Martyrs of New Guinea, 1942

September 2nd is the occasion in the worldwide Anglican Communion to observe the faith and martyrdom of several Christians who were executed in August and September 1942 by Japanese forces invading New Guinea, which was at the time a territory of Australia. Anglican priests and teachers--men and women--were encouraged to evacuate in advance of the invasion, but they chose instead to remain in their positions, aiding those who were left behind. Two of the teachers, Lucien Tapiedi and Leslie Gariardi, were native New Guineans; the rest were either Australian missionaries or citizens of the Motherland.

Henry Matthews was Rector of St. Moresby, and refused to leave when other Australians were being evacuated, insisting that his pastoral responsibilities lay not only with his fellow Australians, but with the indigenous people who were to be left behind, and as the Japanese forces were advancing on his parish, he led a group of his flock to flee along the coastline further south. His boat was strafed until it sank, and then pilots continued to fire upon those still alive in the water until all but one was killed.

Another priest, Vivien Redlich, chose to remain with the people among whom he served for several years as well. He had been on holiday, resting for a time in Dogura, before returning to his parish in Buna. On the way back to Buna by boat, he spotted several Japanese ships, and he could have returned to Dogura safely, but chose instead to slip through the jungle between Japanese camps to return to Buna where he continued to serve. He wrote a letter to his father a few weeks before his death (the letter is now in the archives of St. Paul's Cathedral in London). He wrote: "I’m trying to stick whatever happens. If I don’t come out of it just rest content that I’ve tried to do my job faithfully." On a Sunday in late August 1942. He was alerted that the Japanese had been informed of his whereabouts, and he was encouraged to flee. He refused, saying with a resolved peace about him: "This is the Lord's Day, and I shall celebrate the Mass for the people as planned."*

There are times, it seems to me, when the faithful response comes as a clear and convicted peace, even when it flies in the face of all that is reasonable. For the martyrs of New Guinea, for the faithful throughout all generations, and for the marvelous peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, I give thanks this day.



* as documented by eyewitnesses and recorded in The Seed of the Church, Errol Hodge, Australain Board of Missions, Sydney 1992. page 17