Sgt Greg Pritchard, Pipes and Drums 2RAR, plays for veteran scout Steven Zaku. Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, Army newspaper

Guadalcanal remembered

 

From Leut Chris Woods in the Solomon Islands
Forty members of the RAMSI joined with US Marine and Solomon Islands veterans, Australian High Commission staff and other expatriates to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the battle for Guadalcanal on August 7, 2003.

The previous night’s deluge cleared to bathe the ridgeline behind Honiara in early morning tropical sunshine where the ceremony took place at the US Skyline Memorial.

The group that gathered to attend the memorial service wandered around the pristine memorial’s plinths, which related the story of one of the Pacific’s bloodiest battles. On one is written, “The marble pliths will endure the ravages of time until the wind, rain and tropical storms wear away its face, but never its memories.”

On August 7, 1942, the US 1st Marine Division landed at Red Beach on Guadacanal where they faced the Japanese and serious shortages of ammunition, food and medical supplies.

The Marines came under continual aerial attack in what was to become a grim succession of land, sea and air struggles that lasted until February 1943.

While the focus of the memorial service centred on the US Marines, ex-pat and military historian John Innes, who has been living in the Solomon Islands for the past nine years, said that Op Helpem Fren was a case of returning a favour.

“It was the local Solomon Islanders who were the workers, ears and eyes of the coastwatchers,” he said.

“At great peril to themselves they spied on the Japanese, warned of patrols, provided intelligence, fed and protected those few brave coastwatchers who stayed behind and radioed their reports.”

The Solomon Islands’ scouts, guides and soldiers saved the Australian Coastwatchers and their efforts to assist the intelligence gathering operation helped to assure victory.

“The number of Solomon Islanders who assisted the coastwatchers and the Allied effort greatly exceeded the number of police and soldiers currently engaged in helping the Solomons.”

After the service at the Skyline Memorial the RAMSI personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea visited the Sir Jacob Vouza Monument at Rove for a short wreath laying ceremony.

Sir Jacob was knighted for his valour during the war.