The Bismarck Sea Battle—1 March 1943 (continued)

Milne Bay itself was used extensively by the Allies for shipping. American, British and Australian naval units often harboured there; US Liberty ships plied to the vast US naval supply base at Gamadodo across the water from the RAAF unit. We drew our rations from this base. Native lakatoi were usually seen in all weathers. The depth of the waters ranged from long shelving sandy shallows down to many fathoms. It was fascinating to see and catch such an amazing variety offish, notably enormous sharks. When the weather came down the bay was dangerous as squalls whipped up huge waves, particularly across stretches of five or more miles studded with small islands, treacherous reefs and niggerheads. There was a regular call for weather reports from Gamadodo, and from ships coming and going.

Whilst OIC of the meteorological section at Milne Bay, I was also amenities officer for the unit—43 Operational Base Unit. One of my tasks was to collect money from all personnel, change it into US currency, and take several blitz buggies through the jungle around the margin of the Bay to Gamadodo. There at the PX store, I would buy cases of cigarettes, tobacco and cartons of beer for the troops. Cigarettes such as Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Camel and Chesterfield were twenty for threepence—a carton often packets for two shillings and sixpence; tobacco including Kicking Horse chew and spit variety was about two shillings a pound; beer cost twelve shillings for twenty four cans. The CO of the base, a naval captain in rank, was a likeable, friendly man. In civilian life he had been a businessman, and had been more or less conscripted to run the affairs of the vast supply base which was the largest of its kind in the South-West Pacific. I became very friendly with him and had the run of the base. Indeed, this was the typical manner in which most Australians were made welcome by their Allies from across the Pacific Ocean. The supply base carried almost everything from toothpaste to engines for Flying Fortresses, from candy bars to trucks and cars, clothing, medicines, toilet necessities, typewriters, artillery, ammunition and stationery—in fact, like Harrod's in London—'everything from a pin to an elephant'. All goods were of top quality because the US military authorities rejected anything with the slightest fault. I remember wearing a pair of US naval officers' shorts, costing ten shillings, for about ten years after the war. On one occasion, I was intrigued when I saw a US officer purchase two condoms—this in a situation where the normal use for them seemed a remote possibility. He explained that they were excellent as containers for his fountain pens, protecting them from becoming mildewed in the insidious climate.

Bureau of Meteorology