| Accession Number | P02651.003 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white, Landscape |
| Physical description | Black & white, Landscape |
| Date made | 1945 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Cape Wom, New Guinea. 1945. Crosses mark the graves of six Australian soldiers who were killed on ...
Description
Cape Wom, New Guinea. 1945. Crosses mark the graves of six Australian soldiers who were killed on 7 May 1945, from left to right: possibly WX21817 Private (Pte) G. W. Bordoni 2/1st Guard Regiment; WX208 Pte J. McVeigh, 2/1st Guard Regiment; VX48004 Pte C. Summers, 2/1st Guard Regiment; NX51510 Gunner R. Seabrook, 2/1st Field Regiment (Fd Regt), Royal Australian Artillery (RAA); NX143196 Sergeant D. F. Rixon, 2/1st Fd Regt, RAA; and NX71583 Bombardier N. A. Marks, 2/1st Fd Regt, RAA. These soldiers were amongst thirty-two Australians killed or wounded when nine Lockheed P38 Lightning aircraft of the United States Air Force dive-bombed and strafed the area in error. Their mission was to attack Wewak but they strafed Cape Wom, next headland to the west, where the Australian artillery were positioned with the 19th Brigade headquarters. The troops did not take cover from the easily recognised friendly aircraft and were fully exposed to the effects of their mistaken but deadly fire. Twenty-one soldiers of the 2/1st Fd Regt were casualties, six of whom, died. (Donor E. Walshe)