My husband and I were in Rabaul from 1952 to 1955. We ran the garage, and the Book Shop in Mango Avenue. Our home was on Jack Thurston 's land close to Carpenters Wharf. I am now a 90 yo with wonderful memories of Rabaul.
I grew up on tales of that era, and each ANZAC day i'd watch the films, and hear the tales, It has a mystique about it and every time i look north at a prop plane on a warm night i think of the flying boats that went back and forth then,
As A former USAF flight engineer,I respect your service and your desire to keep history alive.The sacrifices of those young men,must never be forgotten.We enjoy the freedom we have today because they were willing to lay down their lives for freedom in fighting a cruel foe.My family fought in ww2 against the Japanese as well as the Germans.Iwas in service during the Vietnam war all the way up through desert storm.I am now a man of peace and harbor no Ill will against any man.War is evil but free men and women must stand up against injustice and fight for the downtrodden wherever they may be.God Bless.
Excellent Video , My Father ( just 20 years of age) was on New Britain from January 1945 till June 1946 with A Company 29/46 Australian Infantry Battalion . This Battalion led the landing to occupy Rabaul from the Japanese in September 1945 . The Australian 5th Infantry Division never received the credit it deserved by showing how the Islands Campaign should have been managed , the 9 Australian Battalions totally dominated the Japanese and sealed them off on the Gazelle Peninsula. Again well done for this excellent Video
Wonderful! My curiosity and Australian mates brought me here and to Bougainville and we paid teenagers to take us around. Thanks for the memories of good times celebrating and paying tribute to those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
I have visited Tavui Point or Submarine Point as it was also known, where the navel gun is situated above the cliffs overlooking the sea. I doubt very much that those semicircular indentations in the concrete had anything to do with storage of rounds of ammunition for that gun. More likely they came from some form of form-work around which the concrete was poured. Where the tunnels ended, way up on the cliff face, there used to be the bases for anti-aircraft guns that were positioned there and were fired out through the openings. At the bottom of the cliff, it is possible to walk out about 70 to 100 meters in water that is onle about 1 meter deep until you get to the edge of a submerged cliff that is reported to be about 150 meters down. This is where the midget submarines were brought up from the deep and them pulled onto rail carts that were then pushed into the tunnels cut into the base of the cliff. That's the reason the place was colloquially named, "Submarine Point". Not far further along Kokopo road from where the landing barges are parked in the tunnels, there is another tunnel complex built into the hill. When I lived there in 1969, I found an entrance near where the long hill came down to almost meet Kokopo road. It was quite small but just big enough for me to crawl inside on my hands and knees. Once inside, I could stand up but not always completely upright because I am taller than most Japanese whom the tunnels were built for. There is a huge complex of tunnels, many on different levels and as they wend their way up through the hill, eventually they have three exits on the other side leading to a Japanese grave site that has three obelisks with Japanese righting on them. I am not sure if they really are graves, they could also be of religious significance. I have a topographical map that I recorded almost all of the tunnels around Rabaul. I agree completely with Mike Hutcheson about 'Yamamoto's bunker, it wasn't. The bunker was the communications and planning centre for the naval fleet in that area. Where the local fellows were digging, supposedly looking for a tunnel, I doubt very much if they would find one there, judging by the amount they had removed. When I lived there, I heard that there were a couple of places that it was thought where tunnels might be. Those tunnels were not blown in by bombs dropped on them, they were purposely blown up by army sappers. When they were clearing out the Japanese at the end of the war, many refused to surrender and remained hiding inside the tunnels. Because it was too dangerous to enter and remove them, they used flamethrowers to put as much lit fuel as possible into the entrances which were then blown up, burying, suffocating and interning for good, the Japanese soldiers inside. The soil surrounding the entrances was pushed down in such a manner, that once the vegetation had grown for some time, there would be no indication whatsoever that a tunnel had ever been there. I returned to Rabaul in 1988 with my wife and 3 children and I showed them all of these places. We stayed in the village of Ngatur, about a 40 minute drive outside of Kokopo with the family of a very close friend of mine, Emil TaVauta. Sadly Emil had died about eight years before, he left a wife Iapin and 9 children behind, all of whom I call family. I returned alone once more in 2015 and stayed in the same village for 3 weeks over Christmas. I miss them a lot and now that I am 71, I doubt I will return. Rabaul is my second home, it's where my heart is.
