History
LARK FORCE INTRODUCTION
The story of Lark Force is a factual account of incredible bravery, courage, ingenuity, privation, luck and absolute tragedy. It is also a story of acts of despicable mismanagement, callousness and complete disregard of Australia's fighting forces in Rabaul by the Australian government and Australian War Cabinet in 1941-42.
Lark Force was the name given to the group of military personnel (about 1400 in total) who were sent to defend Rabaul, East New Britain , in 1941. The 2/22nd Battalion (part of 23rd Brigade, 8th Div, 2nd AIF) comprised the majority of personnel of Lark Force. Other units included New Guinea Volunteer Rifles; RAAF 24th Squadron; 2/10th Field Ambulance; 17th Anti-Tank group; Salvation Army band and naval intelligence personnel. In the main, the equipment which this force possessed was out-dated, irrelevant, damaged and in limited quantities.
Japanese military forces , which outnumbered the defenders by 20:1, invaded Rabaul on 23rd January,1942. The invaders were supported by dozens of warships, hundreds of warplanes and superior weaponry. The Japanese commander of the attacking air forces on Rabaul,Mitsuo Fuchida, said of the invasion, "If ever a sledge-hammer had been used to crack an egg, this was the time." (excerpt from "Hostages to Freedom, P.Stone, P42).
Those members of Lark Force who survived the initial onslaught had no choice but to escape. Lt. D.O. "Mick" Smith a survivor, said that the Lark Force commander, Colonel Scanlan issued written orders to Lark Force on Xmas Day 1941 which stated," There will be no faint hearts, there will be no thought of surrender. Every man will die in his pit". When the invasion occurred, Colonel Scanlan instructed personnel that, "It is now a matter of every man for himself. Get out of this pickle if you can." (excerpt from "Darkest Hour", B. Gamble,P115).
Australian Prime Minister Curtin's government and War Cabinet made it very clear that Lark Force was not to receive any further assistance prior to or during the invasion. No plans were made to evacuate surviving members. No escape plans for Lark Force were permitted by Canberra. Civilians who were not Caucasians and who lived in Rabaul & environs were not supported in any evacuation by Australian authorities. A sizeable freighter was in Rabaul harbour prior to the invasion.Requests were made for it to be used to evacuate people. The Australian government did not approve this, insisting that the freighter load and transport copra instead.
RAAF Wing Commander Lerew of 24th Sq at Rabaul was in command of a defending air force which in terms of equipment was vastly outnumbered, outperformed and outgunned.It was staffed by extremely courageous and brave personnel who knew about their inferior equipment and the fact that they were not to receive further support from Australia. Realizing the inevitable plight of his force, Lerew sent a message to Australian HQ. "We who are about to die, salute you."(excerpt from "To War & Back", G. Abel, P12). Many Lark Force personnel died in the invasion. Further tragedy was to befall the escaping survivors.
 | FREE LARK FORCE TRACK & HISTORY PRESENTATION SouthSea Horizons is prepared to deliver a presentation about the Lark Force History in East New Britain, PNG, the Lark Force Track and a summary presentation of highlights of East New Britain. The actual presentations are free of charge. DETAILS Presenter: Chris Diercke, voluntary historian/trainer for South Sea Horizons-LFWT. |
FIGHT AND FLIGHT FOR FREEDOM
The topography of New Britain includes very steep cliffs which form some sections of the coastline, while other coastal areas are flat and bordered by coral reefs. A mountain range runs East-West with the highest peak standing at 8000 feet. Most of the terrain is covered with tropical rainforest and many rivers, large and small, are fed by the heavy rainfall. Spectacular waterfalls abound in areas. There are several active volcanoes on New Britain. Tragically, surviving members of Lark Force did not have positive experiences with this topography.
Rabaul was invaded by the Japanese military in the early morning of January 23rd, 1942. After 5 hours of intensive fighting, the Japanese force was in total control and they received the formal surrender of the remaining civilians in Rabaul.
