[CougarGA7]

Today the TSS Zealandia arrived in Simpson Bay and the port at Rabaul in New Britain. Aboard it was the second half of the Australian 2/22nd Battalion. This battalion was sent to the town to defend New Britain in the event of war against Japan. This is the beginning of a rather tragic story as these men are undermanned and under-equipped for what the Japanese will send to take their future island fortress.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today the TSS Zealandia arrived in Simpson Bay and the port at Rabaul in New Britain. Aboard it was the second half of the Australian 2/22nd Battalion. This battalion was sent to the town to defend New Britain in the event of war against Japan. This is the beginning of a rather tragic story as these men are undermanned and under-equipped for what the Japanese will send to take their future island fortress.

The previous day's post (Sat. 23 April) included a story (pg 12) about 2,000 American's debarking in the Philippines to beef up the garrison there. Those guys were to suffer a similar fate as the Australians on Rabaul. The ship that brought the American troops returned home with American dependents evacuating the islands.