Historical information

At the end of January 1942 there was only about 250 men left in Wau, as the women and children had been evacuated by air a little earlier. With no planes to take the men they had to make their own way to Port Moresby and then travel by ship to Australia. Some men went down to Salamaua and made their way along the north coast, but small groups also made their way over the Owen Stanley Ranges; rafting down the Lakekamu RIver to Yule Island and by boat to Port Moresby. Donor Vanessa Kiessling's Father was part of the second group, and had drawn a detailed map of their route. This might be the same route taken by Rev. Willi Hertle (Ref C0750)

Physical description

Photocopy of New Guinea map showing escape route

Inscriptions & markings

Plan of surveyed route from Edie Creek to Bulldog Drome