SH14 SURGERY DURING WORLD WAR II IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA – THE WAR ON BOUGAINVILLE

Abstract

Rabaul fell to the Japanese in January 1942. This resulted in a communications failure and a controversial, self‐ evacuation of 15 Bougainville residents aboard the MV Bilua. The evacuees included the medical officer AV Price. The only other doctor, the German‐born, Dr Bruno Kroening, remained on the island, though he had not practiced since WWI.The Japanese did not occupy Bougainville (unopposed) until July 1942 whereupon they established a significant military base at Kieta housing the 17th Division of the 8th Army Corps under Lt Gen Haruyoshi Hyakutake. The 8th Fleet HQ set up at Buin in 1943. Admiral Yamamoto and his Chief of Staff, Admiral Ugaki, were shot down in April 1943 during a visit to boost the morale of the troops. Ugaki was rescued, his severed artery tied, and he lived on to become the last kamikaze pilot of WWII.On November 1st 1943 the US Marines landed at Cape Torokina and established a beachhead. They held on despite a number of Japanese counter attacks. The 21st Evacuation Hospital (Okalahoma University) managed US casualties. A prospective study of wounds was conducted during February to April 1944 and its major findings will be summarised.From November 1944 Australian Divisions relieved the Americans and continued the recapture of the island. During this campaign Brigadier Alec Dawkins (FRACS 1935) was DDMS in Bougainville. At the Australian General Hospital, the surgical division was commanded by Lt‐Col J O Smith.