The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. Father Edward Charles (Ted) Harris at the Palmalmal Plantation wharf just before the departure of HMAS Laurabada for Port Moresby carrying 156 survivors from Rabaul. Father Harris, a Roman Catholic priest, ran the Malmal Catholic Mission at Jacquinot Bay. He was taken by boat from the Mission to Rabaul by the occupying Japanese forces and executed at sea. His body was dumped overboard and eventually washed up on the shore. The Japanese would not allow natives to bury his body which eventually washed out to sea. A memorial, provided by grateful survivors of the 2/22nd Battalion, was erected on the beach by Father Tim O'Neill with the simple inscription, "I was sick and you visited me". (Donor L. Robbins)
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. Major W. T. (Bill) Owen, Company Commander, 2/22nd Battalion (left) and Father Edward Charles (Ted) Harris at the Palmalmal Plantation
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. Father Edward Charles (Ted) Harris, wearing a hat, with Mrs Janke, the half Malay wife of the interned German owner of Wunung Plantati
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. HMAS Laurabada approaching the Palmalmal Plantation wharf just before departure for Port Moresby carrying 156 survivors from the retre
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. Palmalmal Plantation with Jacquinot Bay in the background. HMAS Laurabada evacuated over 156 troops and civilians who had retreated fr
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. Jacquinot Bay seen from Palmalmal Plantation. HMAS Laurabada evacuated over 156 troops and civilians who had retreated from Rabaul fol
Palmalmal Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. 1942-04-12. Palmalmal Plantation with Jacquinot Bay in the background. HMAS Laurabada evacuated over 156 troops and civilians who had retreated fr
