George’s War
An unofficial photo journey of service in WW2 in Papua New Guinea.
“George’s War” is not just a story about one man, it could be any man – someone’s husband, father, uncle or son. After spending months of immersing myself in this investigation and looking at the images, time disappears. I’m back in 1942, sharing experiences, seeing the places in Papua New Guinea where our servicemen have been and being deeply moved by their ability to find some joy under harsh conditions away from family and friends. Sadly, the men in the photos are no longer alive and able to share their personal experience but these photos bring them back to life and allow their war stories to be told.
Before embarking on this quest, I had little knowledge of the War in the Pacific though most of my Uncles were in the RAAF in WW2. I knew this because as I was growing up, I had seen framed ‘photos in uniform’ sitting in pride of place on dressing tables. With hindsight and new knowledge, I am now disappointed that I didn’t know more and didn’t broach the subject of their wartime experience. For a start I was too young to know, but also the war was just something that no one talked about and certainly not to a child. However, Australia’s war experience in the Pacific needs to be recognised and acknowledged. Whilst there is still a living memory of this time it needs to be preserved for younger generations to understand our history.
All of these years later and having the opportunity to investigate the origins of my ‘found’ photos, I have developed a passion for knowing more about the wartime in PNG – not so much the battles, but the ‘daily lives’ of those who went ‘up there’. The photos presented in George’s War are taken in the style of a war adventure, not capturing the fighting per se, but rather the images of men in the various locations where they were based and the tasks and local interactions in which they were involved. It’s a personal story – a story captured by an unknown photographer or photographers’ – and George is the main character. I am not a military historian, but simply a photodocumentist who wants to tell this story.
The story is even more unique because servicemen were banned from taking cameras with them because the government at the time had a Department of Information, a propaganda machine, that employed photographers and journalists to ensure that the messages the Australian public were receiving back home were controlled. Many of these DOI photographers became famous either during or after the war; people like Damien Parer, John T Harrison and George Silk. Despite the rules, however, cameras were taken along by servicemen and the photos are now often seen in old family albums. Generally, they contain a few ‘snaps’ of older relatives in uniform and if lucky there are few others on location. This story, however, is a complete collection of one man’s war journey in PNG, capturing places, people, and wreckages of planes, tanks and barges.
So, in essence, the story starts with me coming into possession of 60 negatives that on first sight were obviously taken in WW2 in Papua New Guinea. The images were of military servicemen and Papua New Guineans. I knew at once they were precious memories. I originally had a few developed just to see the images but at that time I didn’t progress the investigation very far. Only this year due to lockdown I retrieved them from the archives and threw myself into the research to try and solve the mystery of – 1) who took the photos; 2) who is in the photos; and 3) where were they taken?
Several months later, I am well on the way to answering these questions and the journey has turned into my own adventure. This collection of photographs documents the wartime experiences of RAAF servicemen in Papua New Guinea, and from my research to date, centres on one man – George Beardow.
It’s difficult to find out all the details some eighty years later and the investigation has taken me up some blind alleys with many twists and turns. I have done my best to uncover as much correct information as possible to provide a context for the photos and have been assisted by the many knowledgeable followers and correspondents via my facebook page ‘George’s War’ who have made a significant contribution to the investigation.
May I now present ‘George’s War’.
Finding the Negatives
Many years ago my husband was cleaning out his late Grandfather’s house. He found a box of family photos and gave them all to me, as he knew I liked old photos and would probably sort through them. In the box I found a sleeve of 60 medium format negatives – as soon as I looked at them I knew they were unique. They were all taken in World War 2 in New Guinea and showed images of servicemen and Papua New Guineans.
On the Kodak negative envelope in handwriting from the Kodak store where they were developed there was a name written in pencil in the section where the owners name would normally be. It looked like it said George Beardon. However, lower on the envelope was the grandfather’s name and address – Mat Horan, Medical Orderley, RAAF . On the inside of the envelope it said G Beardon, Stella Street, Holland Park.
My initial thoughts were that the photos belonged to Matthew, but I was unsure why they had the other name on them. So, I started to investigate Matthew’s war service to get some clues.
Matthew Laurence Horan
Matthew Laurence Horan (75215) was a Corporal in the RAAF and served in 3MRS and 71 Advance Wing Command. He was born in Kingaroy on 23rd January 1908 and enlisted on the 14th April 1942 at Surfers Paradise. He was married to Margaret and had three children Pauline, Matthew and Anthony. He had been working as an Ambulance Officer in Southport.