God bless Rabaul, thank you for sweet home Rabaul, Thanks for many who help form home, from early years to today. Great during WW11. God has rewarded you all, glory to God.
Thanks for a great video. New Britain and Rebaul an amazing place to visit. Along with 7 friends I did the trek from near Rebaul across the island to Tol Plantation - I'd say this one of the great memories of my life. Highly recommend. If you're interest in more information about Lark Force in WW2 an amazing book definitely worth reading is (on Amazon Kindle) Invasion Rabaul : the epic story of Lark Force, the forgotten garrison, January-July 1942 / Bruce Gamble.
I chance upon this video during my recent research of the pacific war at the solomons. the most famous was guardacanal but there are many other tough battles such as around ports Moresby between Australians and Japanese. the environment among the atmosphere must be tough and rough, with being continouus wet, battle, hungry, mosquitos, insects, heat to name a few. RIP. may the world has long lasting peace.
The "Purpose Designed Indentures" Mentioned at13.00 are nothing more than the hollows left after the coconut log sections, used for concrete formwork, rotted out! When you look closely you can see the coconut bark pattern in the concrete.These can be seen all over Rabaul. They were not made for artillery shell storage.
The majority of allied airmen captured at Rabaul were tortured and executed. I find your politically correct take on the Japanese memorial very distasteful. The Japanese still deny the atrocities committed at Nanking, Bataan,, Wake, Unit 731, Rabaul..... the list goes on.
The rape and slaughter of 15 Australian nurses, with one wounded survivor Sister Vivian Bullwinkle, plus the murder of 100 allied soldiers on Banka Island, Killing of captured RAAF personal on Ambon. The Sandakan Death March only 3 survivors from 2,000 POWs. Cannibalism on the Kokoda Track. 100,000 deaths building the Burma railway. Constant rape of thousands of forced so called "comfort women" As you say, the list just goes on and on and on.
Great video, thanks for posting. Going there next year. My father served 14/32nd Batt. Jacuinot Bay, Waitavolo, Tol, Bacon Hill. He returned and died age 78. Looking forward to seeing the area.
Big thanks to Australian Vets for their sacrifice! I also really enjoyed the Papuan song at the conclusion of the vid. When I closed my eyes , I imagined beaches, sun, palm trees and headhunters with sharpened spears and teeth. The for the upload and be well.
One more thing . God Bless Neville Stenner A Company 29/46 Australian Infantry Battalion , Died on Active Service Jacquinot Bay March 1945 - Lest We Forget . A good mate of my Dad Cpl Ken Ball A Company 29/46 Aust Inf Bn
My mothers brother was part of Lark force, BMDR George Allen Lees, heavy artillery battery. Captured then perished POW Monte Video Maru. Lest We Forget.
Well done and well documented mate ,Rabaul was the nerve centre and the HQ of the Japanese in the pacific during the war.I visited the bunker of Admiral Yamamotor once and its so amazing how this guys can build things that can last until today.No wonder Japan is so advance in Technology.However the allied forces were so smart with the the help of coast watchers and the locals to defeat the Japanese forces.
“War, at the end of the day, is an extension of politics. It represents a breakdown of the political system.” Haha I was not expecting a Klausewitz flex.
It was an assassination and everyone involved thought of it that way, at the time. That was why the plan had to have the OK from the president himself. But the word " assassination" does not mean it was a crime of any kind. A high specific Japanese official was individually targeted. So, assassination is the correct term even as an act of war.
Yamamoto was not the most brilliant admiral. His complex plan for the disaster at Midway was credited to his "Victory Disease". He divided up his forces and that enabled the much smaller US Naval force to win. Yamamoto did not take early steps to defend Guadalcanal which lead to the Japanese having to turn back from their attack on Port Moresby to re-enforce Guadalcanal but they never did that adequately either. He was based on Truk, not at Rabaul. Nimitz was far superior.
Captain Eric Nave R.A.N. first to break the Japanese code. I read years ago that Yamamoto's itinerary was intercepted by Australian radio unit based at Coomalie Creek and passed on to FRUMEL in Melbourne, then on to the US.
I would love to see more documentaries based based on Australia's involvement in WW2, Post WW2 and Vietnam, without the USA's we are the best and all must follow attitude. To the Yanks who has issues with the last comment, go pound salt!!!
Why do people always think that the battle of the pacific started with pearl harbour. The Japanese invaded Thailand before the attack on pearl harbour had commenced.
