FINSCHHAFEN, NEW GUINEA, 1943-10-28. WHEN TWO PLATOONS OF "C" COMPANY, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN PIONEER ...

FINSCHHAFEN, NEW GUINEA, 1943-10-28. WHEN TWO PLATOONS OF "C" COMPANY, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN PIONEER BATTALION WERE CUT OFF NORTH WEST OF KATIKA FOR SIX DAYS, PILOTS OF NO. 4 SQUADRON (ARMY COOPERATION) RAAF, DROPPED SUPPLIES AND AMMUNITION, AND KEPT THE UNIT INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE. BESIDES KILLING AT LEAST THIRTY JAPANESE, THE PIONEERS CAPTURED VALUABLE DOCUMENTS AND THREE JAPANESE SWORDS. THESE SWORDS WERE PRESENTED TO NO. 4 SQUADRON BY "C" COMPANY IN GRATITUDE FOR SERVICES RENDERED. THE PRESENTATION WAS MADE ON THE FINSCHHAFEN AIRSTRIP. MEMBERS OF "C" COMPANY, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN PIONEER BATTALION RELATING THEIR EXPERIENCES TO 20326 FLYING OFFICER D.E. BEGG (1) OF NO. 4 SQUADRON RAAF, ATTACHED TO HQ 9TH DIVISION. ALSO SEEN ARE:- NX88616 PRIVATE W. MEGAHEY (4); NX21117 PRIVATE R.B. WILSON (5); NX51657 PRIVATE J.G. NEWELL (6); NX88352 PRIVATE R.J. LOVELL (8); NX34649 LANCE CORPORAL L.A.M. MARRIOTT (9); NX27241 PRIVATE A.L. CROSS (10).