He served in 3MRS Townsville from 10th June 1942 but was deployed to Port Moresby from 2nd September 1942 to 13th March 1943. He then moved to Buna and Dobodura until 27th June 1943 before moving to his last posting at Goodenough Island from the 3rd July to 21st December 1943. The units he worked in were 3MRS (Medical Receiving Station) in Port Moresby, Advanced Medical Flight to Buna and Dobudura and 71 Wing HQ at Goodenough Island. He discharged from the Brisbane Medical Unit on 14th May 1945.
The grandfather was estranged from the family, so his remaining relatives knew very little of his service. I decided to go and interview Pauline, his daughter as she was the oldest in the family and seemed keen to be involved. Although she was very helpful with family history, she knew very little about his time in the war but did think he was in Lae. She was able to determine, however, that he was not in any of the photos. In fact, it was Pauline, now aged 92, who identified that one man was consistently in many of the photos.
It got me wondering about George Beardon. Many hours of searching the National Archives and the DVA Nominal rolls led nowhere until one night a friend was searching and found a George ‘Beardow’. We had misread the handwriting.
Finding George
George James Beardow
A quick search of the databases revealed a George Beardow who enlisted in the Army in Casino. A search of the National Archives revealed that George James Beardow was born in Lismore on 30/8/17 and enlisted in the AIF on 31/7/42. He was a farmer and singer and his Mum was Elizabeth Beardow, whose husband Thomas had died earlier. George was in the 2/2 A1 Battalion and died on 31/3/45 at age 25.
After some searching on Facebook and contacting several people named Beardow, I eventually was able to make contact with his great nephew Terry Beardow via the Casino RSL. He was happy to help and sent me a photo of George and told me a story he was sent by George’s mate, Norm Lindberg.
“I was 19 years old when I was in the 2nd/2nd battalion on the Tablelands in Queensland. I met George, and we became great mates. Thinking back, I believe he was asked to look after me. George and I were in a bayonet charge together. Our officer, Bert Chowne volunteered to lead. During the battle, Bert was killed. Vic Austin took charge, even though he had been shot. Unfortunately, George was shot in the head. After we held the ridge, the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels carried George (who was unconscious), for a whole day to get him to the hospital. We fought our way back to the coast. On arriving I was told George was unconscious, and his wound was very bad. I ran six odd miles to the hospital to see him. On the way to the hospital I saw two chaps I knew. They were lowering a body into a grave. It didn’t occur to me that it could be George. I asked, “who is that?”. To my sorrow, it was George. I never knew much about George’s life and family. I tried getting in touch when I arrived back in Australia, through the Army, but unfortunately they couldn’t give me any contact details. I wanted to tell someone from George’s family what happened to him.
Thanks to my granddaughter, I have at least been able to tell somebody. All the very best, Norm Lindberg”.
This story was only recently sent to Terry Beardow via Facebook Messenger after contact from Norm’s Grandaughter:
Terry’s mother was likely to marry George, but when he was killed she married his brother. Terry’s Mum had dementia so was unable to provide much history, though she was surprised to find out that he was a singer. She sadly passed away recently.
Poor young George died at the battle of Chowne Hill alongside his commanding officer Bert Chowne who received a Victoria Cross. Chowne told Beardow he would get a Victoria Cross. He used to go off in the night and come back with the ears of Japanese soldiers (Barter, 1994).
At 1800 Chowne led his men up the track in a bayonet charge. On the way up the knoll Chowne and Pte Conway were killed and Sgt. Austin (and Pte. Beardow wounded). Pte. McClelland, the Bren gunner, ran forward and stood astride the track firing from the hip until the remainder of the platoon came up and this enabled the attack to continue. (2/2 March War Diary, 1945).
“Because of Chowne’s Victoria Cross, 8 Platoon’s capture of a small, New Guinea hillock is the best documented individual action in the unit’s history” (Barter, M. (1994) Far above battle. The experience and memory of Australian Soldiers in War 1939-1945). George Beardow had sustained a severe head injury and never regained consciousness. He was initially buried in Wewak but was reburied and laid to rest in Lae War Cemetery.