VERY NICE VIDEO ... I JUST WISH THE PRESENT JAPANESE GOVT. WOULD MAINTAIN. A L L THE MEMORIALS TO THEIR WAR DEAD X. THE BLACKS OF THESE ISLANDS , AS WELL AS IN CENTRAL AFRICA ARE MARVELOUS PEOPLE WHO RESPECT STILL, THEIR HERITAGE AND CULTURE , AND RESPECT FOR LIFE AND NATURE ... TOTALLY UNLIKE THE AFAMs IN U S WHO ... ,
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
the Natives at the end singing and making music on the shore is such a blessing. What a beautiful people.
My husband and I were in Rabaul from 1952 to 1955. We ran the garage, and the Book Shop in Mango Avenue.
Our home was on Jack Thurston 's land close to Carpenters Wharf. I am now a 90 yo with wonderful memories
of Rabaul.
I grew up on tales of that era, and each ANZAC day i'd watch the films, and hear the tales, It has a mystique about it and every time i look north at a prop plane on a warm night i think of the flying boats that went back and forth then,
you are a part of history.
❤
As A former USAF flight engineer,I respect your service and your desire to keep history alive.The sacrifices of those young men,must never be forgotten.We enjoy the freedom we have today because they were willing to lay down their lives for freedom in fighting a cruel foe.My family fought in ww2 against the Japanese as well as the Germans.Iwas in service during the Vietnam war all the way up through desert storm.I am now a man of peace and harbor no Ill will against any man.War is evil but free men and women must stand up against injustice and fight for the downtrodden wherever they may be.God Bless.
from a brit vet....deepest RESPECT for your service SIR :-)
Excellent Video , My Father ( just 20 years of age) was on New Britain from January 1945 till June 1946 with A Company 29/46 Australian Infantry Battalion . This Battalion led the landing to occupy Rabaul from the Japanese in September 1945 . The Australian 5th Infantry Division never received the credit it deserved by showing how the Islands Campaign should have been managed , the 9 Australian Battalions totally dominated the Japanese and sealed them off on the Gazelle Peninsula. Again well done for this excellent Video
Wonderful! My curiosity and Australian mates brought me here and to Bougainville and we paid teenagers to take us around. Thanks for the memories of good times celebrating and paying tribute to those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
I have visited Tavui Point or Submarine Point as it was also known, where the navel gun is situated above the cliffs overlooking the sea.
I doubt very much that those semicircular indentations in the concrete had anything to do with storage of rounds of ammunition for that gun.
More likely they came from some form of form-work around which the concrete was poured.
Where the tunnels ended, way up on the cliff face, there used to be the bases for anti-aircraft guns that were positioned there and were fired out through the openings.
At the bottom of the cliff, it is possible to walk out about 70 to 100 meters in water that is onle about 1 meter deep until you get to the edge of a submerged cliff that is reported to be about 150 meters down.
This is where the midget submarines were brought up from the deep and them pulled onto rail carts that were then pushed into the tunnels cut into the base of the cliff.
That's the reason the place was colloquially named, "Submarine Point".
Not far further along Kokopo road from where the landing barges are parked in the tunnels, there is another tunnel complex built into the hill.
When I lived there in 1969, I found an entrance near where the long hill came down to almost meet Kokopo road. It was quite small but just big enough for me to crawl inside on my hands and knees. Once inside, I could stand up but not always completely upright because I am taller than most Japanese whom the tunnels were built for.
There is a huge complex of tunnels, many on different levels and as they wend their way up through the hill, eventually they have three exits on the other side leading to a Japanese grave site that has three obelisks with Japanese righting on them.
I am not sure if they really are graves, they could also be of religious significance.
I have a topographical map that I recorded almost all of the tunnels around Rabaul.
I agree completely with Mike Hutcheson about 'Yamamoto's bunker, it wasn't.
The bunker was the communications and planning centre for the naval fleet in that area.
Where the local fellows were digging, supposedly looking for a tunnel, I doubt very much if they would find one there, judging by the amount they had removed.
When I lived there, I heard that there were a couple of places that it was thought where tunnels might be.
Those tunnels were not blown in by bombs dropped on them, they were purposely blown up by army sappers.
When they were clearing out the Japanese at the end of the war, many refused to surrender and remained hiding inside the tunnels.
