The Witu Island group is located to the north of New Britain, composed of Witu (Vitu), Garowe and Unea Islands. Thanks to Colin Richardson for additional information.

 

Witu Island (Vitu)
Lat 4° 40' 0S Long 149° 18' 0E Code-named "PHILLIE" by USN code.

Meto Plantation
Prewar plantation

75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft Guns
Three anti-aircraft guns over lookiing Meto Plantation house.

 

Garowe Island
Lat 4° 42' 0S Long 149° 30' 0E

On Garowe Island in the Witu Group of West New Britain, Meto plantation was served by a railway which dates from German times.. The plantation and trading station at Peterhafen was established by Captain Peter Hansen, a Forsayth trader, in the 1890’s. A railway line ran from a wharf at Peterhafen, through Meto plantation. It is believed there were several branches on a herring-bone pattern bringing the total length of the system to 4.5 km. The T-jetty had a rail line across the face with a "Y" joining this line to the line on the jetty. A section of the line was operational by 1909. Reports indicate that the railway was operated by oxen or buffalos. The line was subsequently extended to Ilia plantation (Chapter 4). In 1927, the Australian Minister for Territories, Hon. CW Marr, visited Garove Island on the SY Franklin.

Narage Island
Lat 4° 32' 60S Long 149° 7' 0E

Peterhafen
Harbor with WWII wrecks.

Japanese Patrol Boat

Across the crater in 25 feet of water is a Japanese Patrol Boat. It has collapsed unto itself, its iron rusting away. No coral or marine life grows in this lava crater.   25'

Unea Island
Lat 4° 52' 60S Long 149° 9' 0E

History
Single B-24's bomb the island on June 9th and 18th by a lone B-17. Single B-24 raids on July 27 & 28 and unsuccessfully attack shipping in Saint George Channel between New Ireland and New Britain. Followed by another single plane raid on 30, 1943. Finally, by a single B-24 on armed recconassaince December 14, 1943