After pondering this for quite awhile I realised, with the help of facebook friends, that the photos were not of Army personnel at all. I had posted a photo of a man in uniform and Greg Amey (an expert on military uniforms) identified that is was pre 1943 pattern webbing in the 1925 RAF pattern, as used by all RAAF members who attended the RAAF jungle training and commando course in North Queensland prior to deployment to the Pacific region - “Everything he’s wearing is consistent this period, the centre used P14 SMLES, alongside No 1 MK3 and No 4 SMLE’s. Webbing pockets are 4 per side with two clips of SAA fitting into each”. Furthermore, the slouch hats I had considered to be Army were in fact those worn by the RAAF, the difference being they were not pinned up at the side and had a different insignia at the front. Why didn’t it occur to me that the men in jungles of PNG would need sun protection rather than wearing their forage caps?
So, I returned to the NAA database and this time searched Airforce personnel records. To my delight I quickly found George Polythamas Beardow and there was a small photo attached to his records. A quick comparison identified him as the man in many of my photos. I had found the other George! Although George James was not the man I was seeking, his story is part of this journey and needs to be told.
George Polythamas Beardow
George Beardow was born in Ardwick, Lancaster, England on 7/4/1896 . His parents were Mary Ann Lilly and George Beardow. As a young boy he attended St Andrews school and also the Chapel Street Council school in Manchester, UK. After migrating to Brisbane he spent two and a half years studying carpentry and joinery at the Brisbane Technical College in Ann Street. He got 93% in his Stage 1 exam and 92% in stage 2. He was a carpenter in civilian life and prior to the war he worked at Schofield Bros. for 19 years as a carpenter and joiner. He then went into business on his own building houses around Brisbane, including his own at 40 Stella Street, Holland Park. Just before he enlisted he was involved in hangar construction for the Main Roads Department.
George married Martha Beryl Jones daughter of Richard Jones and Martha “Christmas” Morgan on 22/12/23 at St Andrews Church, South Brisbane. They honeymooned at Noosa and photographs are featured in “The Noosa Story” (1932 – I think this was a mistake – I think it was 1923). They had no children. George wrote a book or established a magazine called MING (Masonry in New Guinea).
At the age of 46 years, George Beardow (78971) enlisted in the RAAF on 7th October 1942. He knew what he was he was doing as he had previously been in the Citizen forces between 1919 and 1925 in the 23rd Signals Corp Engineers. Initially he was told that he was too old to enlist in WW2 but after his second attempt in 1942, he was successful. He was described at interview as being an excellent type, keen, capable and dependable. Appearance was neat and clean. He was respectful with good speech and manner. On testing he was above average and he was found to be Suitable as Carpenter General. He was 5’11” tall and 13 stone, 7 lb in weight.
He left his wife at home in Brisbane and on Christmas eve 1942 he arrived in Port Moresby. He served 2 years and 11 months in WW2, most of the time in Papua. He went to Milne Bay, Buna, Lae, Goodenough Island and Kiriwina. In his deployment he was attached to 30 Squadron as a Works Supervisor. He discharged at the rank of Corporal on 15/10/45.
In 1968 he and Martha took a trip overseas for five months and returned to Australia from Southhampton on the T/n Flavia on 22/1/1968. His occupation was then identified as ‘retired builder’ (Incoming passenger cards July-Dec 1968). George returned to live at 533 Pacific Highway, Tugun, Gold Coast, Australia. He died on 24/4/1974 at Tugun aged 78 years. Martha Beryl Beardow died in 1990 at Sandgate Masonic Home.
His nephew was in the RAN and interviewed by UNSW. He also has an interesting story to tell.
The houses
Three of the negatives were of houses that looked like they were in Brisbane. They were probably taken to finish off a roll. Given the Stella Street, Holland Park address, I decided to go for a drive and have a look if the houses in the photo were still there. After driving up and down the street I located the houses from the photo. It was a little difficult as I realised that two of the photos I had digitised were back to front. After some careful comparisons, it was possible to identify 38 Stella Street. The current owners do not know the history of the house. However, in Beardow’s records I found the address, 40 Stella Street. It was in a state of disrepair and had just sold. The neighbour told me that he thought a builder had originally built the house and lived there – this would have been George. A search of Corley’s Explorer revealed another house built in Holland Park by George in a similar style. Co-incidentally there was also a large repatriation hospital in Holland Park at the time and it was also close to Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital where Matthew’s second wife worked. The house with the unknown woman and dog in the front yard is taken from 40 Stella Street, perhaps this was Martha, George’s wife. The house still has the same gate and fence.
