Papua New Guineans at War

The Second World War had a big impact on the people of Papua and New Guinea. The Japanese army occupied large parts of Papua and New Guinea from 1942.

The people on the New Guinea islands of Madang, Morobe, Sepik and Sandaun Provinces lived under the occupation of the Japanese. Their lives were in constant danger from air raids. As the war continued, there were food shortages.

The Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) employed many young Papuan New Guinean men to work as:

• carriers
• medical orderlies
• police
• cooks
• translators

They were also recruited to work in other service jobs. They left their villages and many did not return until the war ended.

Thousands of men were recruited into the:

• Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB)
• New Guinea Infantry Battalions (NGIB 1 & 2)
• Pacific Islands Regiment (PIR)

These men fought alongside Australian troops in their own districts and across the country.

Papuan women were also involved in the war. They worked at bases, barracks, hospitals and looked after Australian and US soldiers in places like Oro Bay and Sogeri.

Most of our young people … were recruited by Constable Sebastian Goro, on the behalf of the American and Australian forces to provide labour for those two Allied forces. Our grandfathers were recruited on the behalf of the engineering - American engineering and Australian engineering units to construct roads, and bridges, and also airstrips that serve the aircraft during the World War Two.

-Carson Hanana, Hanau village

My mother is Ruth Ani. She was recruited and taken to No. 3 camp where she did laundry with other girls. There were 40,000 pieces washed each week … from seven hospitals in the Dobuduru, Oro Bay, Base B area. She was working at No. 3 camp which is located near Girua airstrip until the war came to an end.

-Lomas Tonu Ani, Hanau village

Politics between Papuan tribes was complicated by the arrival of the Japanese. The majority of the Orokaiva, Bininderi and Koiari peoples employed by the ANGAU sided with the Australians.

Others had no particular reason to favour either side.

They were more concerned with political relations between tribal groups. When a tribal rival chose to side with the Australians, this spurred some to favour the Japanese.

Having allied Papuans became important to the Allies when fighting encroached on hostile tribal land.

Because our father had received some basic education, our father was identified by the Australian army, where he was recruited [as a] translator. His role was basically to assist with translations between Australian armies and the native people.

-Recks Ea’ah, Bereadabu village

The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) was one of 4 infantry battalions established as units of the Australian Army. The others were the 1st and 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalions (NGIB), who were eventually reorganised with the PIB to become Pacific Islands Regiment (PIR).

The forces were established in 1940, to help defend against the Japanese invasion. They consisted mostly of Papuans who were led by Australian officers and non-commissioned officers. By July 1942, when the Japanese invaded Papua there were 300 Papuans serving in the PIB. By 1944, when it was amalgamated as part of the PIR, they were 700 strong.

Initially, their main roles were:

• guarding vulnerable points
• constructing roads
• working on the wharves

After the war broke out, they helped with scouting, reconnaissance and surveillance patrols. However, their bushcraft and knowledge of the area quickly became an asset for Australian troops.

Some referred to the PIB as 'green shadows' because of an entry discovered in a Japanese diary. It said the PIB, 'moved silently in the jungle, inflicting casualties on us-and then are gone, like green shadows.'

The PIB fought alongside the Allies on the Kokoda Track, from Oivi to Deniki, and Isurava. They also took part in the advance to Salamaua, and as part of the fighting along the Markham, Ramu and Sepik rivers.

They provided assistance on the Huon Peninsula, helping to capture Finschhafen and Sattelberg. They then pursued the Japanese as they withdrew to the northern coastline.

The 1 NGIB supported the Allies in Bougainville, New Britain and mainland New Guinea, while 2 NGIB played a minor role in New Guinea supporting the 6th Division in the Airtape-Wewak campaign.

However, of the 18,000 Papuans who participated in the war campaign in Papua and New Guinea, the majority did so as carriers of supplies for the Allies.

