Additional information for Chapter 3 – A new chum in Papua, and Yodda, gold, rubber, and cattle

and Chapter 6 - Surviving the Japanese invasion

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The following information has been sourced from the PNGAA (Papua New Guinea Association of Australia) Vale March 1989 newsletter at pngaa.net/Vale/vale_mar89 which is summarised:

 

Alan Champion was the son of Herbert Champion and brother of Ivan Champion and Claude Champion.

 

Originally trained as a ships engineer in Australia, he joined an oil company in Papua in 1935 and then joined the Papuan Government Service as a Patrol Officer in 1936. Alan served as a Resident Magistrate at the Buna Government Station.

 

Alan wrote his unpublished memoirs ‘Eighty Three Years of Memories 1905 – 1988’.

 

During 1942, Alan aided the US crew of B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2446 (the "Swamp Ghost") by having them stay with him at Buna, and assisted them to attempt to walk over the Owen Stanley Mountains back to Port Moresby.  When that failed he arranged boat transport for them around the coast.

During the war he experienced Japanese air raids and the Japanese landing on the north coast.