Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes joined several hundred people in Rabaul last week to commemorate ANZAC Day and the 70th anniversary of when World War II came to Rabaul, then an Australian territory.
Dr Sykes spoke in Parliament this week about the trip and of the importance of recognising and remembering one of the darker chapters in Australian war history.
Dr Sykes joined World War II Coast Watchers Jim Burrowes and Matt Foley, members of Rabaul Montevideo Maru Society, the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, representatives of the Governments of the United States, Britain and Norway as well as many locals at the commemoration in Rabaul.
He said, “The invasion of Rabaul in 1942 is a dark day in Australian history.
“The Lark Force of about 1,000 men was called upon to defend against many thousand Japanese.
“There was no plan for a strategic withdrawal and when defeat was inevitable the order of ‘every man for himself’ is a condemnation of military and political leadership of the time.
”Whilst a couple of hundred men successfully escaped to Australia, many died of disease or were killed including over 100 men being massacred at Tol Plantation.
“Most tragically 835 military and 218 civilians lost their lives on the unmarked Japanese ship the Montevideo Maru which was sunk by a US submarine.
“Congratulations go to those involved in organising the commemorative services, in particular Susie McQuade and her family, Steve Flanders, the Rabaul Historical Society, Phil Ainsworth, Andrea Williams and John Holland.
“I hope that the many people present who lost husbands, fathers or loved ones took comfort in the fact that Rabaul will not forget their sacrifice.
Dr Sykes also presented wreaths in Rabaul on behalf of local families in memory of lost loved ones and the many servicemen and women who gave their lives during the war.