This is a photo of George’s house at 40 Stella Street, Holland Park in 2021.
Port Moresby
George arrived in Port Moresby on 24/12/42 and would have seen this sunken ship in the harbour. The sunken merchant Navy vessel Machdui was bombed by the Japanese in Fairfax Harbour, Port Moresby in June 1942. Damien Parer shot a newsreel of the event which is available from the Australian War Memorial (AWM).
The photo of the foal was confirmed by Michael Claringbould to be taken at Ward’ strip, Port Moresby, at the RAAF camp.
Group of RAAF Servicemen at June Valley, Wards Strip, Port Moresby in 1943. George is front left and the mountain in the background is Burns peak. You can see a flagpole in the distance. The research suggests that these men are attached to 30 Squadron as a mobile works or construction unit. So far, I have only been able to identify George. Some of the men are in other photos, so they must have travelled to different parts of PNG together. It would be so good to be able to find out who they were.
Matthew Horan was in Port Moresby working as a medical orderly for 6 months from September 1942. George arrived three months later in December 1942. I wonder whether they knew each other at this time? And, who really was the photographer?
Construction crew, Port Moresby, 1944.
George and his construction crew
Looking through the collections of war photos at the Australian War Memorial, I tried to narrow my search to identify photographers who were in PNG at the same time as George and Matthew. There were quite a few Department of Information photographers spread across the various locations – three, however, seem to be the most promising – JT Harrison, Damien Parer and George Silk.
John T Harrison
John T Harrison (JT) was an established commercial photographer in Melbourne. He had a strong interest in aviation photography and had published in the Aircraft Journal and the Sun News Pictorial. As a result of his interests and experience, he was employed by the RAAF to go up to New Guinea during the War. JT was employed as a RAAF Public Relations Photographer and had a rank of Flight Lieutenant. Daniel Connell interviewed JT on 21 July 1991 where he reflected on his time in the RAAF and his early years as a photographer. The interview can be found in The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45.
JT was in Moresby for Christmas 1942, the same time as George. JT actually took a photo of members of a RAAF squadron making Christmas pudding on Christmas Day. He was attached to 77 and 30 Squadron, the latter being George’s squadron. JT’s time in PNG saw him spend time in Milne Bay, Goodenough Island and Kiriwina and he also flew on missions to other locations to take photos. JT has a large collection of photos at the Australian War Memorial, so I was able to cross reference the dates and places with my photos. It turns out that both George and JT were in the same places in the same time frame. It’s a possibility that JT may have taken some of my photos, but this requires further investigation.
I was lucky enough to track down David Harrison via a photographer in Warwick where the Harrison’s had previously lived. JT’s son, David, who was also in the RAAF, has a wealth of information about his Father – which is another story just waiting to be written.
Photo of John T Harrison, RAAF Public Relations photographer and Flight Lieutenant.
The Speed Graphic camera used by JT, now homed in the Australian War Memorial.
JT took this photo of 30 and 22 Squadrons being transported from Goodenough Island to Kiriwina in the Trobriand Islands on SS Hanyang in November 1943. The man with the cap on, front row fourth from left, is the same man that features in some of my photos. The man standing to the right has also been identified by his nephew, as Desmond Armstrong.
Damien Parer
Damien Parer, arguably Australia’s most well- known war photographer, was also in PNG at the same time as George. He shot images of the sinking of the Macdhui in Fairfax harbour in June 1942, he filmed Kokoda Frontline, and the Battle of the Bismark Sea to name a few notable examples. Relevant to this story though is that Parer was in many of the same places as George and he spent time with 30 Squadron in Moresby at Ward’s strip, Buna and Dobodura and then moved to Goodenough Island. Many of these photos are taken in the same timeframe in the same places and it was known that in addition to film for newsreels he shot in medium format (George’s photos are medium format). More information on Damien Parer can be found Here.
Two other Department of Information photographers who also spent time in these regions were Clifford Bottomley and George Silk. As interesting as their stories are, they will be left for another time. The Department of Information photographers had an official perspective to maintain. Though many photos were of the daily lives of servicemen the audience was the general public. George’s photos capture a servicemen’s perspective – his own personal war story. Personal photos taken to show people back home what it was like ‘up in New Guinea’, his mates and what they saw as they travelled to different places on their tour of duty. Together this collection of images provides insights into mateship, the living conditions, the landscape, the construction, the skeletons of war machinery and the interactions with local people. You can almost tag along on his journey and feel the humidity and the comradeship.