Because it was too dangerous to enter and remove them, they used flamethrowers to put as much lit fuel as possible into the entrances which were then blown up, burying, suffocating and interning for good, the Japanese soldiers inside. The soil surrounding the entrances was pushed down in such a manner, that once the vegetation had grown for some time, there would be no indication whatsoever that a tunnel had ever been there.
I returned to Rabaul in 1988 with my wife and 3 children and I showed them all of these places. We stayed in the village of Ngatur, about a 40 minute drive outside of Kokopo with the family of a very close friend of mine, Emil TaVauta.
Sadly Emil had died about eight years before, he left a wife Iapin and 9 children behind, all of whom I call family.
I returned alone once more in 2015 and stayed in the same village for 3 weeks over Christmas.
I miss them a lot and now that I am 71, I doubt I will return.
Rabaul is my second home, it's where my heart is.
What you said about Submarine Base is true, you can still see the tracks in the shallow parts of the water
Beautiful thanks for sharing it with us 🙏🕊️
God bless Rabaul, thank you for sweet home Rabaul, Thanks for many who help form home, from early years to today. Great during WW11. God has rewarded you all, glory to God.
Thanks for a great video.
New Britain and Rebaul an amazing place to visit. Along with 7 friends I did the trek from near Rebaul across the island to Tol Plantation - I'd say this one of the great memories of my life. Highly recommend.
If you're interest in more information about Lark Force in WW2 an amazing book definitely worth reading is
(on Amazon Kindle)
Invasion Rabaul : the epic story of Lark Force, the forgotten garrison, January-July 1942 / Bruce Gamble.
yeah im gonna buy that bk
I chance upon this video during my recent research of the pacific war at the solomons. the most famous was guardacanal but there are many other tough battles such as around ports Moresby between Australians and Japanese.
the environment among the atmosphere must be tough and rough, with being continouus wet, battle, hungry, mosquitos, insects, heat to name a few.
RIP. may the world has long lasting peace.
You probably covered Chuuk lagoon then in the FSM?
The "Purpose Designed Indentures" Mentioned at13.00 are nothing more than the hollows left after the coconut log sections, used for concrete formwork, rotted out! When you look closely you can see the coconut bark pattern in the concrete.These can be seen all over Rabaul. They were not made for artillery shell storage.
Brilliant video mate, lest we forget!!
Lest we forget..
I was there in 1996, lovely people and a completely historic site. Needs a lot of infrastructure to be rebuilt and investment.
The majority of allied airmen captured at Rabaul were tortured and executed. I find your politically correct take on the Japanese memorial very distasteful. The Japanese still deny the atrocities committed at Nanking, Bataan,, Wake, Unit 731, Rabaul..... the list goes on.
The rape and slaughter of 15 Australian nurses, with one wounded survivor Sister Vivian Bullwinkle, plus the murder of 100 allied soldiers on Banka Island,
Killing of captured RAAF personal on Ambon.
The Sandakan Death March only 3 survivors from 2,000 POWs.
Cannibalism on the Kokoda Track.
100,000 deaths building the Burma railway.
Constant rape of thousands of forced so called "comfort women"
As you say, the list just goes on and on and on.
thats right, those nurses were told to walk into the ocean and as they did were gunned down @@blueycarlton
Great video, thanks for posting. Going there next year. My father served 14/32nd Batt. Jacuinot Bay, Waitavolo, Tol, Bacon Hill. He returned and died age 78. Looking forward to seeing the area.
Big thanks to Australian Vets for their sacrifice! I also really enjoyed the Papuan song at the conclusion of the vid. When I closed my eyes , I imagined beaches, sun, palm trees and headhunters with sharpened spears and teeth. The for the upload and be well.
nicely said
One more thing . God Bless Neville Stenner A Company 29/46 Australian Infantry Battalion , Died on Active Service Jacquinot Bay March 1945 - Lest We Forget . A good mate of my Dad Cpl Ken Ball A Company 29/46 Aust Inf Bn
My island
Military people are never referred to as assassinated in times of war. It is always referred to as "killed in action"
My mothers brother was part of Lark force, BMDR George Allen Lees, heavy artillery battery. Captured then perished POW Monte Video Maru. Lest We Forget.
thats sad man. I only just learned of this ship that was hit by the americans i believe? Sad story.
Thanks for posting this very interesting and moving.
I really enjoyed this highly informative video, and I loved the musical piece at the end.
