Roll of Honour Poon Kam - Zumkley
POON KAM, died 1944 at Lemakot at the hands of the Japanese Kempetai Police. (Informant Bukei AWM 54 1010/4/165) Came from China in German times and was a sawyer. Husband of Mit from Bagatere and father of Lam Kiu who married Lam Tiu also killed by Japanese.
RAND, Dixon Wearne Leslie drowned 1 July 1942 aged 42. Manager of Maritsoan plantation, Namatanai and earlier of Kurumut plantation Husband of Eileen.
ROBERTS, Dudley Louis drowned 1 July 1942 aged 29. Teacher at Maiom Native School (Utu). One of those attempting to escape in 5 boats from Kavieng on 21 January 1942 after the air raid who were captured by the invading Japanese at Albatross Passage and returned to Kavieng Jail. Later sent to Rabaul. Husband of Jean Lindsay.
SAUNDERS, Frank Veall drowned 1 July 1942 aged 50. After working in Rabaul for the Expropriation Board in 1921 he was head of the Board's activities in New Ireland. When the ex German plantations were offered for tender in 1926/27 he successfully bid £9,327 for Neipau and Metakabil, Patio, and Mamirum plantations and later acquired Mongol and Kaselok plantations and operated a business and wharf from where the Malagan Beach Resort is in 2002. He owned two schooners, the Navanora and Shamrock, which were 2 of the 5 boats which were loaded up with supplies on 21 January 1942 and attempted to escape. They were captured by the invading Japanese at Albatross Passage and returned to Kavieng jail. Later they were sent to Rabaul. Husband of Enid Gladys and father of Peter (a businessman in Kavieng who died l August 1978 and is buried at Bagail cemetery)
SAVAGE, Stuart Keith drowned 1 July 1942 aged 50. Administration Clerk at the District office Kavieng. One of a group of escapees, 4 of whom decided on 5 February 1942 at Patlangat to go no further. Husband of Amy Gertrude.
SAWKINS, Alfred George drowned 1 July 1942 aged 51. Manager at Panapai plantatopn and recent arrival from England without his wife as the Administration had already been discouraging women from coming to New Guinea because of the war threat. Probably one of those attempting to escape from Kavieng on 21 January 1942 after the air raid in 5 boats. They were captured in Albatross Passage by the invading Japanese and returned to Kavieng jail. Later they went to Rabaul. Husband of Marjorie May Clara.
SCHLUETTER, Father Karl MSC of Lihir Catholic Mission who most likely was killed 17 March 1944 at Kavieng wharf, although as with some others there are other stories.
SCHULTZE, Mrs Caroline Rasmina died 1945 aged about 65 at Bo internment camp near Namatanai. Daughter of 'Queen' Emma's brother William Pritchard Coe, she had a narrow escape from death when hit on the back of the neck with an axe at the attack on Rudolf Wolff's plantation at Varzin near Toma on 2 April 1902. She was saved by a Buka houseboy and later married Kurt Adolf Schultze the then German Government Secretary at Herberthöhe (Kokopo).
They took up land in New Ireland at Lamangan plantation 8kms from Kavieng and called it Lebrechthof. It was not expropriated and she lived there until the war and had 3 children, August, Adolf and Helmuth. Like her Aunt Phebe Parkinson it is not known exactly where she is buried but the land where Namatanai High School is now was where the Bo internment camp was located.
SIMPSON, Reverend Thomas Nevison 'Tom' of Ranmelek Methodist Mission drowned 1 July 1942 aged 33. A 'Barwell' boy orphan emigrant from England to South Australia in 1924 to be a farm apprentice, he came to New Ireland in 1936 and personally built the first mission centre on New Hanover which at the time had a quarantine against local people leaving because of leprosy. He ministered to the Anelaua Island leprosy colony patients who were Methodists. As with some others there are differing stories of his death. Husband of Nellie and father of Margaret and John.
SUI LONG CHING, probably died in 1944 at the hands of the Japanese Kempetai Police at their HQs at Luburua. (Informant Bukei AWM 54 1010/4/165).
TAIT, Ivan Howard died 31 May 1942 at Rabaul aged 48. Manager of W.R.Carpenter & Co. Kavieng. He was one of a group of escapees four of whom decided on 5 February 1942 at Patlangat to go no further. Why the Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows the date of death prior to the departure of the Montevideo Maru from Rabaul is not clear. The 31 May 1942 also happens to be the date a family in Rabaul was executed.
TALMAGE, John Samuel executed at Nago Island 30 November 1942 [July 1942] aged 67. Manager of Tomalabat plantation, Tatau Island, Tabar group. One of the Europeans rounded up from Tabar in the hunt for Con Page the Coastwatcher. One of 7 bodies identified of 13 recovered on Nago Island near Kavieng after the war (MP 375/14:WC 43). Buried at the Bitapaka War Cemetery.
TOPAL, David James killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] at Kavieng wharf aged 14. Son of a plantation manager on New Ireland for only 2 weeks prior to Japanese arrival. One of only 3 Europeans identified by Japanese at Kavieng after the war (Melb.Arch. B4175-14) probably because he was a child.
TOPAL, Henry James killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] at Kavieng wharf aged 51. Manager of Tereri plantation at Koko Bay on Tabar Island. Was in Kavieng in September 1917 as an acting Corporal, Australian Army Medical Corps. Father of David James.
TUNG SING SEETO, died 21 January 1942 aged 55-60. When the 60 aircraft from the Japanese aircraft carriers Kagi and Akagi attacked Kavieng on 21 January 1942 he was killed and had to be hurriedly buried as everyone was evacuated. He had no wife in Kavieng.
UTSCH junior, Father Franz MSC of Lavongai Catholic Mission probably killed 17 March 1944 at Kavieng wharf but other stories say 1943. Not to be confused with Father Franz Utsch senior of Manus who was shot and thrown overboard from the Japanese destroyer Akikaze with 61 others on 17 March 1943.
WAN CHUI SEETO, died 1944 at Lamoling, near Bouman plantation on the north coast of New Hanover after strafing by American Corsair ( a Japanese aircraft in AWM 54 80/6/5 and at Lanungi) aircraft. Husband of Lau Sing Nui & father of many children including Alan Yook Ming Seeto still living in Kavieng.
WHITEHEAD, Boyd Nepean killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] aged 46 at Kavieng wharf. Lived in New Guinea for about 10 years and previously manager at Meto plantation, Witu Island and manager at Karu plantation. Husband of Eileen Isobel, married New Guinea Club Rabaul 6.9.1938 and father of Elizabeth (Libby) Ann and James Stanley.
WILKIN, William Martin 'Wilkie' drowned 1 July 1942 aged 56. Owner of expropriated German Lungatan plantation on New Hanover for which he tendered £5,000 in 1926/7. Former District Officer who served 3 years in Australia for Manslaughter of a native. For a while he looked after Susannah, daughter of Errol Flynn and a Selapiu Island woman, but she later went to Ranmelek Mission and disappeared during the war. He was probably one of those attempting to escape in 5 boats from Kavieng on 21 January 1942 after the air raid. They were captured by the invading Japanese in Albatross Passage and returned to Kavieng jail. Later they were sent to Rabaul.
WILLIAMS, Leon Leslie killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] age 40 at Kavieng wharf. Area Manager for Burns Philp at Kimadan plantation. A tall man and a good horseman.
WONG YU,(or maybe FO YU see AWM 54 1010/9/27 information of Lt.Col.T Sato Chief Staff Officer 17.1.1946 Japanese forces) probably died November 1944. A trader from Tabar Islands who died at the Japanese Kempetai HQs at Luburua. Not to be confused with Wong Yu of Buka.
WOODHOUSE, Edmund Samuel Flavelle killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] at Kavieng wharf aged 50. Manager of Katu plantation and husband of Jessie Lily.
WOOLCOTT, Leonard George killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] aged 44 at Kavieng wharf. Manager of Fileba plantation.
ZUMKLEY, Brother Heinrich MSC of Kavieng Catholic Mission probably killed 17 March 1944 at Kavieng wharf.
Jim Ridges P.0 Box 86, Kavieng 29 June 2002
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Online edition created by J & J Evans, August 2002
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