From this Saturday through to next Thursday a series of events on Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands will be held to mark the 75th anniversary of one of the most important battles of World War Two.
The Battle of Guadalcanal, one of the most costly in the Pacific, was one of the first successes for the Americans and their allies in combatting the advance of the Japanese.
There will be a significant international presence, particularly from the United States, but also from Australia and New Zealand.
One local group also taking part is the Solomons Scouts and Coastwatchers Trust, which has been working for some years to have their contribution to the war effort recognised.
A spokesman for the Trust, Sir Bruce Saunders, told Don Wiseman about the role the scouts and coastwatchers played.
Marines rest in the field on Guadalcanal.
Photo: WikiCommons
Transcript
SIR BRUCE SAUNDERS: On our monument that's been called Pride of Our Nation are the words from Admiral Halsey, which say if it wasn't for the Solomons Scouts and Coastwatchers there would be no Guadalcanal and if there is no Guadalcanal there would have been no victory in the Pacific. And another way I put it, they played a role that was significant in giving advance warning tot he beleaguered group trying to hold on to Henderson Field and they had two or three hours before the bombers and things came down. And it was all that information and they provided a network throughout the islands, for safety, picking up people like John F Kennedy, saving him - and this is one that everyone knows but there are many incidents like that. I put it this way. In 1942 Solomon Islands provided a football field. Japan came in and American - they were the two teams - and the umpires and linesmen were the Solomons Scouts and Coastwatchers. You can't have a game without either and that's the role that they played. They played a significant role in that and if it wasn't for them the Americans wouldn't have survived.
DON WISEMAN: Were they mostly locals?
BS: The Solomon Islanders were known as Solomons Scouts and the Coastwatchers were British members of the colonial service at the time and the coastwatchers organisation was set up by the Royal Australian Navy in the late 20s, 1929 or so, because Australia had realised they were vulnerable, having no eyes and earsd and they set up a coastwatcher organisation, using two way radios as they were at the time and when the British left there were about 24 of these coastwatchers, including one woman in the eastern Solomons. And they were then cared for and nurtured by the Solomons Scouts themselves, taken up and hidden. They were never betrayed and then the Solomons Scouts performed scouting for information and also saving downed airmen and seamen.
DW: Now as part of the five day commemorations there is going to be presentation to one of the original scouts - he's still alive.
BS: Yes he will be honoured at the service. The American's have the commandant of the US Marines worldwide and then we have also the commander of the 1st Marine Division arriving for a day for the event on the 7th. The main events are at the Skyline Ridge, the US Memorial and then at the Solomons' Scouts Memorial in the centre of Honiara.
DW: What is the nature of the award?
BS: After the monument was built the Australia realised it had never in any way acknowledged the services of the Solomons Scouts and all the Coastwatchers. So Senator Feeney, the Minister of Defence at the time, and it was throughm his initiative that they then struck 500 medallions saying for the services of Solomons Scouts and Coastwatchers. Over the last 3 or 4 years that we have had the medal we have been able to give it to half a dozen Solomons Scouts but they have all passed on but this is a rare find to have another one be available at this time.
DW: This man is 110 years old.
BS: Correct.
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