Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
    Bulolo Morobe Province Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Click For Enlargement
Justin Taylan 2003
Location
Lat 7° 12' 0S Long 146° 39' 0E  Bulolo is located in New Guinea. Borders the Bulolo River to the south and Wau to the southeast. Further to the southeast is Black Cat. Today, connected by a road northward to Mumeng and southward to Wau and the McAdam National Park to the west. Today located in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Prewar
Bulolo was the center of dredging activity for the Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd., a company that operated eight dredges flown into the area from Lae Airfield aboard Junkers G.31 Trimotors. Gold dredging operation was in operation until January 21, 1942 when the threat of attack to the town was eminent.

Wartime History
When the Pacific War began, women and children were evacuated by Christmas of 1941, being flown to Port Moresby and Australia. Most men were part of the NGVR (New Guinea Volunteer Rifles) and participated in World War II.

Japanese missions against Bulolo
January 21, 1942–February 5, 1942

Destruction of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd. Facilities
Japanese aircraft bombed the gold field areas at intervals, and the company's machine shop was damaged by bombing, which set off demolition charges two days before the Japanese landing at Lae. After the Japanese landing at Lae, the power station were demolished in a 'scorched earth' policy, followed by the destruction of all houses, offices and stores in the town four months later in May 1942. The gold dredges were not destroyed, but were damaged by requisition of parts by Allied forces.

Bulolo Airfield
Built in 1930, attacked by the Japanese at the start of the war, disused today

Bulolo War Memorial
A small memorial was built in Bulolo's main camp to honor those former Bulolo Gold Dredging employees when served in the NGVR and regular Australian Army during the war, and were killed. Memorial services are observed each ANZAC day at the memorial. A small radial engine is displayed nearby, as well as wheels and buckets from the gold dredges. Photo by Justin Taylan 2003. The memorial plaque reads:

These men died that we might be free

Frank Anderson
Lenn Bayliss
Charley Duchatel
Jack Doran
Jack Goodwin
Tom Huxley
Cam Irvine
Dick Lapham
Harry Lumb
Bill McDonald
Souibbs O'Reilly
Perce McKee
Doug Phillips
Ron Smith
Frank Thomas
Phil Tuckey
Dick Vernon
Bryan Fraser
Bryan White
Noel McKenna

We Shall Remember Them

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
August 18, 2021

 

Map
Map
Fallingrain
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram