH the annals of our short but illustrious history, July 23 will always be remembered as the day that Papua New Guineans first engaged in battle to defend our country.
It can be remembered as the first step in our awakening to nationhood and identity.
Papua New Guineans first answered the call to arms in World War II, with the raising of the Pacific Islands Regiment consisting of the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the New Guinea Infantry Battalion to assist the Allied Forces in driving back the Japanese.
Monument at Kokoda…
Kokoda_Memorial.jpgIt was on the afternoon of July 23, 1942, when Lieutenant Chalk, Lieutenant Wort, Warrant Officer McWatters and 35 Papuan Infantry Battalion troops which included corporals Gabriel Lahari, Gabriel Ehava and George Metta lay in ambush beside the track east of Awala near Kokoda in Oro Province.
A runner brought a message from the commanding officer of the Papuan Infantry Battalion Major Watson, which was brief and straight to the point: ?You will engage the enemy.?
The enemy came, travelling on bicycles and light motorbikes.
The men lay in their positions without making a single noise as the enemy came. Lt Chalk delayed the order to open fire as long as he dared because he knew that his men were becoming nervous.They were armed only with rifles; the Japanese had mortars, machine guns and even a light field piece.
The local carriers along the Kokoda Tail also playe d a major role in depending their country…
cap0009.JPGWhen the Japanese forward units were well into the ambush area, Lt Chalk ordered his men to fire. It was a historic order ? the first ever given to the Papuan Infantry Battalion soldiers to attack the enemy land forces.
The first burst caught the Japanese completely by surprise, but they soon recovered and poured machine gun fire and mortar shells into the Papuan Infantry Battalion ranks. But by then Lt Chalk and his men had melted into the dense jungle.
July 23, 1942, will always be a significant date for the country because that was when Papua New Guinean soldiers received their first order to engage the enemy in the defence of our country. History has shown that our soldiers of the Pacific Island Regiment served with distinction and developed a reputation of being fierce, highly professional soldiers.
For the duration of the World War II, they lost the lives of 61 men as a result of the action but in doing so, inflicted 2209 casualties on the enemy.
This equates to a ratio of 1: 36, a remarkable deed that still stands tall among the achievements of the contemporary forces.LEST WE FORGET.
Ends..
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