NGVR Photos pre Japanese Invasion WWII
Rabaul / Kokopo
NGVR Officers outside the New Guinea Club, Rabaul.
Rabaul members of the NGVR who had volunteered for the AIF marching in Rabaul prior to embarkation in Feb 1940. Sgt (later Lt) Frank Wilson is leading the march.
Frank's story is told in "Keepers of the Gate"
NGVR Vickers Platoon - Rabaul
Note shorts being worn. This would have been early days of the Platoon as they quickly learnt that shorts are not suitable when firing the Vickers as the hot cartridge cases fall directly on the legs of the firer and often end up in extremely sensitive places.
NGVR Rabaul 1939 - (Above and below)
Outdoor portrait of the officers of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR). Identified in the back row is: (fourth from the left) NG2033 Lieutenant (Lt) John Alexander Sutherland; (third from the right) NGX344 Lt William (Bill) McDonald; (second from right) NGX342 Lt Colin Lancelot Anthony and (far right) NG2296 Lt Robert Phillips.
Seated in the front row are (from left): NX151701 (N280518) Captain (Capt) Hugh Lyon; NGX265 Capt Dr Noel McKenna; NGX455 Major (Maj) William Manning Edwards, commanding officer of the NGVR; NGX350 Maj Edmund Jenyns; NGX433 Capt Padre Vernon Sherwin.
Capt McKenna was accidentally killed in New Guinea on the 30 September 1943, Lt McDonald died of disease on 20 July 1944. The men of the NGVR were Australian residents of Papua New Guinea who were authorised by the Australian government to raise a local volunteer rifle brigade
Seated in the front row are (from left): NX151701 (N280518) Captain (Capt) Hugh Lyon; NGX265 Capt Dr Noel McKenna; NGX455 Major (Maj) William Manning Edwards, commanding officer of the NGVR; NGX350 Maj Edmund Jenyns; NGX433 Capt Padre Vernon Sherwin.
Capt McKenna was accidentally killed in New Guinea on the 30 September 1943, Lt McDonald died of disease on 20 July 1944. The men of the NGVR were Australian residents of Papua New Guinea who were authorised by the Australian government to raise a local volunteer rifle brigade
NGVR Medical Unit - Rabaul
Dr. Watch in front row centre.
Dr. Watch in front row centre.
Front L. NG4054. Maj (Dr.) Norman B. Watch. He was captured by the Japanese and sent to Japan.
His number NG4054 indicates that his papers were lost during the Japanese invasion and the number was issued post war.
His number NG4054 indicates that his papers were lost during the Japanese invasion and the number was issued post war.
NGVR Kokopo.
Above and below 4 photos.
Above and below 4 photos.
NGVR Kokopo. Relaxing after a day's maneuvers.
NGVR men from Rabaul and others who had joined the AIF prior to their embarkation for Australia.
AWA wireless operator Ken Stone was transferred to Rabaul in 1941. Ken enlisted in the NGVR (number unknown) on the night of the 21st January, 1942, as the Japanese invasion fleet was approaching Rabaul. He then accompanied Lt Cdr MacKenzie and the Naval Intelligence party into the hinterland of New Britain and was eventually able to make radio contact with Port Moresby. This resulted in the rescue of more than 150 army personnel and civilians on the ‘Laurabada’. Due to the invasion, Ken’s enlistment papers were destroyed at Rabaul Military HQ the night of his enlistment.
The first CO of the NGVR Lt. Col. John Walstab DSO. VD. relaxing with his family in Simpson Harbour, circa 1939.
Lt. (later Lt. Col.) Jim O Mullaly, OBE. First Adjutant/Quartermaster of the NGVR circa 1939
