PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP
18 September 2010 One of the first battlefields of World War I, Bitapaka is also a war cemetery honouring the fallen men and women of two World wars. During their time in Papua New Guinea for Pacific Partnership 2010 (PP10) the Ship's Company of HMAS Tobruk and the Ship's Army Detachment were able to pay their respects. Located not far from where a German wireless station was captured by the Australian Naval and military expeditionary force on the 11th September 1914, over 1000 war graves, almost half of which are unkown, are surrounded by impeccably manicured gardens. The peaceful surrounding is a contrast to the experiences endured by the sailors, soldiers and airmen of both wars.
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| 20100906ran8106603_003 Lieutenant Commander Chris Searle holds the wreaths at the Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery in Rabaul, East New Britain during a ceremony held by the ship's company of HMAS Tobruk during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_005 Commanding Officer HMAS Tobruk, Commander Paul Scott speaks to members of the ship's company during a ceremony held at the Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery, Rabaul during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_010 Commanding Officer HMAS Tobruk, Commander Paul Scott speaks to members of the Ship's Company of HMAS Tobruk during a ceremony held at the Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery, Rabaul during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_012 A Papua New Guinean child walks through the rows of headstones whilst members of the Ship's Company of HMAS Tobruk pay respects to the fallen sailors, soldiers and airmen during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_016 Commanding Officer HMAS Tobruk, Commander Paul Scott and Private Cassandra Hampton from the Ship's Army Detachment lay a wreath at the cross of remembrance at Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_022 Officer In Command Ship's Army Detachment HMAS Tobruk, Major Phillip Blowers speaks to the Ship's Company in the grounds of the Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery, whilst paying respects to the fallen sailors, soldiers and airmen during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_030 Lieutenant Commander Chris Searle from HMAS Tobruk walks down a row of headstones whilst paying respects to the fallen sailors, soldiers and airmen of both World Wars at the Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery in Rabaul during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_043 Lance Corporal Adam Kavooris (left), Private Rye Stott (centre) and Private Ricky Hall (right) stand behind the plaque that commemorates the first fallen Australians in the Great War at the Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery, Rabaul during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20100906ran8106603_062 An Australian Army slouch hat sits on the monument that commemorates the first fallen Australians in the Great War in the grounds of Bitapaka Commonwealth War Cemetery, East New Britain during Pacific Partnership 2010. (Date taken: 06 September 2010) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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