While in PNG Simon and I visited the Bomana War Cemetery, a cemetery dedicated to commonwealth soldiers who died during WWII. Its only a short drive from Port Moresby and it was interesting seeing some of the countryside of PNG. There are nearly 4000 (3 351 Australian) commonwealth soldiers buried there, approximately 700 (240 Australian) of them unidentified, and it is the largest war cemetery for Australians outside of Australia.
View overlooking the cemetery.
The carer of the facility, whose name escapes me at the moment (help me out Simon), was really good. He guided through the cemetery with stories of how many people came be buried there such as the civilians and non-Australians. he also related storied about the only woman buried there and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. His knowledge was so vast that I assumed he was a historian. Nope, he is a horticulturalist. The grounds themselves are immaculately kept and s occasionally used by the expats as a picnic area . It's one of the few open spaces it is safe for the white kids to run around.
The groundskeeper - super bloke
There are two Victoria Cross medal winners buried here, both of whom lost their lives performing outstanding acts of valour. Private Bruce Kingsbury saved battalion headquarters and his story can be found here.
Private Bruce Kingsbury- note the engraved Victoria Cross on the headstone.
Corporal John French took a Japanese machine-gun position by himself after ordering his men to safety, this link is his story.
Corporal John French. I linked the stories instead if retelling them so that those not interested in war stories do not have to read them.
I was really fortunate to get to visit this site, not many Australians get this opportunity as Port Moresby is not much of a tourist destination.
Rudolph examines the sculpture of Kokoda trail (are these called sculptures? What are they called?)
Simon and I were even more fortunate to have a personalised guide.
Simon with a view of the memorial dedicated to the bodies that were not found.
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