Lonely Vigil: Coastwatchers of the Solomons

  Parenthetically, it’s important to remember that there were Coastwatchers on many islands besides the Solomons, and that there were other clandestine organizations in the South Pacific besides the Coastwatchers. Some, like the Lugger Maintenance Section, based in Australia, bore intriguing if deliberately misleading names. All did valuable work, but in the end it was the little group in the Solomons who stood in the strategic spotlight and who therefore deserve a measure of special attention.

  Yet the full story is far more than a record of the Solomon Islands Coastwatchers per se. They are the “stars,” but there is an immense supporting cast: the natives who helped them; the missionaries, commandos, and occasional Chinese who worked with them; the downed flyers, castaways, and refugees they rescued; the Marine patrols they guided; the airmen and submariners who serviced them; the Japanese who chased them. The variety is enormous—surely this must be the only subject in the world on which I could be doing research in a home for Catholic Sisters one week, and in Las Vegas the next.

  All have been wonderfully generous with their time—one perhaps too much so. Douglas Otton, an AIF commando who served with Paul Mason on Bougainville, gave me a whole Sunday in the final week of his campaign for a seat in the Australian Parliament. He lost by only a few hundred votes, and I’ve often wondered whether that lost day made the difference.

  Tracking down these participants was not always easy, and I’m especially indebted to a number of people who paved the way. In this country Anna C. Urband of the Navy’s Public Information Division was a tower of strength. Other helpful emissaries include Al Bonney, Vice President, Association of Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans; Lowell V. Bulger, Executive Secretary, United States Marine Raiders Association; William S. Bunker, USS Helena Organization; Professor John T. Mason, Jr., Director of Oral History, United States Naval Institute; J. M. “Boats” Newberry, PT Boats, Inc.

  In Australia, many contacts were made through Don Latimer, Secretary of the NSW Commando Association; and in New Zealand, key addresses were supplied by the Reverend G. G. Carter, General Secretary, Overseas Division of the Methodist Church. At the War History Office in Tokyo, Lieutenant Colonel Yutaka Fugita was invariably helpful in identifying Japanese participants and their units. Takami Takeshita, the office’s Solomons expert, was equally generous with his time.

  This was a project that involved research in strange and faraway places, but plenty of knowledgeable people helped the neophyte along. In Australia, for instance, I owe a lot to Lieutenant Colonel Stanley S. Caporn, Harry Hansen, Stuart Inder, John H. McGowan, Jeff O’Neill, Professor Robert J. O’Neill, Professor B. M. Primrose, and Professor L. C. F. Turner.

  At Rabaul, Fred Archer was both a good host and a good source. Elaine Bruce also provided excellent leads, and thanks go to Ed Farley for putting me in touch with her. In the Solomons, Mr. D. C. C. Luddington, then British High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, gave me access to government facilities and communications without which the job could not have been done. Jim Tedder, formerly the Protectorate’s chief information officer, took me under his wing, and I could not have had better luck. So many people rallied to the cause: Francis Aqorau, Paul Brown, David Garisi, Roy Kelosi, Graeme Kent, and Isaac Quoloni—to name just a few.

  Of course, interviews and personal observation have their limits, and I also relied heavily on the written record. The official material is haphazardly filed in a variety of places. Finding it taxed the ingenuity of archivists in Washington, Melbourne, and Canberra, but they always came through.

  At the U.S. Naval History Division, Vice Admiral Edwin B. Hooper never turned down a request. Within the Division, Dr. Dean C. Allard performed his usual magic at Operational Archives, ably abetted by Kathleen M. Lloyd. At the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Mary Hinojosa came up with just the right information on Wilfred Painter. At the USMC Historical Division I leaned mercilessly on Lieutenant Colonel Herbert M. Hart, Major John C. Short, and Benis Frank; while at National Archives I could always count on Roland Wilson. I’m especially grateful to Jim Trimble of the Audiovisual Division of the Archives for his fine help on pictures, and to Alan Goodrich of the Kennedy Library, who also came through when needed.

  In Australia Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek, Chief of Naval Staff, RAN, gave the project his blessing; and John Ware, then head of the Royal Australian Navy’s Historical Section, guided me through a labyrinth of files. When Mr. Ware retired before the completion of my research, his shoes were ably filled by John M. Mackenzie. I’m indebted to them both.

