Statutory Declaration from P455 and exNG237 Pte George Ian MACLENNAN on the call-up of NGVR to Action on 20 Jan 1942.
At about 1640 hours on the 20th Jan 1942, Sgt RYAN of NGVR (European School Teacher) of RABAUL came to the New Guinea Club where a number of Europeans were gathered inluding myself. RYAN was in the uniform of the NGVR. He approached several of us individually who had been training with the NGVR. To me he said, "Will you be available to muster on the parade ground as soon as possible to go into Battle Stations tonight?" I believe Sgt RYAN was acting under instructions from Lieut Geof KILNER, OC Rabaul Detachment, NGVR. conveyed to him at the Club by Sgt EVANS. I replied that I would make the necessary arrangements, it being my intention to do military duties during the night and esume my civilian work next day if required. Les CORBETT was one other in the club at the time who to my knowledge made similar arrangements. I went homeimmediatly and after donning uniform went back to the club and had dinner. Sgt RYAN and Pte CORBETT were also there. After dinner,at about 1320 hours, RYAN, CORBETT and I proceeded to the Parade Ground in the Botanical Gardens.
Those in the muster whom I remember included - NG3000 Lieut Claude Geoffrey KILNER - Shell Company. NG4029 Lieut James Clarence ARCHER - Custodian. NG2272 Frederick Walter CLARKE - Bank of New South Wales. NG4043 Sgt Francis William RYAN - School Teacher. NG4013 Sgt Charles Ian MACLEAN - Dentist. NG4009 Sgt William John EVANS - Colyer Watsons. NG4031 Cpl George William SPENSLEY - Colyer Watsons. NG4044 Cpl Robert Marshall BRAIN - New Britain Timbers. NG2191 Cpl James Bannister McADAM - New Britain Timbers. NG608 Cpl Norman Henry FISHER - Vulcanologist. NG4042 Cpl Robert Allen BIRD - Customs Department. NG4026 Cpl Garth WALKER - Central Administation. NG149 Rfn Lesley Henry CORBETT - W.R.Carpenter and Company. NG853 Rfn James Harold GOODWIN - W.R.Carpenter and Company. NG77 Rfn Bernard Alphonsus O'CONNOR - Entymologist. NG162 Rfn Gorson ETTY - Bank of New South Wales. NG252 Rfn Lancelot NICHOLLS - Bank of New South Wales. NG4060 Rfn Douglas John RANKIN - Government Stores. NG4002 Rfn Harold James BECKETT - Motor Transport. NG16 Rfn Kenneth Charles ALLSOP - W.R.Carpenter and Company. NG4019 Rfn William Robert REYNOLDS - Australian Commonwealth Bank.
All were carrying small arms and ammunition with other ranks carrying 100 rounds of .303 each. We moved off in transport (a Rabaul Carrying Company Truck) driven by Rfn BECKETT and we were then informed that we were to occupy battle stations for the night, the time being by now about 1930 hours. Two Vickers Machine Guns (a and b) and one Mortar Gun were taken from the NGVR parade ground. We proceeded to Rapindik (Lower Aerodrome) where we were detailed to an Air-listening post and guard duties for the night in the vicinity of the aerodrome.
On the 21st Jan 1942 there was no activity and some NGVR personnel, including myself returned to civilian duties, the ramainder working on machine gun positions and other defences around the aerodrome.
On the 22nd Jan 1941 enemy transports were said to be off Watom Island at about 1000 hours and it was believed that a landing was expected. The NGVR members who had returned to civilian duties rejoined the unit at Rapindik at about 1530 hours and manned the machine guns and mortar positions. I think all who had mustered on the evening of the 20th Jan 1942 were on duty at Rapandik on that night.
During the afternoon of the 22nd Jan 1942 Major W. OWEN, OC A Company, 2/22nd Infantry Battalion came along and addressed us saying he was gratified to find our party on the job and that we had been allotted the defence of the Rapindik area helping his Company. Major OWEN was accompanied by Lieut KILNER of HQ NGVR and Lieut C. ARCHER , OC of our unit at Rapindik and during the subsequent operarations.
About dusk that day, Sgt RYAN received an order to prepare to move, A Company preceeded us.
