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Intriguing story of a well-travelled cheque

BY ROD MILLER

Cheque 
ONE OF THE MOST intriguing pieces of memorabilia items I had seen during my years of research into the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in 1942 is a cheque, hand-written by Major Leslie H Lannan of the 2/22nd Battalion.

There seems to be little information about Major Lannan’s escape after the Japanese invasion of Rabaul, but a translated Japanese diary noted his arrival at Vunapope mission after being captured on 5 April 1942.

I assume that along with this group of hungry and tired men he arrived at Induna Seventh Day Adventist Mission on 31 March 1942. Food was a problem for the escaping troops. Although the New Britain natives at first welcomed the troops, offering food and shelter, the sheer numbers passing through soon meant that gardens were depleted and food resources severely strained.

In a note with the cheque Leslie wrote that he had paid Denny, who was probably the boss boy of the mission, for the food including a goat and vegetables. Somehow the natives at the mission had preserved the cheque for the three and a half years of Japanese occupation and then presented it at the Turramurra branch of the Bank of New South Wales on Sydney’s North Shore.

From there it was forwarded to the Melbourne Stock Exchange branch on which it had been written. It is not known how the cheque was returned to Leslie, but such a cheque would have been a curiosity, so it is not unlikely that Leslie received a call from his bank manager and retrieved the cheque as a souvenir.

But how did this cheque get to Australia in 1946? Research into wartime Rabaul often reveals answers to such questions in the most unusual places. The mystery of this cheque’s arrival in Australia was no exception.

Whilst reading Tokyo Calling – the Charles Cousens Case, I was intrigued by the fact that the Australian government had paid for a Niesi Japanese, Hiroshi Niino, to come to Australia to testify against Charles Cousens, who was being tried for treason for broadcasting for the Japanese from Radio Tokyo during the war.

Although it would seem Niino had very little to do with Cousens in Japan, he had acted as a civilian interpreter with the Japanese army in Rabaul. Author Ivan Chapman noted that “At a small town near Sydney, Niino met a former POW who wanted to know the whereabouts of other Australian troops captured by the Japanese at Rabaul.”

This link to a former Rabaul POW intrigued me so I started to research Niino. I discovered that the ex POW who had interviewed Niino was Gordon Thomas, the former editor of The Rabaul Times. Knowing Niino had been in Rabaul, Thomas had suggested to the authorities that he be interviewed in the hope that he might be able to provide further information about the fate of missing civilians.

A hand-written note in Niino’s file reveals that Gordon Thomas also interviewed two indigenous New Guineans who, with four others, had been brought to Australia to sail the Adventist Missions’ new lugger back to Rabaul. These men were staying at the Seventh Day Adventist Mission Union Conference centre in Wahroonga. The nearest Bank of New South Wales was the Turramurra branch.

Leslie noted that, although Denny had died from natural causes in 1943, his wife and children were returned to their former home on Buka Island and were granted a pension by the Australian government in recognition of the help Denny gave to escaping troops after the Japanese invasion.

Leslie noted that although Denny had died from natural causes in 1943, his wife and children were returned to their former home on Buka Island and were granted a pension by the Australian government in recognition of the help Denny gave to escaping troops after the Japanese invasion.

Comments

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Shelley Lannan Clark

My father Major Lesley Lannan 'wentbush' for a few weeks but was eventually captured by the Japanese as he had sick men in his group and he was concerned for their health. They were sent to Zentsuji Camp in Japan in 1942 on the Naruto Maru. His whereabouts were not known for several years until about 1946

Shelley Lannan Clark

Regarding the cheque written to Denny, I believe that the bank/stock exchange contacted the army and the cheque was returned to my father Major Lesley Lannan, I still have the original paper.

Rod Miller

Hi Anne - Please email me re the photographs.

[email protected]

Peter Kranz

Rod - I believe the Denny referred to here is Deni Mark written about here -

http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2011/02/the-intrepid-deni-mark-a-true-png-hero.html

So there are interesting twists to his story too!

Anne DeMuth

Not really a comment but a question.

Would you happen to know of anyone who could advise the value of a bound collection of military photos I have entitled 'Japan; The Occupation Years'?

My uncle's neighbour was a military photographer stationed in Japan from 1947-49 and had amassed a wonderful collection of period photos.

I feel it should go to someone who can appreciate the collection. It includes a few of McArthur, at least one of Hirohito and a few of his son.

Also included are photos of the 1947 earthquake, Mt Fujiami, Father Flanagan and the opening ceremonies for the Palace grounds (first opening to the public).

Just curious if you could be of any assistance.

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