  For digging out additional records in Australia, I’m also grateful to Mr. Alan P. Skerman and his fine staff at the Commonwealth Archives Office in Melbourne, and to Mr. W. R. Lancaster, then director of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

  Besides the official records, a great deal of unofficial material has been provided by helpful people on both sides of the Pacific. Martin Clemens made available his radio message log and his correspondence file covering the period he operated on Guadalcanal. Both are invaluable in fixing dates and the movements of personnel, as is the copy of his diary at the War Memorial in Canberra. Father Emery de Klerk carefully reconstructed his lost diary from reams of contemporary notes. Merle Farland, Patricia Penrose, and Sister M. Irene Alton all lent me their diaries, and Sister Irene also provided a copy of the diary kept by Sister M. Hedda Jaeger on Bougainville.

  John Dalrymple-Hay lent me a copy of the journal written by his uncle, the fabulous Ken Hay, on Guadalcanal; Charles Colt contributed fascinating material on the early days at Lunga beachhead; Douglass Hubbard at the Admiral Nimitz Center provided a copy of Snowy Rhoades’s unpublished memoirs; Mrs. Robert Laverty made available the papers of her late husband, who operated behind enemy lines on New Georgia and Rendova. A special word of thanks goes to Sherman Lee Pompey, who gave me access to the diary and letter book kept by the Reverend A. W. E. Silvester on Vella Lavella.

  The transcripts of two important recordings have also been made available. Dr. James Boutilier has generously provided a taped interview with Donald Kennedy in 1969; and Mrs. Eric Feldt has lent me an LP record, full of reminiscences, made during the dedication of the Coastwatcher Light at Madang, Papua, New Guinea, in 1959.

  All this material—official and unofficial—is especially important because so little has been published on the Coastwatchers. I know of only four books devoted entirely to the subject: Eric Feldt, The Coast Watchers, Melbourne, Oxford, 1946 (Oxford also published an abbreviated American edition the same year); D. C. Horton, Fire Over the Islands, Sydney, Reed, 1970; and M. Murray, Hunted: A Coastwatcher’s Story, Adelaide, Rigby, 1967; and Malcolm Wright, If I Die, Melbourne, Lansdowne, 1965. Only Feldt has ever been published in the United States.

  There is also a long chapter on the Solomon Island Coastwatchers in Allison Ind, Allied Intelligence Bureau—Our Secret Weapon in the War Against Japan, New York, McKay, 1958, and parts of the story can be found in other books. I found the following especially useful: Robert J. Donovan, PT-109, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1961; G. Hermon Gill, Royal Australian Navy in World War II, Canberra, Australian War Memorial, 1957-58; Samuel B. Griffith, The Battle for Guadalcanal, Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1963; Hugh Laracy, Marists and Melanesians, Honolulu, University of Hawaii, 1976; Thomas G. Miller, Jr., The Cactus Air Force, New York, Harper & Row, 1969; and A. A. Vandegrift, Once a Marine, New York, Norton, 1964.

  In this connection I owe particular thanks to Bob Donovan and Reg Evans for their permission to quote from Evans’s message file, which is featured in PT-109.

  From time to time informative articles have also appeared in various magazines and newspapers. The Pacific Islands Monthly—indispensable for anyone interested in the South Pacific—has carried the recollections of Andy Andresen (January 1944) and Ken Hay (July-August 1971), as well as an interesting piece on Reg Evans (January 1961). The United States Naval Institute Proceedings has also touched on the subject at various times; see especially “Bougainville Rendezvous
,” by Commander Richard H. Bowers (July 1952); “The Segi Man,” by Rear Admiral George Van Deurs (October 1958); and “Bush Navigation in the Solomons,” by Captain Charles F. McGivern (February 1974).

  Other pertinent articles: “Survival,” by John Hersey, New Yorker, June 17, 1944; “Rescue in the Pacific,” by Gilbert Cant, Saturday Evening Post, January 29, 1944; “Nights to Remember,” by Leonard J. Baird, Benjamin Katz, John D. Sweeney, and John L. Chew, Shipmate, July–August 1975; an unsigned feature story on John Mackie’s AIF commando unit in the Australian paper Daily Mirror, October 28, 1963; and a six-part series by Colin Simpson in the Sydney Sunday Mail Magazine, November 1–December 6, 1953. For locating and copying various Australian articles, extra thanks are due the staff at the University of Queensland Library in Brisbane.

  Many others, too, took a special interest in the project and came to my rescue at crucial moments. These include Rear Admiral H. J. Dyson, Brigadier General Samuel B. Griffith, II, A. N. Garbarino, Commander Clarence C. Hawk, Colonel R. D. Heinl, Ben Horn, Lieutenant General R. C. Mangrum, Rear Admiral A. H. McCollum, Captain Roger Pineau, Stuart Revill, Larry Reineke, Major Edna Loftus Smith, Donald B. Thompson, John and Toshiko Toland and Jac Weller.

  Finally, there are those who virtually lived with the project over the years. In Japan nothing was ever too much trouble for Yuzuru Sanematsu or Y. Horie. In Australia Barbara Land performed miracles in locating various participants, and on several occasions handled interviews when I was “out of position.” Her tact and good humor I am sure won the help of many people who might otherwise have been reluctant to come forward.

  In New York Dorothy Hefferline handled most of the voluminous correspondence, while Florence Gallagher notched her thirtieth year of deciphering my scribbled foolscap.

  But all these people—helpful as they were—would not have been enough without the cooperation of the 141 participants listed on the following pages. In the last analysis it is their story. They get none of the blame for my mistakes but all the credit in the world for whatever new light is thrown on the remarkable role played by the Solomon Islands Coastwatchers in winning back the Pacific.

  List of Contributors

  ALL CONTRIBUTORS ARE LISTED together–regardless of nationality and of civilian or military status. Each name is followed by the participant’s vantage point. Where supplied, present rank is also included.

  Sister M. Irene Alton—missionary, Buka and Bougainville

  Lt. Paul O. Anderson, USNR (Ret.)—

  Helena

  Col. Henry Aplington, II, USMC (Ret.)—

  Torokina landings, Bougainville

  Fred Archer—civilian planter, Bougainville J. P. Ayres—rescued U.S. flyer, Vella

  Lavella

  George Bausewine—Helena

  William Bennett—Coastwatcher network,

  New Georgia

  Alesasa Bisili—mission student, Munda

  Theodore Blahnik—Helena

  Jefferson J. de Blanc—rescued U.S. flyer,

  Vella Lavella

  Capt. Warren C. Boles, USN (Ret.)—

  Helena

  Capt. Richard H. Bowers, USN (Ret.)—

  Guardfish

  Col. Clay A. Boyd, USMC (Ret.)—Marine

  Raider patrols, New Georgia

  Capt. H. C. Bridgers, Jr., USN

  (Ret.)—PBYs, Solomon Islands

  Rear Adm. William H. Brockman, USN

  (Ret.)—Nautilus

  G. J. Brooksbank—Naval Intelligence

  Division, RAN

  Walter H. Brooksbank—Naval Intelligence

  Division, RAN

  Lowell V. Bulger—Marine Raider patrols,

  Guadalcanal

  H. W. Bullen—Coastwatcher staff,

  Guadalcanal, Segi

  William S. Bunker—Helena

  Ed Burckliard—Helena

  Col. R. C. Burns, USMC (Ret.)—Seventh

  Fleet Intelligence

  Jack Campbell—Coastwatcher network,

  Guadalcanal

  Norman L. Carlson—Helena

  Vice Adm. John L. Chew, USN (Ret.)—

  Helena

  Cdr. Archie J. Church, USN (Ret.)—

  Patapsco

  W. F. Martin Clemens—Coastwatcher,

  Guadalcanal

  Charles C. Colt—Air Combat Intelligence,

  Guadalcanal

  Cdr. Robert C. Corlett, USN (Ret.)—PBYs,

  Solomon Islands

  R. J. Cream—AIF detachment, Bougainville Col. Michael S. Currin, USMC (Ret.)—

  Marine Raider patrols, New Georgia

  Solomon Dakai—Coastwatcher network,

  Guadalcanal

  Cdr. George S. Davis, USN (Ret.)—

  Nautilus

  Terrence T. Dempsey—Helena

  Eugene R. Dilts—Helena

  R. W. Dolby—AIF detachment,

  Bougainville

  C. W. Duke-Yonge—Coastwatcher staff, Townsville, Brisbane

  William Dupay—Helena

  Cdr. Philip F. Eckert, USN (Ret.)—Nautilus

  Major Halstead Ellison, USMCR (Ret.)—Lunga beachhead, Guadalcanal

  Cdr. L. D. Emerson-Elliott, RN (Ret.)—Naval Intelligence Division, RAN

  A. R. Evans—Coastwatcher, Kolombangara Capt. Leonard E. Ewoldt, USN (Ret.)—rescued U.S. flyer, Guadalcanal

  Merle S. Farland—mission nurse, Vella

  Lavella

  Adm. James Fife, Jr., USN (Ret.)—SOWESPAC, Brisbane

  Peter E. Figgis—Coastwatcher, New

  Guinea, New Britain

  Capt. Gordon Eugene Firebaugh, USN

  (Ret.)—rescued U.S. flyer, Santa Isabel

  R. L. Firth—Coastwatcher, Vella Lavella

  Rear Adm. Robert J. Foley, USN (Ret.)—Gato

  Gonshiro Funada—Kure 6th Naval Landing

  Force, Rendova

  Frank Furner—AIF detachment,

  Bougainville

  Cdr. Joe L. Gammon, USN (Ret.)— Guardfish

  Lt. Col. Ritchie Garrison, USA (Ret.)—U.S.