The Battalion was awarded:

• one Distinguished Service Order
• one Distinguished Conduct Medal
• one Military Cross
• four Military Medals
• 24 Loyal Service Medals

The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) consisted of two companies of Australian troops—men who came from the ranks of pre-war planters and officials in New Guinea. This volunteer force was 450 strong. When the Japanese landed in Lae and Salamaua in March 1942, the NGVR was tasked with patrolling and harassing the Japanese.

Without a civilian government, the NGVR assumed responsibility for maintaining law and order. They oversaw several thousand indentured Papuan labourers who could not return home. These Papuan labourers became the first carriers to work alongside the Allies during the war.

It wasn't just the PIB and NGIB who fought alongside the Allies. Many members of the Papuan Native Constabulary (the Papuan police force) joined in combat too.

During the fighting at Oivi, some Australian troops were cut off from their company. Sergeant Sanopa, a Papuan Police officer who was fighting alongside the 39th Battalion, led Australians back to safety via an alternate track.

I was in the army, I know what dressing [equipment] that was needed to be in the battle but [my father] was not dressed that way, he had only a calico with the weapons on and a pack at the back. But he said that was good because, you know, they moved faster, he said they crawled in, they crawled out, and they could smell the Japanese, they knew where they are, they could even smell their brew, their coffee, or even repellent, their insect repellent or whatever they applied, they would smell them, and they would warn the Australians that these guys were close.

-Rolf Asi, Popondetta

Before the war, Papuans were already employed to transport supplies. Although this was usually arranged on a casual or day-to-day basis, and there were strict regulations about the number, duration and payments provided for this help.

On 15 June 1942, Major-General Morris, the Australian military administrator at Port Moresby, terminated all existing contracts of service in Papua and New Guinea. He understood that the Allies needed the help of the local Papuans. He gave power to district and senior military officers to employ Papuans for the duration of the war.

Lieutenant Bert Kienzle, of the Australian New Guinea Administration Unit (ANGAU) was one such officer. His previous experience as a rubber planter in the Yodda Valley gave him detailed knowledge of the Kokoda Track. He was reported to have a good relationship with the locals. When Kienzle was tasked with recruiting Papuans to help, he found poor conditions in the labour camps. He worked to erect clean and dry buildings. By building strong relationships with the Papuans, he could give them a better understanding of what and why the Allies needed their help.

My father says the hard work of Papuan carriers was recognised by Australian soldier, and he gave the name, the fuzzy wuzzy angels. The Papuan carriers thank him for recognising their work.

-Sarah Sau Hiari, Papaki village

There's no doubt that the Papuan carriers were instrumental in the Kokoda campaign. They endured the cold, wet and malnourishment behind the front line. While they worked under dire strain. They took their job seriously and were caring in their treatment of the troops.

The condition of our carriers at Eora Creek caused me more concern than that of our wounded. Overwork, overloading... exposure, cold and under-feeding were the common lot.... Despite this no known live casualty was ever abandoned by the Fuzzy Wuzzies.

-Dr Geoffrey Vernon, Captain, Australian Army Medical Corps, ANGAU

The carrying of wounded up and down this mountain track was very difficult and very dangerous but the carriers tenderly took loving care of the patients. When it rained, Papuan carriers used leaves to keep their patients from getting wet. This was not a easy way but they did it lovingly and willingly.

-Sarah Sau Hiari, Papaki village

The Japanese also recruited Papuans to help them during their occupation of Papua and New Guinea. In some regions, they treated them with the same kindness and respect as the Australians did. However in others, they treated them with brutality which caused much fear among the tribal populations.

While there are also cases where ANGAU officers resorted to threats of violence to control locals, this was never an effective nor acceptable strategy by the Allies.

Many civilians had to leave their villages and hide in caves and other secret places, only to return to find their houses and gardens destroyed.

Women, children and the elderly suffered hardship while the young men were fighting and helping. In some cases, more than half the village men were absent.

They suffered food shortages and a later study found that many children became undernourished due to the men's absence.

Most of the 18,000 Papuan and New Guineans who participated in the Second World War did so as carriers of supplies for the Allies.

Approximately 800 men from the Papuan Infantry Battalion and Royal Papuan Constabulary fought against the Japanese in 1942.