Nice job! much more enlightening than seeing bombs drop on the jungle, as in earlier documentaries.
Very interesting video, ty!
Well done and well documented mate ,Rabaul was the nerve centre and the HQ of the Japanese in the pacific during the war.I visited the bunker of Admiral Yamamotor once and its so amazing how this guys can build things that can last until today.No wonder Japan is so advance in Technology.However the allied forces were so smart with the the help of coast watchers and the locals to defeat the Japanese forces.
TY
“War, at the end of the day, is an extension of politics. It represents a breakdown of the political system.”
Haha I was not expecting a Klausewitz flex.
I would not call Yamamoto's shoot down an assassination.
It was an assassination and everyone involved thought of it that way, at the time. That was why the plan had to have the OK from the president himself. But the word " assassination" does not mean it was a crime of any kind. A high specific Japanese official was individually targeted. So, assassination is the correct term even as an act of war.
@@macnutz4206 Exactly. And millions of Thais, Chinese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Malays, and Ausies think as you do.
Yamamoto was not the most brilliant admiral. His complex plan for the disaster at Midway was credited to his "Victory Disease". He divided up his forces and that enabled the much smaller US Naval force to win. Yamamoto did not take early steps to defend Guadalcanal which lead to the Japanese having to turn back from their attack on Port Moresby to re-enforce Guadalcanal but they never did that adequately either. He was based on Truk, not at Rabaul. Nimitz was far superior.
EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
Thanks for watching
I also think you'll find it was Nave who broke the coded message responsible for Yamato's demise.
Captain Eric Nave R.A.N. first to break the Japanese code.
I read years ago that Yamamoto's itinerary was intercepted by Australian radio unit based at Coomalie Creek and passed on to FRUMEL in Melbourne, then on to the US.
Wan Kantrie< Beautiful song
Found it very interesting. Hope to travel there one day when the New World War with Covid 19 has ended, It may be with us for some time yet .
The sweat pouring out of him, just from being there, shows the stress that the unacclimatized body would have to endure when thrust into battle.
Why can't they add some lighting in the tunnels? The presenter had to carry his own torch.
I would love to see more documentaries based based on Australia's involvement in WW2, Post WW2 and Vietnam, without the USA's we are the best and all must follow attitude. To the Yanks who has issues with the last comment, go pound salt!!!
yes agree Paul - the 5th Australian Division received so little credit for its campaign on New Britain
You followed the yanks into Vietnam. You have too much sense to have ever gone there on your own. Might be better not to look too closely at this.
Didn’t this place start as a German colony?
Man, it would be cool to go on a trip like this. Too bad the locals hate howlies.
Yes it was.
Australia invaded German New Guinea very early in WW1. One of the RAN's submarines was lost near Rabaul.
Why do people always think that the battle of the pacific started with pearl harbour. The Japanese invaded Thailand before the attack on pearl harbour had commenced.
Because Thailand is not in the Pacific, you moron.
@@paiastani8460 No need to be rude. No need at all. Share the knowledge, but dont be arrogant.
a shame that the talking is out of sinc with the mouth movements other than that a great documentary of my home town rabaul
🇵🇬
T
Looks like the Japanese won everyone is driving Toyota's
ENB✊🏿
port mosby?WHAT>?
So actually the Japanese won look at the vehicle they are riding in.
re edit this video again please…!!! the talking is out of sinc with the mouth movements
VERY NICE VIDEO ... I JUST WISH THE PRESENT JAPANESE GOVT. WOULD MAINTAIN. A L L THE MEMORIALS TO THEIR WAR DEAD X. THE BLACKS OF THESE ISLANDS , AS WELL AS IN CENTRAL AFRICA ARE MARVELOUS PEOPLE WHO RESPECT STILL, THEIR HERITAGE AND CULTURE , AND RESPECT FOR LIFE AND NATURE ... TOTALLY UNLIKE THE AFAMs IN U S WHO ...
,
sara ba rabaul yo. mata kuru made wa.
I like this guy but he says uh a lot lol
Bita Paka .... NOT Bitter Parker!!!!!
Ws
Frustratingly out of sync
I don't like the co-prosperity sphere on the memorial. At the time it was propaganda program that amounted to a sick joke.
guadalcanal port moresby and rabaul all belong to japan.
I hate that name New Britain island they need to change it.
Why, it's the decision of the PNG Govt. to keep it. What would you call it? New Tennessee.