Who took the photos?
My Facebook searching has allowed me to have discussions with current RAAF photographers and historians who are extremely knowledgeable in their field Their insights along with my own research leads me to consider that ‘most’ of the photos were taken by a ‘keen amateur’ with some knowledge and interest in photography.
We know that the images are mostly of George and his mates – photographed in various locations with subjects and objects of interest. The fact that George is in most of the photos makes me think he owned the camera. Also, that the camera was probably a step up from those used by younger servicemen – possibly a Kodak 116. George was 46 when he enlisted, he had a good income and no children, so he could probably afford a good camera to take along!
George quite likely asked his mates and maybe at times one of the passing Department of Information photographers to take a photo for him. This would certainly explain the different standards in the quality and composition of the images and is not beyond the realm of possibility, particularly given their association with 30 Squadron. But, does it actually matter who took them? It would be satisfying to know, but in the end it probably doesn’t really matter. What is more important is the story captured by the photos
Starting out with a bunch of old negatives and no identifying information has been challenging. However, the Facebook investigation has been overwhelming fruitful in identifying the places, objects and people. I have predominantly relied on information supplied by followers of Aviation Historical Society of Australia, Australian Military History, and PNG, Photo History, Taim Bepo to share the images and ask for assistance. I am totally surprised by the detailed information and insights offered by their followers. The members of Pacific Wrecks website have also been a valuable source for confirmation. As I present the images I will offer as much information as possible, but I would be grateful if readers could contact me with corrections, confirmations and further insights.
This investigation will now focus on the content of the photos and the story that they tell. For the purposes of the web page I will try to present them in chronological order as George and his mates travelled around to various locations. For future exhibitions I will be thematically analysing the images to give readers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experiences of war in the Pacific from the perspective of a RAAF servicemen, some eighty years ago.
Buna
The Battle of Buna -Gona followed the conclusion of the Kokoda Track campaign and was fought between 16 November 1942 and 22 January 1943. Australian and US forces fought the Japanese beachheads at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. It was here that George Silk shot the iconic image of Papuan Orderly, Raphael Oimbari aiding Australian soldier Private George ‘Dick’ Whitington on Christmas Day 1942.
George Beardow had only arrived in PNG at Christmas 1942. The following images were taken after the battle when George and his mates visited the sites to see for themselves what had occurred and/or to salvage what they could.
Bullet holes, a Japanese bicycle and helmuts are the remnants of the Japanese presence at Buna. George was probably feeling pretty lucky that he wasn’t there for the battle.
A group of RAAF servicemen inspect the wreckage of an old truck at Buna, most likely in the Joroba plantation. The heads of the palm trees were stripped by machine gun fire as that is where the Japanese snipers often hid in wait. This vehicle was confirmed by a facebook follower, Landing Vehicle Tracked LVT, with the offer of the photo below. It looks like the same one to me too!
Australian War Memorial.
George and his mates pose with a wrecked plane in Buna. Michael Claringbould, David Edwards and Keith Hopper from the Aviation Historical Society of Australia have confirmed it was a stripped aircraft with the tail code Q-102, a Mitsubishi AsM3 Model 32 MN 3030 with fuselage script HK-872. It was abandoned at Buna on 26 August 1942 by WO Tsunoda Kazuo following combat with Airacobras. It had been donated by Bank Uiseok, a Korean businessman and operated by N2 Naval Air Group. What amazing detective work!
More information can be found here at Pacific Wrecks.
Gordon Birkett and other followers reported that 10-14 M3 Stuart Tanks arrived in Australia in November 1941 and were shipped to Buna in 1942. They were the only armour in Buna and seven were lost at Buna from the 2/6th Armoured Regiment. Spare parts were often salvaged to repair other tanks. It seems that this tank had battle damage and had been in this position for awhile before George and his mates went there.