Except for members of the RAAF 24th Squadron, the remaining members of Lark Force faced chaos of the highest order after the Japanese victory.
There was a complete breakdown in communication; no structured escape or re-grouping plans and no food, medical, armament or ammunition stocks. Despite the swift and comprehensive defeat of Lark Force, the commanding officer, Colonel Scanlan did not officially surrender, and this dereliction of duty proved very costly for his men. Many of Scanlan's men thought if they escaped from the victors, they would eventually face charges of desertion.
Hundreds of woeful, inexperienced and ill-equipped men headed for the jungle without food, without maps or compasses, without proper clothing and without any idea of New Britain's topography. These ill-equipped and under-prepared men encountered mangrove swamps, raging and crocodile-infested rivers, dense jungle , Japanese military units, Japanese collaborators, leeches, mosquitoes, sand flies and incessant rain and cold. Within a few days starvation and sickness (malaria, black water fever,dysentery, dengue fever) set in and many escaping personnel decided to surrender to Japanese forces, believing that by surrendering they had a better chance of survival. The hardships of continued escape were very severe and some escapees died from these hardships.
Other escapees who continued to persevere in the jungle, gradually re-grouped in various locations. These groups responded to the leadership of several capable 2/22nd Battalion officers and a number of incredibly courageous and dedicated civilians. It is estimated that a probable 368 service personnel survived and escaped from Japanese occupied New Britain in 1942-43. (taken from "Memories of New Guinea, Rabaul 1937-42" H. Morris).
To highlight the plight of the escapees, some quotes are presented which come from original records.
- "We just kept on blindly, or almost so, going along this spur which seemed to be forever going up through this pouring rain. We and everything with us was soaked, the track got slipperier, the jungle thicker, the men weaker and hungrier and the wind colder. All the matches were wet so the men could not even have a smoke." (J. McK. Hamilton & Lt. "Mick" Smith, personal diary)
- "When I think about it we really were in trouble. Weak and hungry.Bitten by all kinds of insects.Struggling through waist deep mud, clambering over and under mangrove roots. One of our party was very ill, he had been wounded in one arm, and it was infected. Very much afraid and not even knowing if our home was still Australia or a part of Japan. (G.Abel, personal diary)
- Monday 16th March,1942. " By morning his breathing was shallow, his eyes staring and his mouth open, but he could neither see nor hear us. All day he remained in this condition. He had blackwater fever and he was in a coma from which he would not recover." (D. Bloomfield, personal diary).
- February 1942. "When the Japanese and I went to Lassul Plantation, to collect Australian soldiers, a number of them had escaped capture by running away into the bush. I sent a note to them calling on them to surrender and that if they did so their life would be guaranteed by the Japanese Imperial Army. I knew that such a promise was false as I knew at that time that the Japanese had already beheaded a number of people. My reason for making this promise was merely to induce the Australian soldiers to surrender and to justify my position in working in collaboration with the Japanese invaders." (Rabaul War Trials record, 18/12/1945).
LAKATOI
The Lakatoi was a 179 ton boat. The boat was used to evacuate 212 Lark Force personnel and 2 civilian women from Witu in New Britain in March 1942 to Cairns, Australia. This amazing feat was achieved in the main by several civilians: Keith McCarthy, Frank Holland and Gladys Baker. Keith McCarthy issued a written plan to organize escapees to meet at a final point (Sag Sag Mission, west New Britain after 12 days travel from Pondo Plantation at Open Bay, New Britain. Keith's organizational skills were exceptional, and below is a brief summary of his written plan which he typed and issued to escaping Lark Force officers in February,1942.
"It should be noted that providing power sea transport is available from Kautaga Camp (6th day). Parties will reach Kilingi Village on the 8th day. The day's marches are fairly long, but in no case is the distance excessive.The travelling parties will carry their own rations but base camp personnel will have power to purchase pigs, coconuts and native foods if available(sic)."
