The Bogadjim road and Minjim River near Yaula

Place Oceania: New Guinea1, Huon Peninsula, Ramu River Finisterre Ranges Area, Ramu Bogadjim Area, Yaula
Accession Number ART28223
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 24.2 x 37.2 cm
Object type Work on paper
Physical description pencil on paper
Maker Belcher, Douglas Leonard
Place made New Guinea1
Date made 2 April 1944
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Description

A view of a valley near Yaula, with Bogadjim Road and Minjim river depicted running through it. Narrow tree trunks can be seen in the foreground on the left, drawn in a manner reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints. The artist noted that the stretch of road visible in this scene was ambushed and several troops from the 15th Infantry Brigade were killed just prior to this drawing being made.

Sergeant Belcher, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps attached to Royal Australian Engineers, was able to obtain leave from his unit and moved between the Ramu Valley and the coast along to Yaula and Mindjim Rivers towards Bogadjim, sketching and recording something of the area's activities during the Second World War.