It has been confirmed that this tank is an M3 General Stuart Tank hull number 2017, which was hit by a Japanese Anti-Aircraft gun on 24th December 1942 southwest of the Buna Airfield (Old Strip).During 1974 the tank was removed and transport to Port Moresby and then onto the Nimitz Museum (National Museum of the Pacific War) in Fredericksburg, Texas, USA where it is still on display. More information can be found here:
A photo of this tank is also seen in the book by Neal Bertrand about his father, Charles Curtis Bertrand’s service in the USA military - Dad’s War Photos: Adventures in the South Pacific (2015).
Oro Bay
Oro Bay, part of Oro Province or Northern Province, is north of Buna and during November 1942, Australian and American troops used it as a staging area to support the campaign against the Japanese defenders at Buna, Gona and Sanananda. Interestingly, this Province has the world’s largest butterfly.
US military personnel look on as men from Oro Province perform a traditional dance/ceremony (Sing Sing). Location identified by followers of Taim Bepo facebook group who recognised the tapa cloth the men area wearing. They say that only two provinces have this – Oro and Manus Island and we know George only went to Oro province. The US military were identified by uniforms and pistol.
The local people constructing a hut or another building for the RAAF. I think George may have learnt some new ideas about construction in PNG as he went on to write a book called Masonry in New Guinea (MING).
Somewhere on the Kokoda track… from Oro Bay side. It looks as though they may have gone for a swim.
Plane over Milne Bay
This plane is an American C47 (156/223616) which flew to Australia on 4 May 1943 and was probably on the 57 Troop Carrier Squadron in Moresby. It then crashed on takeoff on 21 July 1943 after colliding with another plane 42-23611. It was in Moresby, Dobudura and Goodenough Island around June 1943 until it crashed. Matthew was also in Buna and Dobodura during this period whilst George was a Leading Aircraftman attached to 30 Squadron (the Beaufighter Squadron) and in this area between June and July 1943. These photos were taken from the air most likely during a flight to Milne Bay. US planes were often used for transport and also the 71 Wing was used to transport the injured back to Moresby and Townsville. JT Harrison and Damien Parer were also flying around during this period taking photos for the Dept of Information. Parer had gone up with 30 Squadron and filmed during the Battle of the Bismark sea.
It’s a shame the plane was only in the air for just over two months before it crashed. There is no record of any casualties.
Below is the same plane taken from another plane coming into to land at Milne Bay. Michael Claringbould from Pacific Wrecks webpage confirms this was C-47 42-23616 of the 57th TCS/375th TCG. You can see the airstrip at bottom left.
This illustration sent to me by Mark Pilkington shows the same coastline. This illustration was done by Flt Lt Terence Duigan (nephew of John Duigan, son of Reg – both famous names in Australian Aviation) of his Catalina over Milne Bay – which a recognisable coastal feature.
This is the Fall River Strip at Milne Bay, courtesy of Pacific Wrecks. It matches the coastline in George’s photo and we know that George and 30 Squadron went down to Milne Bay. It is likely that the plane in the photo and the plane the photo was taken from were on a flight down to Milne Bay from Moresby. It would have been very exciting for someone not involved in aviation to be able to fly in a plane in 1943 and also to be able to take aerial photos. It would have been really interesting to show these photos to people back home.
It looks like the photographer had a window seat over the wing. I hope he didn’t witness the crash of 23616.
Mobile Cinema
Mobile cinema truck no 76 “Bennie” was an Aussie Ford MCP 3 ton truck located in Port Moresby in 1942. It was used to take movies to show the troops to keep them entertained. In the background you can just see the landscape which is captured in another photo and has been identified as the Markham Valley.
Another photo from the Australian War Memorial shows Bennie having run off the road from Murray Barracks in Port Moresby in 1942 with the driver Sgt. Geoff Masters and Sgt. Wal Field looking on.
Facebook followers have suggested that perhaps Bennie was driven over the Bulldog track to Lae in the Markham valley in late 1943. Keith Hopper, an avid follower, suggests that after the Fall of Lae in September 1943 most of the trucks would have been transported by ship. I had only ever heard of the Kokoda track but it seems that a road was forged across to Lae. More details can be found at Here.
Damien Parer walked this track in 1942 before a road was built and Australian Actor Peter Phelps wrote a book about his Grandfather who walked the track Click here to view.
Below is the screen, projector shed and make-shift seating (probably food or ammunition boxes) for showing the movies. One follower claims that his Grandad said that the Japanese soldiers used to sneak in at night to also watch the movies from behind. He could hear them settling in. I’m a little skeptical about that but you never know!