Frank Holland had to travel quickly through rugged and hostile terrain to organize escapees on the South coast of New Britain in order to synchronize with Keith's plans for the North coast evacuations.
Gladys Baker not only performed unstinting first-aid care for dozens of evacuees but she assisted in piloting the Lakatoi through unchartered waters, until they rendezvouzed with another ship , the 40 ton Laurabada.
LAURABADA
This ship was used to evacuate 156 personnel from Palmalmal on the south coast of New Britain in April,1942. This ship had to run the gauntlet too of potential Japanese detection and attack. The Laurabada resupplied the Lakatoi and guided it through the China Straits. The Laurabada discharged the evacuees at Port Moresby, from whence they were taken by a larger vessel, the Macdhui to Australia.
Many of the military evacuees returned to active military service after recupertaion in Australia.
TOL PLANTATION MURDERS
This incident involved the murders of personnel from Lark Force by Japanese military aided by collaborators.The men were escaping from the Japanese down the South coast of New Britain. Most were sick and exhausted. The Japanese military assured them that if they surrendered they would be treated with rights of prisoners-of-war. Surrender they did, but the Japanese were proferring hollow promises.
" I find that at or near Tol and Waitavalo Plantations(New Britain) on February 4th, 1942, between 123 and 150 Australian soldiers and civilians, including protected army medical personnel had their hands tied behind their backs, were tied in batches (except in one or two instances) and then were bayoneted or shot or both bayoneted and shot, singly or in groups, in the presence and hearing of others about to be killed." (summary by Sir William Webb who led the post WW2 Atrocities Commission, of the Tol massacres perpetrated by Japanese forces on the date mentioned.)
Six Australians survived this atrocity initially, but two died shortly after from wounds received at the atrocity. Many accounts have been written about this barbaric and inhumane incident.
MONTEVIDEO MARU
The Montevideo Maru disaster is still surrounded by conspiracy theories, over 60 years after the event. The Montevideo Maru disaster represents the largest maritime disaster in Australia's history. It is estimated that 845 prisoners-of-war( mainly Lark Force personnel), and 205 civilian internees were loaded by Japanese forces on board a Japanese ship, the Montevideo Maru, at Rabaul in June,1942. They were bound for Japan. The human cargo was crowded into cargo holds on the ship. En route to Japan the ship was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine, the Sturgeon on July 1st,1942. Conflicting evidence remains about how many survived the event, but it is unlikely that many , if any, who were locked in the cargo holds survived.
Three years after this disaster, the Australian government notified dependents and relatives of those who were presumed to have died on board the Montevideo Maru.
MISCELLANEOUS
Some Lark Force personnel and others from New Britain became prisoners-of-war in Japan for the remainder of World War 2. Many members of Lark Force, many civilians and many prisoners-of-war who were in Rabaul and environs prior to and during the Japanese occupation remain unaccounted for after World War 2.
REFERENCES
Little Hell.The Story of the 2/22nd Battalion & Lark Force. C. Johnson, History House, BPA Print Group,2004.
Darkest Hour The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul. B. Gamble, Zenith Press 2006
Rabaul Diary, D. Bloomfield
To War & Back, G. Abel
Memories of New Guinea, H. Morris
A Soldier From Rabaul, J. McK. Hamilton
Hostages To Freedom:The Fall of Rabaul, P. Stone,1994, Oceans Enterprises
War Fugitives in New Britain Jungle, V.A.Pratt
Diary dated 26th April,1941,2/22 Battalion AIF Rabaul,unknown author
Escape Plan and Organization, J.K. McCarthy, February 1942
CITATIONS
This list of recipients of citations was made available by Lt. "Mick" Smith, who was with the 2/22nd in Rabaul in 1941-42.
