“Milne Bay, New Guinea. March 1942. Four men on board the launch “Mascot” at the jetty ready to leave for New Britain. The mission lead by PX176 Lieutenant (Lt) Alan T Timperley, Papua Administrative Unit, also included Sergeant (Sgt) JH Marsh [no relation to David Mars]) and Corporal (Cpl) Dave Neil from the Fortress Signals Unit Port Morseby, Corporal (Cpl) Sari, and Private Ovi, Papua New Guinea Constabulary, and the engine boy Bobbie. They sailed via the Trobriand Islands to Palmalmal Plantation where they made contact with the survivors from Rabaul, and set up a radio link with Port Moresby, which resulted in 156 soldiers and civilians being evacuated by HMAS ‘Laurabada’ which had been escorted on its trip north by a screen of aircraft, on 10 April 1942. The party returned to Milne Bay and Sgt JH Marsh and Cpl Neil then sailed the ‘Mascot’ to Port Moresby. Left to right: Sgt Marsh, Cpl Neil, Lt Timperley, and Cpl Sari. (Donor JH Marsh).”

 

A more detailed description of the heroic mission can be sourced from the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia Inc’s article “Timperley’s rescue voyage” at pngaa.net/Library/Timperley.htm which reproduces an article with permission from Clive Baker and the War Book Shop which was first published in Milne Bay 1942 and which is summarised below.

 

Timperley's group made their way to the plantation residence and advised Lt Fisher there that they had crossed to New Britain from Papua. Inside the house were found two weak sick men.

 

The local Catholic Priest, Father Harris, had been looking after many Australians in his local area.

The food carried from Milne Bay by the Timperley group helped  improve the condition of many of men but some were too ill and died while they waited.

 

Evacuees included two women, Mrs Yencke and Mrs Watterman with her four children, all of whom had escaped the Japanese invasion. Major Owen was one of those rescued, only tragically to be killed at Kokoda shortly after while leading the 39 Battalion against the Japanese. Father Harris would not leave with the party, and was left behind with his fellow church worker, Brother Brennan. Harris explained that he came there to tell them what Christianity means. He felt that if he deserted them when they were in trouble, he could never return and preach Christianity again.

 

Father Harris continued to assist troops and downed aircrew until late 1943, when he was tragically executed by Japanese marines.

 

Timperley and his men started their slower return journey south. The faster ‘Laurabada’ soon passed them and steamed out of sight. Despite fierce storms and a 41-hour journey, the brave men aboard ‘Mascot’ arrived back at Gili Gili on 14 April, 1942 having travelled over 1,000 miles. In an understatement of their achievement, Timperley finished his report:

 

… we left, feeling that we had done our job and that our results were much greater than we had anticipated.

 

After Timperley’s rescue trip, other brave men crossed to New Britain in small boats saving more of the Rabaul Garrison men.

 

Timperley received a Commendation from General Blamey and today the provincial Capital of Alotau has a street named after him. 

 

Alan Timperley was again in danger in 1953 when he was a District Commissioner and travelled to the Telefomin area to report on the 6 November 1953 massacre murders of Patrol Officer Gerald Szarka, Cadet Patrol Officer Geoffrey Harris, Constable Buritori, and Constable Purari.