Six WWII Solomon Islander Soldiers Identified After 80 Years
Six Solomon Islander men who served in Australia's Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit during World War II have been identified after more than 80 years. The men, who crewed the unit's patrol boat, served for two years before returning home without veteran benefits or official recognition.
"I think these men kind of fell between the cracks, because they were Solomon Islanders, but serving as Australian soldiers."
— Major Michael Jones
The Unit's Mission and Composition
During World War II, with Japanese forces attacking northern Australian towns, the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit was formed. Its mission was to patrol the Arnhem Land coast and intercept any foreign troops who made it ashore.
Anthropologist Donald Thomson led the unit and prioritized recruiting senior Yolngu warriors from Aboriginal clans. The unit primarily consisted of these warriors, who used traditional weapons and methods, valued for their expertise in guerrilla warfare and deep knowledge of the terrain. The Solomon Islander soldiers were specifically recruited to crew the unit's patrol boat.
The Search for Identities
Research began a year ago with just five faded army photographs and limited information. A call was placed in Solomon Islands media asking if anyone recognized the men.
Five of the six soldiers have now been identified, and their families have been contacted. Some family members were unaware their relatives had served in the Australian Army. One soldier, listed as Private Tausia, remains unidentified as his photograph is missing from military records.
"We didn't realise he'd served in the Australian Army, and now it feels like something we need to dig out and understand before our elders pass on."
— Hilda Rade Kamatarena, granddaughter of identified soldier Edwin Richardson
Legacy and Lack of Recognition
The unit was disbanded in May 1943 as the battlefront moved away from Australia. The Solomon Islander soldiers returned home and were not included in commemorations or granted veteran benefits.
Solomon Islands High Commissioner Robert Sisilo noted the soldiers were underpaid according to the racial pay scales of the time. In the 1990s, Aboriginal soldiers from the same unit received retrospective medals and back-pay compensation for underpayment. It is not yet known if similar compensation will be offered to the Solomon Islander soldiers' families.
"The men are well-remembered among Yolngu families, but that's about it."
— Major Samuel White, Australian War Memorial researcher
Looking Forward
Today, efforts are underway to honour this history. Family members of Edwin Richardson are seeking to erect a memorial at his suspected gravesite in Honiara. Yolngu elder Tommy Munyarryun has extended an invitation for Solomon Islander families to visit Arnhem Land.
Photographs of the unit that had not been made public are now being shared with the families. Research continues to identify the sixth soldier and to fully document the history of this unique wartime unit.