RECIPIENT AWARD STATUS
Major Owen American DSC C.O. 39th Btln: ex 2/22nd
Colonel Cameron DSO & bar 2/22nd
Dec Ackeroyd MBE RMO 2/22nd ex POW Japan
Alec Tolmer MC 2/22
Peter Figgis MC 2/22
Fred Lomas MC 2/22
Kevin Walls MC 2/22
Pip Appel MC 2/22
Mac Hamilton MBE 2/22
Ralph Duvanel DCM 2/22
Arthur Simpson MM 2/22
Despatch rider Mitchell MM 2/22
Keith McCarthy MBE CO Escape Plan
Frank Holland MBE Escape Force: "Z" force
Gladys Baker MBE Plantation owner: escape force
Lt. Smith's reckoning is that: " Not many infantry units would compare with the above ex-2/22nd members, mostly officers who escaped from New Britain and served with other units in the Pacific Region."
Rabaul Gears up for the 60th Commemoration of the Japanese Invasion
On the 23rd January 1942 , following several days of intense aerial bombardment, the full might of the Imperial Japanese war machine descended on Rabaul.
The Pacific war had come to Papua New Guinea ; and Australia's door step.
Facing the force of 17,000 war hardened Japanese troops backed by 8 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 9 submarines, two aircraft carriers and more than 171 aircraft, were 1,400 un-tried and poorly equipped Australian soldiers. These were supported by about 150 civilian New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, there were no HMAS ships and the handful of obsolete, but bravely flown RAAF aircraft had already been shot from the sky or withdrawn.
Following a night of fierce infantry fighting which left perhaps 2,000 Japanese dead and about 50 Australian, the garrison was over run by shear weight of numbers. At about 11.00 am the order "every man for himself" was given. The real fight for survival had only just begun. Only 400 soldiers and civilians escaped to Australia , or survived the war by hiding in the jungle, helped by brave missionaries and locals. Many died or simply disappeared in their individual "little hell" of the swamps and jungles of New Britain .
For the Japanese the euphoria of their victory was short lived. In May they launched from Rabaul, now their major base in the South Pacific, an invasion force to attack and occupy Port Moresby . The first Aircraft Carrier verses Aircraft Carrier battle in history resulted. The invasion force was forced to turn back to Rabaul. This action saved Port Moresby enabling the Allies to keep a foot hold in PNG whilst they built up their strength.
The massive Rabaul base supplied the ships and troops for the Guadalcanal campaign. A campaign which the Japanese eventually lost as the US marines and Allies put up amazing resistance. The Japanese had been beaten decisively for the first time in the war.
The Allies island hopped up the Solomons toward Fortress Rabaul. With the successful Bouganville invasion at Torokina Rabaul came under almost continual air attack. To the Japanese pilots Rabaul became a "giant aerial meat grinder."
One hundred thousand Japanese were stranded in Rabaul, an entire army left to "wither on the vine", under constant air attack and fear of an invasion. Their resourcefulness, hard work and bravery kept them fed and fighting. Incredible systems of defence were constructed which can still be seen today. The numbers of Japanese soldiers swelled as the survivors from the Mainland and West New Britain trekked back to Rabaul. Rabaul continued to supply isolated island garrisons, using massive cargo submarines, loaded at the famous Submarine Base at Tavui Point, or with barges that were hidden by day in huge tunnels dug around Rabaul's bays.
To add to this terrible situation thousands of Chinese, Indian, and British prisoners of war where bought to Rabaul as slave labour. American, Australian and New Zealand airmen added to their ranks. An entire generation of Japanese had been brain washed by right wing militarists to believe that the Japanese were created by God and were superior to others. This lead to terrible statistics, in Western Europe prisoners of war taken by the Germans suffered a subsequent death rate of 1.1% in the Pacific those captured by the Japanese suffered losses of 37%, at Rabaul the figure was even higher.
Steve Saunders - Rabaul Historical Society Jan. 2002
