Don’t forget darling Heather, Pacific Helicopters pilot, brutally raped and murdered in Lae years ago. I too was threatened ( we know whereby live) in Tabubil and I promptly left the country after three years.

Soft...

I wonder what my Old Man would make of it all, went to PNG mid thirties to work for Burns Philp Shipping Co. at Salamaua and was part of the NGVR doing patrols to villages various. Office staff took the company launch up to Lae to see Amelia Earhart depart. To be Mother joined the company at Salamaua six months before the war started and was repatriated to Oz, Dad stayed for the duration.

Evacuation of women/children Salamaua


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....af891154cd.jpg

NGVR on parade Salamaua 25-4-40. Old Man is somewhere there.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7e35e2fc0c.jpg

Great stuff Megan ... thanks!

Have things calmed down in Moresby yet? I’m guessing the stores are all empty, nothing left to loot so may as well relax and settle down to chew a bit of buai.

Curious as to what defines a failed state, I consulted old man Wiki.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_state

So, not yet a failed state but too close for comfort. The questions are why did this happen and is there any hope for PNG to dig itself out?

Such historical memories Megan. Rarely nowadays do we ever get to see such high quality records of the Territory in pre War days. You are to be commended for maintaining these records.
Sadly, the current day PNG is lacking when compared to the absolute paradise we enjoyed there in the developing days post WW11.
Thank you for posting these great photos.:ok:​​​​​​​

Umm, Yeah, Nah, Mate.