Aussies remember fallen WW2 soldiers

A COMMEMORATION service has been held in Sanananda, Northern, to remember the 180 Australian soldiers who were left wounded, killed or missing in the area during World War 2.
The Australian High Commissioner and the Head of Australian Defence staff in PNG joined the local community to unveil a plaque commemorating Australia’s 55/53 battalion who fought in the area between Nov 1942 and Jan 1943.
The delegation also travelled to Buna for a tour of WW2.
The service was attended by 21 relatives and descendants of the “Mice of Moresby”.
They were also joined by members of the local community, including Ananias Mongagi and his son Frank.
Mongagi had a unique history with Australia, as he was present at the initial unveiling of a plaque in 1973, when a group of veterans from the 55/53 Battalion came to Northern to remember their fallen brothers.
They were led by Frank Budden, who had served as an officer during the war. Ananias was so affected by his experience at the service that he named his unborn son Frank, in honour of Budden.
Australia’s friendship with Papua New Guinea was built on people to people links, and the story of the 55/53 Battalion and Ananias and Frank in a small village in Northern was one of so many stories of the connections between the countries.
The tour was supported by David Howell, Kokoda Historical cofounder, guide and historian, and the descendants group was led by Rob Denny, president of the Mice of Moresby association.