Thursday 27th September.

75 Days to go.

Plaque and airstrip at Ballalae.














Well this morning at 0700 I found myself at Henderson Field, Honiara Airport. Eventually we set off at 0815 on a flight to get me to Taro on Choiseul Island. It is here that I am to join the Solomon Island Police Vessel, MV Jackpot. I am to team up with a platoon of NZ Army people to patrol the Northern coast of the Island and then return to Honiara. Duration of patrol, 7 days.

On the way I have 1 stop, not the 2 they told me prior to leaving, however this stop would be 2 hours long. The place we are stopping at is called Shortland Island. We land at Ballalae Airfield Ballalae is the next Island to Shortland. It is no longer inhabited. This airstrip was hacked out from the jungle while the island was occupied by the Japanese.

I choose these words carefully, it was not actually built by the Japanese. The Japanese took 600 men from Changi to Rabaul. Of these men, 517 went on to Ballalae. The remaining 83 were not fit enough to travel. It was these men who built the runway, along with some locals on the Island.

The men were from the Royal Artillery. Many died in atrocious conditions building the airstrip. Others died by friendly fire, as they were not allowed to dig trenches to protect themselves. This was considered wastefull as the men would not have strength left to build the runway.

As the Allies were closing in after their victories in the south of the Solomons, the Japanese massacred the remaining POWs before leaving the Island.

The Japanese reported that 600 British prisoners were killed when a vessel sank transporting them. The truth was not revealled until recently. The Australian Govt. sent people to the island and discovered several mass graves. Not all the men were found. They have been removed to a cemetry in New Guinea.

There are also some remains of Japanese aircraft on the Island. The photos will be attached soon.

We then boarded the plane after a 2 hour stay. Taro approached. I was met on arrival by Police and Army chaps and lead to my home for the next few days.

We then set sail to the village where the Patrol was and anchored for the night.