WW2 Diggers killed in PNG identified

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by Martin Elliget, Nov 12, 2009.

  1. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    From the ABC website, the remains of two Australian soldiers killed in Papua New Guinea in WW2 have been identified - Lieutenant Talbot Tim Logan and Lance Sergeant James Garrard Wheeler:

    Diggers killed in PNG identified - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

    Logan was born in Kyambu, Kenya. Wheeler was a bank clerk from Narrabri, NSW.

    Logan's service record is not yet scanned.

    I believe this is Wheeler's service record:

    http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=4891812&I=1&SE=1

    Killed in action 1 Dec 1942 N.G.
    A reference to where he was buried is noted in his service record.

    R.I.P. boys.


    Martin
     
  2. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Martin,
    Thanks for that information.

    It must mean a great deal to the deceased families, even after all these years.

    R.I.P.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  3. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Thanks Martin,

    It must help to bring closure for the relatives.
     
  4. Pete Keane

    Pete Keane Senior Member

    Just finished reading a little about PNG, and watched the film Kokoda 29th Battalion. Bloody awful war, I think.

    I'm glad they are identified, RIP.
     
  5. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    I thought it curious that, for Lance Sergeant Wheeler at least, his grave seemed to be fairly well referenced in his service record (I think there was some sort of coordinate given and also reference to nearby roads) and yet here they are identifying him. I suppose they just lost track of the grave and any headstone or identifying marker placed in '42 had long since disappeared. Anyway, yes, nice to think that surviving relatives would get some closure after all these years.

    Martin
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Good news, keep us up to date when their remains are reburied in the CWGC Cemetery.
     
  7. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    Will do, Owen.

    Here are their CWGC details:

    CWGC :: Casualty Details
    LOGAN, TALBOT TIM, Lieutenant, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 2/12 Bn.
    Died 01/01/1943, age 30.
    Son of Edward Percival and Muriel Margueritta Logan; husband of Lorne Daisy Mabel Logan, of North Rockhampton, Queensland.

    CWGC :: Casualty Details
    WHEELER, JAMES GARRARD, Lance Sergeant, Royal Australian Artillery, A.I.F. 21/1 Fd. Regt.
    Died 01/12/1942, age 23.
    Son of Harold Charles Fearon Wheeler and Thelma Edith Wheeler, of Narrabri, New South Wales.
     
  8. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks for the info Martin. I had not heard any news on this.
     
  9. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    The remains of the two Australian diggers mentioned above, as well as two unidentified diggers, have been laid to rest in PNG.

    WWII diggers laid to rest in PNG - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

    Photos:

    Lance-Sergeant Jim Wheeler, one of the diggers lost in Papua New Guinea during WWII.
    http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200912/r479392_2432748.jpg

    Sombre affair: Helen Kirton places flowers on the coffin of her brother Lance Sergeant James Wheeler
    http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200912/r479401_2432954.jpg

    The diggers have been reburied alongside their fallen comrades at the Bomana War Cemetery.
    http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200912/r479387_2432710.jpg


    Rest in peace.
     

Share This Page