| Description |
Historical narrative
This is a second world war story about the day when the Japanese landed in Rabaul. It was on a Saturday, when workers from Matalau village led by Elipas were going about their workday at the Ah Tam wharf shipyard docks in Rabaul town. At lunchtime they had their break to eat their lunches then finished for as half-day's work.
After their lunch, they headed off from the wharf and walked home through the town past the old marketplace then over the Namanula hill heading towards their village, Matalau which is on the north eastern seaside area from Rabaul town.
When they reached the top of the hillside where now is a Japanese memorial place, they looked across the Rabaul harbour where they witnessed a two bomber planes flying in and around the township then dropped bombs at the same time they spotted ships in the harbour.
The group led by Elipas began running to Matalau then warned the people in the village that the Japanese were bombing the town of Rabaul. The villagers then escaped into dug up holes as hiding places to keep away and for safety from the bombings.
The next morning on Sunday the villagers came out of their hiding places and witnessed many Japanese warships, fighting planes, submarines all heading towards Rabaul harbour and residents of the town began escaping for hiding in places to like Talvat and Matupit. On Monday, the Australians were getting ready to respond so the war began.
(Steven Gagau, April 2024) |