After waiting some time for our transport to arrive two machine guns and mortar with ammunition and personnel were moved to the Vulcan Beach and given about a mile of beach area to defend. The area allotted covered both sides of the Junction up to the beach road (old Kokopo Road) and the new road leading up to Vunakanau Aerodrome, the plan being to prevent the enemy from moving into this 'drome road from the Vulcan Beach road. A Company, 2/22 Inf Bn was holding position on our right. Without tools and under some difficulty in the darkness we proceeded to place the machine gun and mortar in position and then waited. We had no further contact with the other units before or during the subsequent operations. Early in the morning I think about 0320 hours we saw faint pale green lights ascending and descending through the air over the harbour in the direction of Rabaul. These are the only lights we saw and took them to be lights used by Japanese landing parties. Some time later we heard machine gun and mortar fire on the right in the vicinity of A Company's position. The firing continued intermittently until dawn and increased as visibility improved. With the first light, enemy ships were seen entering the harbour and many power driven landing craft were seen landing more troops at various points. About one hour after dawn, two landing craft escorted by an armoured motor boat were seen heading for a point about 200 yards to the left of our position; these landing craft were estimated to be carrying about 60 troops each. Each craft had its own powere unit which was very silent and could not be heard until within about 50 yards from the beach. The escort was armed with quick-firing cannon. When these landing craft were within range, we immediately opened fire with mortar and machine gun fire taking heavy toll of the enemy. I saw many of the mortar bombs burst among the landing troops and escorting craft, and saw a large number of enemy bodies in the water and on the beach. The enemy actually landed at a point about 200 yards on our left. As they started to cross the road into the cocoanut plantation B Gun under the command of Sgt RYAN opened fire again. I know that not more than ten or twelve troops from these two landing parties actually succeeded in landing, the remainder falling to the MG and Mortar and B Vickers Guns. Immediately the enemy troops were fired on, their escorting craft made off out of range and opened up a rapid fire with ant-personnel shells at several points on the beach. In this action there were no NGVR casualties and no other landing craft approached this area. Shortly after this, fighter aircraft coming in from the sea kept us well under cover.
At about 0800 hours Lt Claude ARCHER approached B gun position and instructed Sgt RYAN to destroy his gun and get out. Rfn Les CORBETT (Number 1 B Gun) fired two shots into the mechanism of the gun and we retired to where a transport was waiting some distance up the Vulcan Vunakanau drom road. The position of this transport was not clear to all NGVR personnel as it had been moved several times. It was here that the NGVR unit was first separated; some joing up with some 2/22 retiring troops and the remainder on the transported provided for us. I understand that we were to withdraw to Vunakanau aerodrome to assist B and C Companys, 2/22 Bn. At the fourways crossroads we were forced to take cover as the camp there was being shelled from enemy ships in the harbour and bombed from the air. This bombardment lasted for about half an hour. As I went out to our transport I saw Rfn GOODWIN and RANKIN but no other members of the NGVR. We had proceeded about 400 yards on the road to the aerodrome when we were stopped by a 2/22 man and told that the enemy were about half a mile further along the road in front of us. Thinking B and C Companies were still in position at the aerodrome, we decided to try and get through to them. Several trucks then moved off and had not gone far when the leading truck was met with heavy machine gun fireand grenades and very quickly put out of action with most of its troops either killed or wounded. Immediately this action started, mortar bombs fell on the road at the rear of the convoy and again we took cover on both sides of the road. A little later were bombed and some destroyed. Keeping under cover we then made in the direction of Keravat on the North Coast. Rfn GOODWIN, BECKETT and myself were the only NGVR personnel in this party which numbered nine.
On Saturday, 24 Jan 1942 GOODWIN and BECKETT showed signs of fatigue and expressed their intentions of going to the Mission Station and waiting for the Japanese to pick them up. They were later seen by other 2/22 troops at the mission and were stll waiting there. I met the following NGVR members at Vunalama - Sgt RYAN; Cpl Garth WALKER (bad feet); Rfn Barny O'CONNOR; Gordon ETTY; NICHOLLS; CORBETT and RANKIN.
These were the only NGVR personnel I met on the track. I do not know what happened to the others. Later, on the track at a village on or about 19th or 20th Jan 1942 I contacted Driver GILLMORE, 2/22 Bn who told me that other 2/22 Bn troops who came from the South Coast and had spoken to him at Bells Camp (Powell Harbour) had given him names of seventeen NGVR personnel who they claimed to have seen dead on the Raluana Beach nea Kokopi Beach. The names of those whom I remeber being mentioned were - Lt Claude ARCHER; Sgt Ian MACLEAN; Sgt John EVANS; Cpl SPENSLEY; Cpl McADAM; and Rfn BRYANT.
I make the above declaration concientiously believing the statement contained therein to be true in every particular.
Signed - G. MACLENNAN.
Declared at PORT MORESBY the 1st day of APRIL 1942 Before me ROBERT JOHN MILLER, Major AIF ; Deputy Assistant Adjutant General 8th Military District.
Signed - R J MILLER (DAAG) Major NGF.
Certified true copy - JAKP WO1 for DRO, NG Force.
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