Markham Valley, Nadzab and Lae
Keith Hopper suggests that this photo of George and his mates is most likely taken in Lae, based on the vegetation and the terrain. George is looking pretty lean, but we know from his records that he had suffered from malaria during this period. They were probably assisting with the reconstruction in Nadzab.
My friend Vicki, an avid follower of George’s War, saw the photo below and thought the man at the back on the right was her Uncle Jack. What are the chances! We compared an old photo she had but weren’t sure. So, I requested his service records.
Jack (John Fraser) Adamson (23474) was born in Warwick on 9/8/1917 and enlisted in the RAAF in Bulimba on 29/8/40. He was a clerk in civilian life and enlisted as a Storeman. Jack was in 80 Squadron which formed in 14/9/1943 and was deployed to Nadzab (Lae) in PNG until April 1944 when they went to Aitape. He was in 80 Squadron in PNG until 21/10/45.
We know that George was also in the Markham Valley, Nadzab, Lae. It could be possible that they met each other there. George would have been there after the fall of Lae which was in September 1943. The RAAF would have needed stores from Jack and reconstruction from George.
This photo was taken in Markham Valley, Nadzab, Lae. Jack’s ears in all photos are same – R ear is higher. Younger photo was 4 years on enlistment and older photo has been supplied by the family. He was 6ft ½ inch tall – which fits with how he looks in the group photo. What do you all think? Is it Jack? You can just imagine the photographer saying, ‘hey mate get in here for the photo’.
George (4th from left, back row) and his mates at Markham Valley. I wonder who all of these men were? Maybe the guy in the forage cap 4th from left was one of the pilots who flew them in to Nadzab.
Right and left are photos of Jack, but consensus from a number of people is that the middle photo is Jack, who was in the above photo with George at Markham Valley.
Local people building a large building that would maybe be used as a hospital or a meeting place. What a magnificent structure. George certainly had skilled helpers when he was building some of his other constructions.
Possibly the RAAF camp in the Markham Valley. You can see three long houses in the background.
Graves of the fallen. Apparently, the small white crosses were for Australians and the other shape was for the Japanese. Many of the graves were relocated to Lae War Cemetery after the War. I am not sure where this cemetery is, but it is most likely Lae. There is a long house in the background.
Goodenough Island
Japanese Diahatsu Landing Craft
Initially I thought the photo of George and his mates with a wrecked Japanese landing craft was taken at Buna, but further investigation reveals that it taken at Goodenough Island. My Japanese speaking friends were able to translate the writing on the side of the barge and also commented that they thought this was a lost unit.
The Sasebo Naval district landing force participated in the invasion of Buna-Gona (21-27/7/42), the New Guinea Campaign and the battle of Milne Bay (25/8 – 7/9/42).
Records show that the Tsukioka Unit was at Buna on 12/8/42 where they executed the Sangara mission workers. The Sasebo No 5 Special Landing Party “Tsukioka Butai” was thought to be a ‘missing unit’ – with lots of false leads of where it went. However, it seems from reading a few sources that it was actually beached on Goodenough Island on 24/8/42 en route to Milne Bay but was then discovered by a Coastwatcher who alerted authorities and RAAF No 75 Squadron was despatched and destroyed 7 landing craft. Three of the Japanese castaways took a canoe and paddled to Buna whilst the others remained stranded on Goodenough at Kilia Mission. 300 Australian troops landed at Mud Bay on 22/10/42 and after a battle the Japanese evacuated to Ferguson Island and were rescued by the destroyer Tenryu.
Changing a tyre is a messy job. This servicemen didn’t want to get his clothes dirty. Most followers suggest this was taken at Milne Bay.
Goodenough Island and Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands
In 1943, 30 Squadron operated as a low-level ground attack unit supporting the Allied efforts in Papua. The primary mission was attacking Japanese shipping and coastal basis, with the initial focus on targets around Buna and Sanananda before being expanded to support operations along the Kokoda Track, Goodenough Island and Lae. In March 1943 the Squadron took part in the Battle of the Bismark Sea. At this time George was in Port Moresby, but in July 1943 they moved to Goodenough Island and then onto Kiriwina in November. George and his mates spent time constructing and building but still had some downtime for rest and relaxation.
