Signed studio group portrait of four officers from Lark Force of the Rabaul Garrison. Identified, ...

Signed studio group portrait of four officers from Lark Force of the Rabaul Garrison. Identified, left to right, back row: Major (Maj) Edward Charles Palmer, 2/10 Field Ambulance, of Coolgardie, WA and Captain (Capt) Christopher Ernest Goodman, 2/22 Battalion, of Bairnsdale, Vic. Front row: Lieutenant David Mayer Selby, commanding officer of Anti Aircraft Battery Rabaul, of Melbourne, Vic and Maj William Taylor (Bill) Owen, 2/22 Battalion, of Nagambie, Vic. This photograph was taken after the men were evacuated from Rabaul after hiding out there for some time. Note the men are all wearing beards as they were all evaders who managed to get back from Rabaul to Australia via Port Morseby, following the Fall of Rabaul on 23 January 1942. Maj Palmer served with 2/10 Field Ambulance as a Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) until 1946. He was awarded OBE in 1943 for distinguished and exceptional service in South West Pacific. Major Owen who was promoted to Lt Col in 1942 with 2/39 Battalion was killed 29 July 1942 on the Kokoda Trail, New Guinea aged 37 years. Lt Col Owen was taking part in close fighting with the Japanese on the Kokoda trail, in the most forward position at the most threatened point in Seekamp's sector, on the very lip of the plateau. He was throwing grenades when a bullet struck him. On 23 November 1944 Lt Col Owen was posthumously awarded an American Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for gallant and distinguished service in the South West Pacific area. He was the first Australian to receive this award.