WEWAK to Wewak
15 November 2009
By SBLT Tim Dunstan
On the 15 Nov 09, HMAS Wewak (LEUT Rob Smilie), returned to her namesake city Wewak, Papua New Guinea.
Wewak departed Cairns for Papua New Guinea on 23 Oct 09 and after port visits to Alotau and Madang, Wewak proceeded to Manus Island for EX Paradise. For six days from 6 to 12 November, Wollongong and Wewak participated in Paradise with Ships Rabaul and Seeadler along with members of MWV-STG, led by CMDR Hielscher.
Wewak was officially welcomed to Wewak by Officers and Soldiers of the locally based Army regiment, on Sunday 15 November.
The name Wewak, was inherited from the village in the North of Papua New Guinea made rich in history by the many battles held there in WWII. In 1944, a 35,000 strong Japanese Army controlled the area around Wewak with the only Allied force being an American Garrison at Aitape. In October of 1944 the Australian Sixth Division relieved the Americans. By December, the Australians had advanced eastwards along the coast and on 11 May 45, Wewak was captured.
On the same day the RAN, comprising a frigate group designated ‘Wewak Force’, landed an amphibious force as part of OP Deluge at Dove Bay, 15 miles east of Wewak, to prevent the Japanese escaping. The Japanese, however, escaped south and although isolated and starving continued to fight the Australians and a Battalion of New Guineans until the end of the war five months later. Throughout the campaign, 442 Australian soldiers and 23,000 Japanese soldiers died. The name Wewak commemorates this successful amphibious operation and is reflective of the nature of work carried out by Landing Craft Heavy.
On Tuesday 17 November 09, Wewak’s ships company visited Wom War Memorial in Wewak which is dedicated to the Australian, American, Indian and Papua New Guinean personnel who died in the conflict near Dove Bay. The memorial consists of two rows of coconut trees with a commemorative plaque for soldiers who died in the conflict at the base of each tree.
"It is an honour to visit Wewak as it is a significant part of the RAN’s amphibious history and every member of the crew was moved as they read through commemorative plaques dedicated to young Australians killed in action around Wewak," said LEUT Smilie.
