THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
117/2009
AUSTRALIAN DIGGERS LAID TO REST
IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, paid tribute to
fallen Second World War diggers who were laid to rest at Bomana War Cemetery in
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea earlier today.
The families of Lance Sergeant James Garrard Wheeler and Lieutenant Talbot
Logan were present as the remains of their loved ones and two unknown Australian
soldiers were buried with full military honours.
“This is a time to remember the courage of these men, and recognise the
considerable grief their loss has caused their families – both then and now,” said Mr
Combet.
“The men were laid to rest at Bomana alongside more than 3300 of their comrades
who also died during the Pacific campaigns of the Second World War.”
“Australia owes a debt of gratitude to all 39,000 servicemen and women who died
during the Second World War, and today’s military funeral is an appropriate way to
commemorate the service and sacrifice of these diggers, and provide some comfort
to the loved ones they left behind.”
The identified men were killed in separate incidents that occurred exactly one month
apart – the first on 1 December 1942.
“Lance Sergeant Wheeler was killed 67 years ago today while attempting to reach an
injured comrade during the US Army 126th Regiment’s fight around Huggins Road
Block on the Soputa/Sanananda Track,” Mr Combet said.
“Lieutenant Logan was in command of 9 Platoon when he was killed on 1 January
1943 by a Japanese sniper during the 2/12th Battalion’s attack on Giropa Point at
Buna.”
The Australian Army provided an honour guard at the ceremony which was also
attended by the Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Paul Symon. Members of the
Australian Federation Guard fired volleys over the graves and a lone bugler played
the Last Post.
The soldier’s remains were recovered from battlefields around Buna, Sanananda and
Popondetta. An Army investigation team positively identified two sets of remains,
and those unidentified have been buried under a headstone marked ‘Known Unto
God’.
Media note:
Imagery will be available at www.defence.gov.au/media/download later today
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
www.defence.gov.au
FURTHER BACKGROUND
For more information on Australian service in Papua New Guinea during the
Second World War visit www.ww2australia.gov.au/beachheads/.
Lance Sergeant James Wheeler
James Wheeler was born on 29 August 1919 in Narrabri. He completed his
senior education at The Armidale School (TAS) from 1932 to 1937 where he was
an outstanding sportsman – Captain of the School Rugby 15, Junior Fencing
Champion, member of the First 11, Sgt. in GPS Cadet Corps, Senior Prefect and
a good marksman. After leaving school he joined the Bank of New South Wales
in Mungindi and was employed as a bank clerk.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Australian Army (2nd AIF) on 26 Oct
1939. After enlistment he was taken on strength of the 2/1st Field Regiment,
Royal Australian Artillery, (6th Division) on 9 November 1939 and embarked as
part of the first Australian convoy to the Middle East in January 1940. Gunner
Wheeler arrived at Kantara, Egypt in February 1940 and his regiment undertook
intensive training in Palestine. At that time, he undertook signaller training and
after receiving his signaller qualification was promoted to Bombardier in March
1940. From early December 1940 through to March 1941, 2/1st Field Regiment
was involved in the Australian advance against Italian forces in North Africa. The
regiment fought at Bardia, Tobruk, Derna, Barce and Benghazi before proceeding
to Greece in March /April 1941. in the withdrawal from Greece, James was
among those evacuated to Egypt. Bombardier Wheeler was promoted to Lance
Sergeant in August 1941.
Lance Sergeant Wheeler embarked with his unit in March 1942 but it did not
directly return to Australia. On 5 April 1942, Colombo in Ceylon was attacked by
Japanese carrier borne aircraft and two Australian brigades remained in Ceylon
for some months. The regiment arrived home in early August 1942. His homestay was very short and he embarked for Port Moresby on 15 August 1942. The
regiment was responsible the artillery defence of the city and came under the
command of Commander Corps of Royal Artillery - New Guinea Force. Two
troops of artillery were trained to be ‘air portable’. James was deployed at short
notice with ‘Blackforce’ commanded by Major A.G. Hanson to Popondetta where
he, along with his Forward Observer, Lieutenant Alfred Daniels, were placed in
support of United States Army 'I’ Company, 126th Infantry Regiment.
The role of the two-man Forward Observer party was to direct the Artillery onto
the enemy. The nature of the jungle meant they had to accompany the American
forward fighting patrols as it was not possible to give adequate support to the
attacking infantry from the American infantry base in the rear.
It was during the 126th Regiment’s fighting around Huggins Road Block on the
Soputa/ Sanananda Track that 23 year old Lance Sergeant Wheeler was killed.
He was making a gallant attempt to reach Lieutenant Daniels who had been
mortally wounded by enemy fire. It was 1 December 1942. Lieutenant Daniels is
also buried at Bomana.
Lieutenant Talbot Timothy (Tim) Logan
Tim Logan was born in Kyambu, Kenya on 10 February 1913. He later spent time
in England before travelling to Australia where he enlisted in the Australian Army
(2nd AIF) on 20 Oct 1939 at the age of 26.
At the time of enlistment he was working as a stockman and living near
Maxwelton, Queensland. After initial training he was taken on strength of the
2/12th Infantry Battalion in December 1939. He was promoted to corporal in
January 1940 prior to the battalion sailing for the Middle East on 5 May 1940. En
route, the battalion was diverted to the Scotland and sent by rail to Salisbury
Plains (Colchester) to undertake rigorous training in preparation for the German
invasion of Britain that did not eventuate. The Australians embarked for Egypt in
November 1940. During the voyage, which sailed via the Cape of Good Hope,
Tim Logan was promoted and arrived in Egypt on 31 December 1940 as a Lance
Sergeant. He was again quickly promoted, this time to Warrant Officer Class Two
in February 1941. From April to June, Warrant Officer Logan participated in the
defence of Tobruk, before being withdrawn to attend officer training school. At the
conclusion of this training he was promoted to Lieutenant on 19 October 1941.
Lieutenant Logan marched into the 18th Training Battalion in October 1941,
eventually rejoining his old Battalion, 2/12th Battalion, just prior to it sailing to
Australia from Suez in February 1942. Prior to leaving Australia in 1940, Tim
Logan married Lorne Daisy Mabel Deacon and he was reunited with her after the
battalion arrived back in Australia in March 1942. Lieutenant Logan embarked for
New Guinea in Aug 1942 and arrived at Milne Bay where the 2/12th Battalion
mounted a successful counter-attack against Japanese invasion forces between
August and September. After occupying Goodenough Island between 22 October
and 28 December, the 2/12th Battalion deployed to Buna to ‘add weight’ to the
Australian attack on Buna. It was during the 2/12th Battalion’s attack on Giropa
Point at Buna that Lieutenant Tim Logan, in command of 9 Platoon, was killed by
a Japanese sniper just short of the beach between the mouth of the Simema
Creek and Giropa Point. His official appointment was Second-in-Command of ‘A’
Company, but due to the shortage of officers, he readily volunteered to command
9 Platoon in this extremely important attack against a well defended Japanese
position. Tim was shot and killed at 0851 hours on the 1 Jan 1943; he was 29
years old.
Tim Logan was survived by his wife Lorne who died in 1987 and their son Fred
who is married to Neola and lives near Bribie Island Queensland.