  Army, Efate

  J. C. H. Gill—Coastwatcher staff,

  Townsville, Brisbane

  Walter B. Gillette—LCTs, Segi landings

  Harold Grieff—Lunga beachhead,

  Guadalcanal

  Chesleigh S. Grunstad—Helena

  Capt. Frank J. Guidone, USMC (Ret.)—Marine Raider patrols, New Georgia

  Capt. Donald G. Gumz, USN (Ret.)—PBY

  supply and rescue missions

  Clive M. Hamer—RAAF Catalina base, Tulagi

  Solomon Hitu—mission student, Munda

  D. C. Horton—Coastwatcher, Rendova

  John R. Hubbard—U.S. Navy Photo

  Reconnaissance Group, Guadalcanal

  Harold Hulseberg—U.S. Army mapping

  reconnaissance, Choiseul

  Robert M. Hurst—RAAF Catalina supply missions

  Akijiro Imai—8th Combined Naval Landing Force, Rabaul, Munda

  Jaku—Coastwatcher network, Guadalcanal

  W. T. Jolly—Marine Raider patrols, New Georgia

  Mrs. Frank Jones (Ruby Olive Boye)—

  Coastwatcher, Vanikoro

  Henry Josselyn—Coastwatcher, Vella

  Lavella

  Col. Bernard T. Kelly, USMC (Ret.)—Helena

  Capt. Robert B. Kelly, USN (Ret.)—PT-

  boats, Rendova

  Frank A. Kemp—Marine Raiders, New

  Georgia landings

  Lt. Roger Kent, USNR (Ret.)—Air Combat

  Intelligence, Guadalcanal

  Ben Kevu—Coastwatcher network, Wana

  Wana Lagoon

  LCDR Richard L. Kile, USN (Ret.)—radar

  unit, New Georgia

  J. A. Kissane—Coastwatcher staff,

  Guadalcanal

  Father Emery de Klerk—missionary and

  Coastwatcher network, Guadalcanal

  Gordon Knightley—Smith—Burns Philp,

  Tulagi

 
Lt. Gen. Victor H. Krulak, USMC (Ret.)—Paratroop Battalion,

  Choiseul

  Geoffrey Kuper—Coastwatcher, Santa

  Isabel

  Father Albert Lebel—missionary,

  Bougainville

  Dale M. Leslie—rescued U.S. flyer,

  Guadalcanal

  Pelopi Lomae—Coastwatcher network,

  Rendova

  John Lotikena—native civilian, Mono

  J. Keith McCarthy—Coastwatcher, New

  Britain

  A. W. McCasker—Coastwatcher, Ontong—

  Java

  Capt. Charles F. McGivern, USN (Ret.)—

  Gato

  D. S. MacFarland—Coastwatcher,

  Guadalcanal

  Capt. Roderick K. MacLean, USN (Ret.)—

  Gato

  David R. Maltby—PT-boats, off

  Bougainville, Choiseul

  Cdr. W. Robert Maxwell, USN (Ret.)—

  rescued U.S. flyer, Rendova

  Lloyd George Miller—Helena

  Major Paul R. Montrose, USAFR (Ret.)—

  fighter pilot, Segi

  John V. Murray—Armed Guard, USN,

  Guadalcanal

  B. Franklin Nash—Coastwatcher,

  Kolombangara

  Rear Adm. William T. Nelson, USN

  (Ret.)—Peto

  Gen Nishino—Japanese news

  correspondent, Guadalcanal

  Ryosuke Nomura—Air staff, Southeast Area

  Fleet, Rabaul

  Robert T. Orman—U.S. Marines, Tulagi

  landings

  E. Douglas Otton—AIF detachment,

  Coastwatcher, Bougainville

  Gordon Pabulu—Coastwatcher network,

  Choiseul

  Willie Paia—Coastwatcher network, New

  Georgia

  Patricia Rattray Penrose—Allied

  Intelligence Bureau cipher clerk,

  Melbourne

  Capt. Edwin L. Pierce, USN (Ret.)—PBY

  supply and rescue missions

  Otis B. Point—Helena

  Cdr. Floyd R. Porterfield, USN (Ret.)—

  Nautilus

  Daniel Pule—Coastwatcher network,

  Guadalcanal

  W. J. Read—Coastwatcher, Bougainville

  Cdr. F. A. Rhoades, RAN (Ret.)—