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Paul YAUWIGA was a highly regarded New Guinea Police Sergeant from East Sepik Province.
1942: He performed vital work coastwatching on New Britain and Bougainville.
In 1943-44 he assisted US Marines in the Solomons & w/ US Navy on PT boats at Milne Bay, Lae & Manus.
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Paul YAUWIGA was a highly regarded New Guinea Police Sergeant from East Sepik Province.
1942: He performed vital work coastwatching on New Britain and Bougainville.
In 1943-44 he assisted US Marines in the Solomons & w/ US Navy on PT boats at Milne Bay, Lae & Manus.
Oct 1943 Guadalcanal: Lt Cdr Pryce-Jones, Intelligence Officer, Naval Intelligence Division, R.A.N. (responsible for Coastwatchers), presents the Loyal Services Medal to Sergeant Yauwiga.
He was credited for showing remarkable bravery and his positive influence on local people.
He was credited for showing remarkable bravery and his positive influence on local people.
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His great skills resulted in him being flown to Queensland to teach Australian troops jungle survival skills.
Nov 1944: attached to M Special Unit he returned to Bougainville to guide the 3rd Marines at Torokina beachhead.
Note Yauwiga’s sergeant’s chevrons attached to his arm.
His great skills resulted in him being flown to Queensland to teach Australian troops jungle survival skills.
Nov 1944: attached to M Special Unit he returned to Bougainville to guide the 3rd Marines at Torokina beachhead.
Note Yauwiga’s sergeant’s chevrons attached to his arm.
On Bougainville he operated far behind enemy lines.
In 1945 Yauwiga was in a hidden camp when 80 locally-guided Japanese stealthily advanced.
He noticed their approach and enabled his group to escape with essential equipment.
Then with 2 others, he killed 25 Japanese in 15 mins.
In 1945 Yauwiga was in a hidden camp when 80 locally-guided Japanese stealthily advanced.
He noticed their approach and enabled his group to escape with essential equipment.
Then with 2 others, he killed 25 Japanese in 15 mins.
Yauwiga then spread false rumours that the collaborator, Konkon, with his group, had deliberately led those Japanese into an ambush.
So...the Japanese killed ten of their own leading spies.
He arrested another 30 men, thus destroying the Japanese spy network across Bougainville.
So...the Japanese killed ten of their own leading spies.
He arrested another 30 men, thus destroying the Japanese spy network across Bougainville.
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In 17 months he killed 57 enemy troops.
June 1945: in jungle, he pulled the pin out of a phosphorous signal grenade. It exploded.
No one had shown him how to use it.
Yauwiga lost a hand and both eyes.
He was evacuated & flown to Australia for emergency cornea transplant op.
In 17 months he killed 57 enemy troops.
June 1945: in jungle, he pulled the pin out of a phosphorous signal grenade. It exploded.
No one had shown him how to use it.
Yauwiga lost a hand and both eyes.
He was evacuated & flown to Australia for emergency cornea transplant op.
He spent three months in Australian hospitals.
One cornea transplant succeeded.
His new eye was Australian – so he became the only New Guinean with a blue eye.
In 1948 he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, on top of his many other awards for his fine service and gallantry.
One cornea transplant succeeded.
His new eye was Australian – so he became the only New Guinean with a blue eye.
In 1948 he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, on top of his many other awards for his fine service and gallantry.
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The DCM ceremony was witnessed by 80,000 of his people & officials from all over the Sepik.
Yauwiga was more than a war hero to them.
He was a great community leader.
The school he helped to found at Boram produced Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare.
The DCM ceremony was witnessed by 80,000 of his people & officials from all over the Sepik.
Yauwiga was more than a war hero to them.
He was a great community leader.
The school he helped to found at Boram produced Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare.