The humidity and sweltering heat in PNG would have been pretty unbearable, particularly wearing a thick uniform. No wonder they took their shirts off at every opportunity. Luckily, George and his RAAF mates had the opportunity to cool off from time to time in rivers, under waterfalls and at the beach. Their faces and posture show how relaxing and enjoyable it was.
These photos capture the camaraderie and mateship of a group of men who have lived and worked together under harsh conditions for a long period of time. Everyone back home would be pleased to know they were able to have some rest and relaxation.
Rest and relaxation
Viewer Warning: The following images contain nudity and people who are now deceased. They are not censored but presented in their historical context with respect.
RAAF servicemen and others enjoying a swim at Kiriwina in 1944. What a wonderful relaxing image – not your usual wartime photos.
RAAF servicemen having a bit of fun in Kiriwina.
The beaches have been identified as Kiriwina, due to the white sand, the little island with the radio tower and the sunken barges. It must have seemed like paradise after some of the other places they had been.
George and his mates having a bath in a local river.
Peter Davis has identified this waterfall as being downstream from Madilogo on the Brown, also known as the Nauro River. This is located about 50k from Port Moresby up on the Kokoda trail in the Owen Stanley Range in Central Province. It would have taken them two or three days to walk there but he suggests that they went by truck. Rod Pearce, however, a dive tour operator in PNG, thinks it is more likely on Goodenough Island due to the nature of rock.
What do you think?
Intercultural relations – hanging out with the local people
Viewer Warning: The following images contain nudity and people who are now deceased. They are not censored but presented in their historical context with respect.
The beautiful little children seem to be malnourished. I can’t imagine how their lives were turned upside down by the devastation to their home and crops caused by the bombing.
The children of the Trobriand Islands 1944
George and some mates with villagers from Milne Bay Province. I wonder where the babies are now? They would be aged in their 80’s and most likely have relatives still living in the same province.
Little Trobriand Island girls. 1944.
Tree Kangaroo
George and his mates with local men and tree kangaroo. Tree kangaroos live in lowland and mountainous rainforests in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the far north of Queensland, Australia. The local people used to hunt them for food, but now they are an endangered species.
Camp and village life in the lush tropics of PNG.
The islands and the beach were paradise compared to the mountainous areas. George and his mates had tents and they seem to be stationed near a plantation. The local people had huts built from local grasses and palms.
The Salvo’s - always there to lend a hand. The truck could have driven over the Bulldog track or been transported by ship. This photo was taken on the Eastern side of PNG or on one of the islands due to the palms and sandy coral road. The Salvation Army went everywhere - a welcome sight to the sick and injured.
Final Thoughts
George’s War has led us on journey of discovery about the experiences of servicemen in WW2 in PNG. The investigation sought to find out who took the photos and to identify the locations and men in the photos.
Corporal George Beardow has been identified and his story told. He was from Holland Park in Brisbane, was married to Martha and enlisted in the RAAF at age 46 as a Carpenter General. Unfortunately, I have yet to confirm the identity of any of the other men and the Unit Records are no longer available. I will have to rely on people using social media to look at their faces to see if they recognise loved ones who served in the RAAF, most likely attached to 30 Squadron, in PNG between December 1942 until February 1944.
Places that George travelled to include Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Buna, Lae, Goodenough island and Kiriwina. Also, several of the wreckages of planes, landing craft, tanks and trucks were identified in place which helped me to piece the story together.
This project has been made possible with the assistance of numerous Facebook followers from George’s War and in particular the Aviation Historical Society of Australia, Photo History PNG Tiam Bipo, Pacific Wrecks and Australian Military History. They have all enabled me to primarily identify locations and wreckages.
The culmination of the research is being presented in an exhibition “George Beardow’s War in the Pacific” at the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre from 15 May 2022 and will be on display for 12 months.
In the meantime, I am continuing the investigation and with your help I may be able to identify some of the other men in the images. Interestingly, I have found some additional photos (not from the same camera or roll) of some similar locations and events. I will be putting up the next collection on this webpage in the near future. They confirm that Matthew Horan and George Beardow both visited the same places. Maybe when they met, George asked him to take the films home to be developed. No one will ever know the exact connection. We are just very lucky that the images have preserved this very unique and important history.
I invite you to visit the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre from the 15th May 2022 and will keep you informed of future events. Please contact me directly if you can offer any further information.
Thank you for your continued interest in this project.
Dr Juanita Muller